Valasi Toogamaga Tafito | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Health | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2021 [a] | |
| Prime Minister | FiamēNaomi Mataʻafa |
| Preceded by | Faimalotoa Kika Stowers |
| Member of the Samoan Parliament for Vaisigano No. 2 | |
| In office 9 April 2021 –29 August 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Tapulesatele Mauteni Esera |
| Succeeded by | Motuopuaa S Henny A Papalii |
| In office 26 April 1996 –31 March 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Seve Ropati |
| Succeeded by | Motuopuaa Uifagasa Aisoli |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Samoan Democratic United Party Samoa National Democratic Party Tautua Samoa Party FAST |
Valasi Luapitofanua Toogamaga Tafito Selesele is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is leader of the Samoa National Democratic Party. [1] [2]
Tafito was elected to the Fono as a candidate for the Samoan Democratic United Party in the 1996 Samoan general election. He was re-elected in 2001. In 2005 he was appointed party secretary. [3] He lost his seat at the 2006 election.
In August 2020 Tafito was unanimously elected leader of the Samoa National Democratic Party (SNDP). [1] Shortly afterwards the SNDP agreed an electoral alliance with the FAST party,which would see them run a single joint candidate in each electorate for the April 2021 Samoan general election. [4] In October 2020 he was nominated as a candidate for FAST. [5] Preliminary results showed him winning his seat. [6]
On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Health in the elected cabinet of FiamēNaomi Mataʻafa. [7] 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. [8]
In August 2021 Valasi announced that the government was considering establishing an inquiry into the 2019 Samoa measles outbreak. [9]