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Olo Fiti Vaai

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Honourable
Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai
Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure
In office
24 May 2021 – 16 September 2025[a]
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byTapunuu Niko Lee Hang
Succeeded byToelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo
Member of the Samoan Parliament
In office
9 April 2021 – 29 August 2025
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byLeilua Sagato Karene
ConstituencySalega 2
In office
4 March 2016 – 9 April 2021
Preceded byTapuai Toese Ah Sam
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
ConstituencySalega East
In office
31 March 2006 – 6 November 2015
Preceded byFaasootauloa Pati Taulapapa
Succeeded byFaasootauloa Pati Taulapapa
ConstituencyGagaʻemauga 2
Personal details
PartySamoa Uniting Party (since 2025)
Other political
affiliations

Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai (formerly known as Levaopolo Talatonu Vaai)[1] is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister who served as the minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure from 2021 to 2025.[2][3]

Personal life

[edit]

Vaai 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

[edit]

Vaai was first elected to the Samoan Parliament in the 2006 Samoan general election as the MP for Gagaʻemauga 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 (TSP), 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 TSP 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 the TSP.[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 Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) 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 Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele 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]

On 15 January 2025 Vaai, Prime Minister Mataʻafa, and four other cabinet ministers were expelled from FAST, following a power struggle between Mataʻafa and party chairman Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao.[21][22] Vaai and the other expelled members rejected their expulsion, denounced it as unconstitutional, and claimed they were still members of FAST.[23] Prime Minister Mata‘afa called a snap election following the government's budget defeat in parliament on 27 May 2025.[24] Following the dissolution of parliament,[25] Vaai, Mata‘afa and the rest of cabinet confirmed their resignations from FAST and established the Samoa Uniting Party.[26] During the snap election, Vaai lost the Salega 2 seat to Leilua Sagato Karene of FAST.[27] His tenure as the works minister concluded on 16 September, and he was succeeded by Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo.[28]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Disputed: 24 May – 23 July 2021

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Mata'afa Keni Lesa (10 March 2016). "Different name, same man". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Minister of Works, Transportation and Infrastructure". www.samoagovt.ws. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Joyetter Luamanu (30 December 2017). "Olo Levaopolo Fiti Vaai - The One man Opposition Party". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "PacNews: Samoan speaker of parliament rules nine MPs lose seats and face by-elections". 1 June 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2020.[dead link]
  6. ↑ "Samoa court reinstates nine MPs, cancels by-elections". Radio New Zealand International. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Rita Narayan (6 November 2015). "Levaopolo terminated as a Member of Parliament". Loop Samoa. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Samoa MP announces planned new party". RNZ. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  9. ↑ Tupufia, Lanuola Tusani (18 November 2020). "Count me in, Olo stands up for Tautua". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Mataeliga Pio Sioa (5 March 2016). "HRRP heading for landslide win in Samoan election". Evening Report. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  11. 1 2 "FAST Welcomes Independent MP Olo Fiti Vaai". Samoa Global News. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (3 December 2019). ""We failed you, Samoa": Olo Fiti Vaai". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Independent MP Leatinu'u Wayne Fong chooses the FAST Flag". Talamua. 17 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Samoa Speaker ousts two independent MPs". RNZ. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  15. ↑ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (18 November 2020). "Speaker officially declares seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  16. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (14 December 2020). "Olo and Faumuina delighted, ready for Parliament return". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  17. ↑ Mata'afa Keni Lesa (15 December 2020). "Let's embrace spirit of Christmas, Speaker welcomes Olo and Faumuina". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  18. ↑ Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ "Samoa: FAST chairman removes PM from party". RNZ. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  22. ↑ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (17 January 2025). "FAST appoints new executives: Laauli is leader and chairman". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  23. ↑ "Prime Minister and Five Cabinet Ministers Reject Letter of Termination from FAST Party". Samoa Global News. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  24. ↑ Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai (10 June 2025). "Samoa head of state issues official election writ". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  25. ↑ "Speaker continues in office after Parliament dissolves without fanfare". Talamua Online. Apia. 3 June 2025. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  26. ↑ "Fiame & 15 confirm resignation and want share of FAST Funds". Talamua Online. Apia. 5 June 2025. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  27. ↑ Bethel Peato-Ale (30 December 2025). "Olo out for next five years". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 15 December 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Laaulialemalietoa announces his first Cabinet as Samoa's Prime Minister". Samoa Global News. 16 September 2025. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
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