Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai (formerly known as Levaopolo Talatonu Vaai)[1] is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister who has served as the minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure since 2021.[2][3]
Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2021[a] | |
| Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
| Preceded by | Tapunuu Niko Lee Hang |
| Member of the Samoan Parliament | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Constituency | Salega 2 |
| In office 4 March 2016 – 9 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Tapuai Toese Ah Sam |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | Salega East |
| In office 31 March 2006 – 6 November 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Faasootauloa Pati Taulapapa |
| Succeeded by | Faasootauloa Pati Taulapapa |
| Constituency | Gaga'emauga No. 2 |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | F.A.S.T. (2020-present) |
| Other political affiliations | Samoan Democratic United Party (until 2008) Tautua Samoa Party (2008-2016; 2016-2020) |
Personal life
editVaai was educated at Avele College and Samoa College before studying for a bachelor's degree in Telecommunications Engineering at Auckland University of Technology.[4] He subsequently worked for the Samoa Airports Authority as a technical manager and then assistant chief executive.[4] He is from a political family, and his uncle Leilua Manuao served as a Member of parliament for 40 years.[4]
Political career
editVaai was first elected to the Samoan Parliament in the 2006 Samoan general election as MP for Gagaemauga No. 2, running as a candidate for the Samoan Democratic United Party (SDUP). Following the collapse of the SDUP in 2008 he joined the Tautua Samoa Party, resulting in his seat being declared vacant by the Speaker.[5] The decision was overturned by the Supreme Court of Samoa in July 2009, and Vaai retained his seat.[6] He was re-elected as a Tautua candidate in the 2011 election.
In 2015 Vaai decided to switch electorates and contest the seat of Salega East in the 2016 election following a decision by his village to reject a tourism project he had proposed. As a result, he was disqualified from Parliament as he was no longer eligible to represent his old seat.[7] He subsequently announced plans to form a new political party[8] and contested the election as an independent, but after winning re-election he re-joined Tautua.[9] When he switched electorates, he adopted a new title, becoming Olo Fiti Vaai.[10] In the 2016 term he was a vocal critic of the government, being called a "One man Opposition Party" by the media.[4] In May 2019 he was removed from the Finance and Expenditure Committee after criticising government spending decisions.[11] In December 2019 he called on the government to launch an inquiry into the 2019 Samoa measles outbreak, saying "we failed you, Samoa".[12]
In October 2020 Vaai registered to run as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party in the 2021 election.[11][13] As a result, his seat was declared vacant under anti-party-hopping provisions.[14][15] On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa.[16][17]
On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[18] 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.[19]
In June 2022, Olo announced that he would be suing opposition leader Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi for defamation. Tuila'epa had previously alleged that Olo registered a government automobile as his private property, which the opposition leader claimed was the equivalent of theft. Olo said that comment dishonoured his family and constituency. In addition, Olo also filed a lawsuit against Maota o Vi'iga, a Samoan radio station based in Australia, for echoing Tuila'epa's claims.[20]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Mata'afa Keni Lesa (10 March 2016). "Different name, same man". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Minister of Works, Transportation and Infrastructure". www.samoagovt.ws. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d Joyetter Luamanu (30 December 2017). "Olo Levaopolo Fiti Vaai - The One man Opposition Party". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "PacNews: Samoan speaker of parliament rules nine MPs lose seats and face by-elections". 1 June 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Samoa court reinstates nine MPs, cancels by-elections". Radio New Zealand International. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ Rita Narayan (6 November 2015). "Levaopolo terminated as a Member of Parliament". Loop Samoa. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Samoa MP announces planned new party". RNZ. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Tupufia, Lanuola Tusani (18 November 2020). "Count me in, Olo stands up for Tautua". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Mataeliga Pio Sioa (5 March 2016). "HRRP heading for landslide win in Samoan election". Evening Report. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ a b "FAST Welcomes Independent MP Olo Fiti Vaai". Samoa Global News. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (3 December 2019). ""We failed you, Samoa": Olo Fiti Vaai". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Independent MP Leatinu'u Wayne Fong chooses the FAST Flag". Talamua. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Samoa Speaker ousts two independent MPs". RNZ. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (18 November 2020). "Speaker officially declares seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (14 December 2020). "Olo and Faumuina delighted, ready for Parliament return". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Mata'afa Keni Lesa (15 December 2020). "Let's embrace spirit of Christmas, Speaker welcomes Olo and Faumuina". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ Mika, Talaia (16 June 2022). "Minister of Works suing more people on Landcruiser defamation claims". Talamua Online. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.