Parliament mourns M.P. with humour

The Member of Parliament for Gagaifomauga No. 1, Tuilo’a Toeulu Anitele’a Tuilo’a, has passed away after a long battle with kidney failure.

He was 62. Tuilo’a died at his family home in Si’usega on Monday morning.

He was an Associate Minister for the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development.

Yesterday, his wife, Taupo Tuilo’a told the Samoa Observer that Tuilo’a had suffered for many years and had relied on dialysis treatment. She recalled that in 2007, Tuilo’a was taken to New Zealand for an operation on his eyes, when the doctors there informed them about his kidney condition.

The widow said Tuilo’a passed away on Monday, right after their morning prayer service.

“He’s been suffering for quite some time and I know this is what he wanted to finally be at peace,” she said.

The mother said she misses her “caring husband, someone who is hard to forget”.

“He loved his family, his children, his parish and his constituency,” she said.

“Tuilo’a is the kind of person that doesn’t want anything to go wrong.

“But one thing that most people would know about him is his sense of humour.”

Indeed, Tuilo’a is missed by his fellow colleagues in parliament for his rare sense of humour.

Member of Parliament for Salega, Afualo Dr. Wood Salele remembers Tuilo’a for his views expressed in parliament.

“The way he conveyed his opinions was different,” said Afualo.

“It was different from others because he was a man who served and took care of his village so when he would say something, it was like he was talking at a village council meeting.

“I will miss him for his strong sense of humour that got to others and if you didn’t understand him it would do that to you, get you mad.”

Afualo said Tuilo’a will be missed in Parliament for his honesty, forthcoming attitude and contribution in the development of the country.

“We were in the same committ e e , t h e Trades Committee and I will miss seeing him there and listening to his involvement,” he said.

Tuilo’a was also the Chairman for the Mayor committee in Savai’i.

It was his second term in parliament.

He first entered parliament in 2006.

During the last Parliamentary sitting, one of the last issues Tuilo’a took the floor to speak about was being a dialysis patient.

“I’m not ashamed to say that perhaps I’m the only one in Parliament who has been affected by this sickness,” Tuilo’a said.

“The sickness is ticklish... “My plea is to please remember our hospital. All I’m asking for is just two machines for the hospital at Safotu.

“If you stay in Safotu and you have to make the long trip to Tusasivi, by the time you get there, you’ll have no more blood, it would’ve been spilled on the road.

Tuilo’a was speaking during the discussion of changes being proposed by the government to the structure of the Samoa National Kidney Foundation (S.N.K.F), with the idea of turning it into an independent body. Proposed in the National Kidney Foundation of Samoa Amendment Bill, the changes include the appointment of a Board of Directors who will in turn appoint a Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O).

“My belief is that if it wasn't for the dialysis centre at Moto’otua, our country would have been finished,” said Tuilo’a.”There are too many people with kidney diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.”

Speaking about the reality of being a dialysis patient, Tuilo’a said he gets treated three times a week.

“It’s a nice feeling when you know you should have died and yet you are still alive,” he said.

“It’s a good feeling; you get plenty of time to sleep.”

Tuilo’a said he has also seen an increase in the number of dialysis cases in his village.

As always the man with a wicked sense of humour, one of the last things he said in Parliament was: “Even in this house (Parliament), I see a lot of members with leg ailments, they should be treated. If not, they should be cut...”

The arrangements for his funeral have yet to be finalised.