Lefau Harry Schuster

Last updated

The Honourable
Lefau Harry Schuster
Lefau Harry Schuster 2022.jpg
Schuster in 2022
Minister of Police and Prisons
In office
24 May 2021 –16 September 2025 [a]

Lefau Harry Schuster (also known as Faualo Harry Schuster) is a Samoan politician who served as minister of police and prisons from 2021 to 2025. He is a member of the Samoa Uniting Party and was a founding member of the Tautua Samoa Party. [1] [2] He is the cousin of fellow former MP Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster. [3] During the 2025 snap election, Schuster lost re-election in his seat of Vaimauga No. 4 to Lima Graeme Tualaulelei of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).

Contents

Early life

Schuster was educated at St Joseph's College in Samoa and St Paul's College, Auckland before studying law at Victoria University of Wellington. [1] He worked for the New Zealand Ministry of Education before returning to Samoa to work in the Attorney General’s office. After time in private practice, he was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2000 [4] before resigning in 2010 to enter politics. [5] He has also served as president of the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions. [6]

In September 2018 he was awarded the Faualo title by his village. [7]

Political career

Schuster was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa at the 2011 Samoan general election, as a candidate for Tautua. [3] He lost his seat at the 2016 election. [8]

In July 2020 Schuster criticised new electoral laws limiting candidate eligibility as unfair and discriminatory. [9] In October 2020 Schuster announced he would stand as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. Party in the 2021 election. [1] He was elected in the Vaimauga no. 4 constituency. [10] On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Police and Prisons in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa. [11] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May. [12]

In his role as Minister in charge of the Electoral Commission Schuster advocated for electoral reform, including the repeal of "arbitrary" restrictions on candidacy and on MPs changing parties. [13] As Police Minister he was critical of the impact of the Land and Titles Bill, claiming that it had led to village councils abusing their authority to violate human rights. [14]

On 15 January 2025 Schuster, Prime Minister Mataʻafa, and four other cabinet ministers were expelled from FAST, following a power struggle between Mataʻafa and party chairman Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt. [15] [16] Schuster and the other expelled members rejected their expulsion, denounced it as unconstitutional, and claimed they were still members of FAST. Schuster argued they could only depart from the party if they were to leave voluntarily or if a court upheld their expulsion. [17] Prime Minister Mata‘afa called a snap election following the government's budget defeat in parliament on 27 May 2025. [18] Following the dissolution of parliament, [19] Schuster, Mata‘afa and the rest of cabinet confirmed their resignations from FAST and established the Samoa Uniting Party. [20]

During the 2025 snap election, Schuster lost his seat to Lima Graeme Tualaulelei of the HRPP. [21] Schuster's tenure as a cabinet minister ended on 16 September, and Schmidt succeeded him as police and prisons minister. [22]

Notes

  1. ↑ Disputed: 24 May 2021 – 23 July 2021

References

  1. 1 2 3 Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (23 October 2020). "Lefau Harry Schuster joins F.A.S.T." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "First FAST Cabinet Down to Work – When the Impossible Happens". Talamua Online. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 "NEW FACE IN SAMOA PARLIAMENT HOPES FOR CHANGE". Pacific Islands Report. 8 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Samoa appoints new judge". RNZ. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "District court judge in Samoa will run as a candidate in next year's election". RNZ. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Lefau warns IRB against "shambles"". Samoa Observer. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  7. ↑ Deidre Tautua-Fanene (30 September 2018). "Lefau Harry Schuster gets Faualo title". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "HRPP 44, Tautua Samoa 2". Talanei. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  9. ↑ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (21 July 2020). "Former Judge and M.P. slams Electoral laws". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "FAST Candidates Displace 4 Ministers and Deputy Speaker". Samoa Global News. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (28 July 2021). "Minister zeroes in on electoral reform". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  14. ↑ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (3 September 2021). "Chiefs' new powers being abused: Minister". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "Samoa: FAST chairman removes PM from party". RNZ. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  16. ↑ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (17 January 2025). "FAST appoints new executives: Laauli is leader and chairman". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  17. ↑ "Prime Minister and Five Cabinet Ministers Reject Letter of Termination from FAST Party". Samoa Global News. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  18. ↑ Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai (10 June 2025). "Samoa head of state issues official election writ". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "Speaker continues in office after Parliament dissolves without fanfare". Talamua Online. Apia. 3 June 2025. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  20. ↑ "Fiame & 15 confirm resignation and want share of FAST Funds". Talamua Online. Apia. 5 June 2025. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  21. ↑ "Ten caretaker ministers lose seats". Samoa Observer. 30 August 2025. Archived from the original on 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "Laaulialemalietoa announces his first Cabinet as Samoa's Prime Minister". Samoa Global News. 16 September 2025. Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
Legislative Assembly of Samoa
Preceded by
Anauli Pofitu Fesili
 Member of Parliament for Vaimauga West
2011–2016		Constituency dissolved
New constituency Member of Parliament for Vaimauga No. 4
2021–2025		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Police and Prisons
2021–2025		Succeeded by
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