Cabinet of Samoa
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Constitution |
The Cabinet is the executive branch of the government of the Independent State of Samoa.
Per article 31(1) of the Constitution, executive power is vested in the Head of State. Per article 26(1), however, "the Head of State in the performance of his functions shall act on the advice of Cabinet, the Prime Minister or the appropriate Minister, as the case may be". Article 32(1) provides that the Cabinet "shall have the general direction and control of the executive government" of Samoa.
The Cabinet is composed, per article 32(2), of the Prime Minister and "not fewer than eight nor more than twelve other Members of Parliament", appointed by the Head of State on the advice of the Prime Minister.[1]
XVII Cabinet
[edit]This Cabinet was appointed by Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa during the 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis following the April 2021 Samoan general election.[2] The previous cabinet purported to continue in a caretaker role.[3][4] 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.[5]
Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster resigned on 3 June 2021 after being arrested for drink-driving.[6] He returned to Cabinet on 20 October 2021, with the addition of the Tourism portfolio.[7]
A cabinet reshuffle in September 2023 moved Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo to the Women, Community and Social Development portfolio. She was replaced as Minister of Finance by Lautimuia Uelese Vaʻai. Leota Laki Lamositele became Minister of Commerce, Industry of Labour, with Leatinuu Wayne So'oialo retaining only the public enterprises portfolio. Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell entered Cabinet as Minister for Sports & Recreation.[8]
Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiamē Naomi Mata‘afa | Lotofaga | FAST | |
| Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio | Gagaemauga No. 1 | FAST | |
| La'auli Leuatea Polataivao | Gagaifomauga No. 3 | FAST | |
| Olo Fiti Vaai | Salega No. 2 | FAST | |
| Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong | Faleata No. 2 | FAST | |
| Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo | Palauli No. 1 | FAST | |
| Matamua Vasati Pulufana | Faasaleleaga No. 1 | FAST | |
| Lefau Harry Schuster | Vaimauga No. 4 | FAST | |
| Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster | Aana Alofi No. 4 | FAST | |
| Valasi Toogamaga Tafito | Vaisigano No. 2 | FAST | |
| Seuula Ioane | Alataua Sisifo | FAST | |
| Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo | Falealili No. 1 | FAST | |
| Leota Laki Lamositele | Palauli No. 2 | FAST | |
| Lautimuia Uelese Vaʻai | Vaimauga 3 | FAST | |
| Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell | Safata No. 2 | FAST |
XVI Cabinet
[edit]This cabinet resulted from the March 2016 general election.
A cabinet reshuffle in April 2019 made the following ministerial changes:[9]
- Dr Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama moves from the Minister of Health to the Minister for Women, Community and Social Development
- Hon Faimalotoa Kika Stowers moves from the Minister for Women, Community and Social Development to the Minister of Health
Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | Lepa | HRPP | |
| Fiamē Naomi Mata‘afa | Lotofaga | HRPP | |
| Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell | Satupaitea | HRPP | |
| Sala Fata Pinati | Gagaemauga No.1 | HRPP | |
| Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama | Aana Alofi No.1 East | HRPP | |
| Papaliitele Niko Lee Hang | Urban East | HRPP | |
| Lopao'o Natanielu Mua | Vaisigano No.1 | HRPP | |
| Sili Epa Tuioti | Faasaleleaga No.1 East | HRPP | |
| Faimalotoa Kika Stowers | Gagaifomauga No.1 | HRPP | |
| Tialavea Tionisio Hunt | Vaa o Fonoti | HRPP | |
| Afamasaga Rico Tupai | Aana Alofi No.3 | HRPP | |
| Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio | Sagaga le Falefa | HRPP | |
| Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu | Vaimauga Sisifo No.2 | HRPP |
XV Cabinet
[edit]As of March 2011. This Cabinet results from the March 2011 general election, which saw the Human Rights Protection Party retain an absolute majority of seats in Parliament. Its term corresponds to that of the Fifteenth Parliament.[12] The minister's matai title precedes his or her name.[13]
In April 2014, Finance Minister Faumuina Tiatia Liuga resigned, after some twenty years in Cabinet, following "allegations of abuse in the performance of his ministerial duties". Prime Minister Malielegaoi took over the Finance portfolio himself.[14][15]
Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | Lepa | HRPP | |
| Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo | Anoama'a West | HRPP | |
| Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiʻataua | A'ana Alofi No. 2 | HRPP | |
| Sala Fata Pinati | Gagaemauga No. 1 | HRPP | |
| Manu'alesagalala Enokati Posala | Safata | HRPP | |
| Faamoetauloa Ulaitino Faale Tumaalii | Gagaemauga No. 3 | HRPP | |
| Tuiloma Pule Lameko | Falealili | HRPP | |
| Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama | A'ana Alofi No. 1 | HRPP | |
| Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau | Vaimauga East | HRPP | |
| Magele Mauiliu Magele | Fa'asalele'aga No. 1 | HRPP | |
| Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa | Lotofaga | HRPP | |
| Le Mamea Ropati | Lefaga & Falese'ela | HRPP | |
| Faumuina Tiatia Liuga | Palauli-Le-Falefa | HRPP |
XIV Cabinet
[edit]This Cabinet resulted from the 2006 Samoan general election.[16]
Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | Lepa | HRPP | |
| Misa Telefoni Retzlaff | Falelatai & Samatau | HRPP | |
| Niko Lee Hang | Individual Voters | HRPP | |
| Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow | Fa'asaleleaga No. 1 | HRPP | |
| Taua Kitiona Seuala | Aleipata-Itupa-I-luga | HRPP | |
| Unasa Mesi Galo | Fa'asalele'aga No. 3 | HRPP | |
| Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi | Aana Alofi No. 1 West | HRPP | |
| Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa | Lotofaga | HRPP | |
| Mulitalo Siafausa Vui | Fa'asaleleaga No. 4 | HRPP | |
| Toomata Alapati Poese | Salega | HRPP | |
| Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau | Vaimauga East | HRPP | |
| Faumuina Tiatia Liuga | Palauli-Le-Falefa | HRPP | |
| Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota | Si'umu | HRPP |
XIII Cabinet
[edit]This Cabinet resulted from the 2001 Samoan general election.[17][18]
Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota was appointed Minister of Revenue and Ga'ina Tino was moved to Minister of Justice following the death of Seumanu Aita Ah Wa in January 2004.[19]
Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | Lepa | HRPP | |
| Misa Telefoni Retzlaff | Falelatai & Samatau | HRPP | |
| Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa | Lotofaga | HRPP | |
| Hans Joachim Keil III | Individual Voters | HRPP | |
| Tuala Tagaloa Sale Kerslake | Anoamaa West | HRPP | |
| Mulitalo Siafausa Vui | Fa'asaleleaga No. 4 | HRPP | |
| Palusalue Faʻapo II | Safata | HRPP | |
| Tuala Ainiu Iusitino | Gaga'emauga No. 1 | HRPP | |
| Faumuina Tiatia Liuga | Palauli-Le-Falefa | HRPP | |
| Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau | Vaimauga East | HRPP | |
| Ulu Vaomalo Kini | Faleata West | HRPP | |
| Seumanu Aita Ah Wa | Fa'asalele'aga No. 1 | HRPP | |
| Ga'ina Tino | Gaga'ifomauga No. 1 | HRPP |
References
[edit]- ^ Constitution of Samoa Archived 2007-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ Sapeer Mayron (24 May 2021). "Samoa election turmoil: Samoa's caretaker PM Tuilaepa gives blistering speech as FAST Party's Fiame Naomi Mata'afa sworn in as new PM". Stuff. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "Samoa incumbent leader rejects first female Prime Minister's swearing in as 'treason'". RNZ. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 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.
- ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (3 June 2021). "Cabinet Minister-elect Toesulusulu resigns". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Talaia Mika (20 October 2021). "New Clerk of Parliament and Cabinet Minister sworn in". Talamua. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Samoa Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle: New Finance Minister and Two Additional Ministers". Samoa Global News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Cabinet Ministers Swap Portfolios in a Reshuffle Announced by the PM". Samoa Global News. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- ^ "Members of the XVI Parliament". Parliament of Samoa. Archived from the original on 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- ^ "Cabinet Ministers". Parliament of Samoa. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- ^ "Samoa: Composition du gouvernement", French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ^ "MPS - 2011 to 2016" Archived March 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Office Of The Electoral Commissioner
- ^ "Samoa's PM new head of Finance Ministry", Radio New Zealand International, 26 April 2014
- ^ "Samoa Finance Minister resignation expected to mend party rift", Radio New Zealand International, 22 April 2014
- ^ "Five new faces in new Samoa cabinet". RNZ. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Misa becomes new Minister of Finance". Samoa Observer. 20 March 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "SAMOA'S TUILAEPA SAYS HE'S SAD TO SEE TUIATUA STEP DOWN". Pacific Islands Report. 26 March 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Samoa cabinet swears in new minister". RNZ. 20 February 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2021.