Leafa Vitale was a Minister of Works and Minister of Women's Affairs in Samoa, who along with Toi Aukuso, former Minister Minister of Post and Telecommunications, plotted the assassination of Samoan Minister of Public Works Luagalau Levaula Kamu in 1999. [1]
Aside from the Minister of Works the two former Ministers (who were still in Parliament at the time) had also planned to have the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, the Chief Justice, New Zealand's High Commissioner to Samoa, and Minister of Lands and Environment Tuala Kerslake assassinated. Leafa, Toi and Leafa's son Eletise Leafa Vitale (who carried out the assassination) were sentenced to death [2] [3] but had their sentences commuted to life sentences by the Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II in 2000. [4] Vitale was paroled on the basis of ill-health in June 2010. [5]
Leafa was Minister of Works under Tofilau but became Minister of Women's Affairs when Tuiaepa Sailele Malielegaoi became Prime Minister. [1] He was among the Ministers in the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Tofialu who were named for corruption in the 1994 Report to the Samoan Parliament by then Controller and Chief Auditor Rimoni Ah Chong.
Leafa Vitale's was among the 35 criminals pardoned by the Hon. Head of State of Samoa, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi on June 1, 2012, of the Samoan Independence day to commemorate the country's 50th anniversary. [6]
Politics of Samoa takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic state whereby the Prime Minister of Samoa is the head of government. Existing alongside the country's Western styled political system is the fa'amatai chiefly system of socio-political governance and organisation, central to understanding Samoa's political system.
The Samoan Government is generally conservative and pro-Western, with a strong interest in regional political and economic issues. Samoa participated in a first round of negotiations with its Pacific Island neighbors for a regional trade agreement in August 2000. In January 2009, Samoa opened embassies in China and Japan.
The Human Rights Protection Party is a Samoan political party. It has dominated Samoan party politics since 1982.
Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi is a Samoan politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Samoa and Leader of the Human Rights Protection Party since 1998, and is Samoa’s longest serving head of government. Tuilaepa first entered parliament in 1981 when he won a by election to represent the electorate of Lepa. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the government of former Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana, and in addition also held the portfolios of Tourism and Trade, Commerce & Industry.
Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is a Samoan politician and high chieftess (matai). She was Samoa's first female Cabinet Minister, and from 2016 to 2020 served as Samoa’s first female Deputy Prime Minister. She is the daughter of Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II, Samoa's former Prime Minister. She is a former member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Luagalau Levaula Kamu was a Samoan lawyer and Cabinet Minister. His 1999 assassination was the first political assassination in Samoa since independence in 1962.
Toi Aukuso Cain was a Samoan politician.
Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi , is a Samoan political leader and as holder of the maximal lineage Tama-a-'āiga title of Tupua Tamasese, is one of the four paramount chiefs of Samoa. He also holds the royal pāpā title of Tui Atua.
Savea Sano Malifa is a Samoan poet, journalist, newspaper editor, and publisher. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Samoa Observer, the main newspaper in Samoa. He is the author of the novel Alms for Oblivion. The Pacific Islands News Association awarded him the Pacific Freedom of Information award for defending the right of the Samoan people to freedom of information and expression. In 1998, he received the Commonwealth Press Union's Astor Award and Index on Censorship's Press Freedom Award.
Eletise Leafa Vitale is the son of Women's Affairs Minister Leafa Vitale who along with former Communications Minister Toi Aukuso conspired to assassinate the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, the Chief Justice, the Minister of Justice, and New Zealand's High Commissioner to Samoa.
Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow is a Samoan politician, matai and former Cabinet Minister. She was appointed to her ministerial portfolio by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi following the March 2006 General elections where she was elected for the first time. Her electoral constituency is Fa'asaleleaga No. 1, part of the larger Fa'asaleleaga political district at the east end of Savai'i island. She was replaced as Minister of Health after the 2011 election.
The O le Ao o le Malo is the Head of State of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution. At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from among the four Tama a 'Aiga "imperial" paramount chiefs. However, this is not required by the constitution, so, for this reason, Samoa can be considered a republic rather than a constitutional monarchy. The government Press Secretariat describes Head of State as a "ceremonial president". The holder is given the title of Highness, as are the heads of the four paramount chiefly dynasties.
General elections were held in Samoa on 4 March 2016. The main contesting parties were that of incumbent Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP); and the Tautua Samoa Party (TSP). The HRPP secured a landslide victory, winning 35 of the 49 elected seats in the Legislative Assembly, while 12 independents subsequently joined them, strengthening Samoa's one-party rule and preventing the TSP from obtaining the eight seats required for recognition as a parliamentary party.
India–Samoa relations refers to the international relations that exist between India and Samoa. The High Commission of India in Wellington, New Zealand, is concurrently accredited to Samoa. Samoa maintains an Honorary Consul in New Delhi.
Mexico–Samoa relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the United Mexican States and the Independent State of Samoa. Both nations are members of the United Nations.
Events in Oceania, during 2019.
General elections will be held in Samoa on 9 April 2021. Four parties were originally expected to contest the elections: the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) of incumbent Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the Tautua Samoa Party (TSP), the Samoa First Party, and the Samoa National Democratic Party. In May 2020 a fifth party, the Tumua ma Puleono, registered for the elections. In July 2020 Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi confirmed that he would be competing in a record fifth election.
Israel–Samoa relations are bilateral ties between the State of Israel and the Independent State of Samoa. Israel is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. Samoa has an honorary consul in Israel, resides in Ness Ziona.
Leaupepe Toleafoa Apulu Faafisi is a Samoan politician. He has served as a Cabinet Minister and as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).