Faumuina_Asi_Pauli_Wayne_Fong

Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong

Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong

Samoan politician

Leatinuu Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong (also known as Leatinuu Wayne Soʻoialo)[1] (born June 1959)[2] is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister who has served as the minister of Commerce, Labour and Industry since 2021.[3][4]

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Faumuina worked as a cargo manager for Polynesian Airlines in the United States, before moving to Hawaii.[5] After returning to Samoa he ran a shipping company.[5] He was first elected to the Samoan Parliament in the Urban West seat at the 2016 Samoan general election.[5]

In March 2017 Fong called for a law change to allow Samoans to gamble in casinos.[6] In October he criticised "dirty politics" within the Human Rights Protection Party, alleging that factions were moving against Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi while he was in hospital in New Zealand.[7] In December he called for a relaxation of border controls with American Samoa.[8] In 2018 he opposed the government's Customary Land Alienation Bill.[9] In June 2019 Fong criticised the government's budget, claiming it was "unbalanced".[10]

In May 2020 Fong was asked to leave the Human Rights Protection Party by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi over his opposition to Tuilaʻepa's proposed constitutional reforms.[11][12] In July 2020 he was sacked from the party.[13] He remained in parliament as an independent.[14]

In September 2020 Fong pledged his loyalty to former Deputy Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa following her resignation, and promised to follow whichever party she joined in the 2021 election.[15] On 17 October Fong registered to run as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party in the 2021 election.[16] As a result his seat was declared vacant under anti-party-hopping provisions.[17][18] On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa.[19][20]

Fong ran in the seat of Faleata No. 2 at the April 2021 Samoan general election and was re-elected. On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[21] 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.[22]

On 19 December 2022 Leatinuʻu was medevaced to New Zealand for treatment for a serious heart condition.[23]

In a cabinet reshuffle on 6 September 2023 he was replaced as Commerce, Industry of Labour by Leota Laki Lamositele from 1 October 2023, but retained the Public Enterprises portfolio.[24]

Notes

  1. Disputed: 24 May 2021 – 23 July 2021

References

  1. [1]
    Soli Wilson (29 October 2020). "Olo, Leatinuu ousted; seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  2. [2]
    Adel Fruean (16 June 2019). "M.P. Faumuina celebrates 60th birthday". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. [3]
    "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.
  4. [4]
    "Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour / Minister of Public Enterprises". www.samoagovt.ws. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. [5]
    Soli Wilson (17 October 2020). "Faumuina registers for F.A.S.T.; braces to challenge decision". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  6. [6]
    "Samoa MP calls on govt to allow locals to casinos". RNZ. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  7. [7]
    Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi-Luamanu (14 October 2017). "Member hits out at dirty H.R.P.P. politics". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. [8]
    "Call for freer border between Samoas". RNZ. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  9. [9]
    "Heated debate in Samoa's Parliament over land bill". RNZ. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. [10]
    "Samoan backbencher alleges Budget is unbalanced". RNZ. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. [11]
    "Samoa PM speaks out regarding dissenting MP". RNZ. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  12. [12]
    Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (18 May 2020). "P.M. told me to resign, Faumuina confirms". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  13. [13]
    "Another dissenting Samoa MP sacked". RNZ. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  14. [14]
    Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (8 July 2020). "M.P. Faumuina happy with removal from H.R.P.P." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  15. [15]
    Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (12 September 2020). "M.P. Faumuina pledges loyalty to Fiame". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  16. [16]
    "Independent MP Leatinuʻu Wayne Fong chooses the FAST Flag". Talamua. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  17. [17]
    "Samoa Speaker ousts two independent MPs". RNZ. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  18. [18]
    Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi (18 November 2020). "Speaker officially declares seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  19. [19]
    Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (14 December 2020). "Olo and Faumuina delighted, ready for Parliament return". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  20. [20]
    Mataʻafa Keni Lesa (15 December 2020). "Let's embrace spirit of Christmas, Speaker welcomes Olo and Faumuina". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  21. [21]
    Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  22. [22]
    Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  23. [23]
    Shalveen Chand (20 December 2022). "Leatinuʻu airlifted to N.Z." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  24. [24]
    "Samoa Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle: New Finance Minister and Two Additional Ministers". Samoa Global News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
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