A former Member of Parliament, Aulavemai Tafito Faaaliga, has ditched the opposition party for the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.).
A former member of the then Samoa National Development Party, Aulavemai confirmed the switch yesterday during an interview with the Samoa Observer.
According to Aulavemai, his decision honours the wishes of Faleata East, the seat he hopes to secure. He is running against incumbent M.P., AveauNikoPalamo.
When Aulavemai was an M.P. for Vaiasigano No. 2 from 1996 to 2000 carrying the title Togamaga, he was an Opposition M.P. for S.N.D.P. under the leadership of the Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi.
Aulavemai said his decision to support the Opposition Leader, Tui Atua at the time was based on traditional honorifics and a covenant to back the Tama Aiga.
“The village of Vaimoso is another village of (Tui Atua) Tamasese who has been elected to be the Head of State by the government,” explained Aulavemai.
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“If I run from the Opposition, I would be going against the government’s decision to elect the Tama Aiga to be the Head of State. I was committed to support the Tama Aiga then although many thought I would switch but I stuck by my principles to support what the constituency wanted.
“To me, my time as an Opposition is over now that the government has promoted the Tama Aiga (Tui Atua) who is also someone from Vaimoso. Because of what people believe in and how strong H.R.P.P. has become, that is why Vaimoso has decided I should run for the party.”
Aulavemai also believes it would be difficult for the Opposition Party to change the government of the day.
From what he has seen and experienced in Parliament, he said “you can sing all you want but if they (government) wish to lock up, it will be that way.
“H.R.P.P. is strong and I don’t know when we will see it fall. If you understand politics, it is all about the numbers and the majority wins. That’s something the H.R.P.P has.”
Recalling the past, the former M.P. said he used to be Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi’s enemy.
However, he has had a change of heart about the Prime Minister.
Aulavemai recalled the past when he would switch off the radio upon hearing Tuilaepa’s voice.
“I think he (Tuilaepa) has done a lot of good things and I truly believe that any leader of any country is chosen by God,” he said.“If he wasn’t chosen, he wouldn’t be able to lead our country for so long…he has also won many prestigious awards for his leadership.”
What have you been doing since the last time you were elected in Parliament in 2006?
According to Aulavemai, he lived a normal life working the land and serving his family, village and church. “I returned to farming, utilised it and worked as a farmer,” he said.
“Others would’ve gone back asking for work but I decided to work the land. I have 35 acres of land of mixed crops ranging from cocoa, coconuts and I have one of the biggest cassava plantations.
“I have been active in the agriculture sector being part of Agriculture Shows where I won nine awards and attended different meetings with one I led the Samoan delegation to China in 2013.”
If he is to be elected in Parliament, Aulavemai plans to push for access roads to plantation and from village to village.
From his observation, although the constituency is in town it is no different from the rural villages in terms of basic needs.
“The main road is great but the roads that connect the villages are not well constructed,” said Aulavemai. “There are problems with roads that connect one village from the other, electricity and water supply. There are people walking with buckets to collect water and it saddens me that it is happening to a constituency that is in town.”
The candidate also pointed out to acres of land in LaloneaVaimoso that the government gave for the villagers to work.
The problem with the land, said Aulavemai, there is no access road and no one would want to utilise it if it doesn’t have water supply and electricity.
He also believes that with many rugby legends and rugby players coming from Vaimoso rugby club, there should be a rugby field for the village.
There is a field for St Joseph College but he mentioned it belonged to Marist.
Another area he saw much attention is a mobile health service that goes straight to where elderly and children of the villages are rather than them making the trip to the hospital.
As for the general election next year, the candidate said it would be a tough one for him with the village of Lepea having two candidates and several others putting their hands up to compete.
Aulavemai, 59 years old is from the villages of Vaimoso, Fagasa Sataua, Satupa’itea and Faiaai. He holds the titles Togamaga,Valasi and Asiata.
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