It’s official. The Chairman of the National Bank of Samoa and former Secretary of Finance to the government, Sili Epa Tuioti, is contesting next March’s General Election.
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Sili will be vying for the Fa’asaleleaga No. 1 seat, running as a candidate for the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P).
His candidacy and that of several others were revealed yesterday during a meeting of the H.R.P.P at Mulinu’u.
An Economist by profession who is working as a Principal Consultant for KVA Consult, Sili said he is looking forward to the challenge.
The first part includes securing one of two seats which are currently occupied by the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Magele Mauiliu Magele and the Associate Minister of Women, Community and Social Development, Gatoloaifaana Amataga Gidlow.
“I think at this time and age, it’s time for me to give something back to my country, community and constituency,” Sili told the Samoa Observer.
“I want to use all my experience for the betterment of our people and its development.
I think this is the right way to do it and this is a personal choice with the support of the people (from my constituency).”
For 24 years, Sili had worked in various government Ministries.
He had also worked as an Assistant to the Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank in Manila.
He was the team leader for the Review of the Pacific Islands Centre (P.I.C) in Tokyo, Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Office (P.I.F.T.O) in Beijing and China.
Following that appointment, he was the coteam leader in Institutional Reform Expert in the Samoa Public Works Institutional Reform and Asset Management Services (P.I.R.A.M.S) and team member for the Joint Review of the Australian Aid Programme to Papua New Guinea.
Sili said that all these experiences have helped prepare him for the task at hand.
“I know I now have the experience and I feel too that it’s God’s timing to put this back to government and our people,” he said.
Coming from the village of Salelologa, Sili said there are many opportunities for the people of the big island. He is especially keen to improve the development of the Salelologa Township.
“I’m very keen on those opportunities and possibilities of employment and development in Salelologa,” he said.
“It is an important area in Savai’i because it’s like the Apia of Savai’i. I believe I have the experience that’s required to help a lot of the developments.”
Prior to his role as Financial Secretary, Sili served as a former President of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is an Executive Board Member and former Deputy Chairman of the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (P.I.P.S.O).
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