5pm Monday 5 January 2026 Apia Samoa. The Government has yet to release the names of election candidates appointed as Chairpersons of 51 District Development Committees following a Recruitment and Selection process that involved interviews by a Panel led by the Public Service Commission. According to several MPs contacted by SGN, the appointments have not yet been officially announced.
This week, however, it was reported that MP for Faleata 2 and former Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour, Hon Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo, was “not selected as Chairperson” for his DDC.
When contacted by Samoa Global News for a comment, Hon Leatinuu said there is no official word yet from the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development.
“We are awaiting official confirmation.. I don’t know where Samoa Observer got their information from,” said Leatinuu.
Other MPs contacted also said no official announcement has come through, with one first-time MP remaining positive:
“I am prepared for whatever the outcome, as long as whoever gets it, runs the operation of the Fonofa’avae according to its guidelines, and with transparency.”
The District Development Programme
The Samoa District Development Committees (DDCs) are responsible for overseeing projects funded by the government’s District Development Programme, which allocates $2 million tala annually to each of the 51 electoral districts.
The FAST party’s historical initiative was first rolled out after the 2021 general election, which had essentially taken 51 million tala of the annual budget, and placed it into the hands of electorates across Samoa, to govern their own development needs.
In the program’s first cycle, the elected Member of Parliament was automatically appointed to Chair the DDCs, however, in this second cycle of the District Development Programme, the Government put out and advertisement, inviting all those who had been registered and run as candidates in the 2025 snap election, to submit applications.
The Chairperson role was therefore opened up to individuals who had been registered as candidates in the 2025 General Election but were unsuccessful. Applicants had to apply through the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) by mid-November 2025.
The Unique Case of Faleata 2
There was no election for Faleata 2 at the 2025 general elections. The Supreme Court declared Muaaufaalele Mary Faafouina Taeu and Ulugia Elon Betham ineligible to register as Candidates, finding the two had not satisfied the provisions in the Electoral Act which requires monotaga or a minimum of 3 years service to the district.
Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo’s case is therefore unique to the new Recruitment and Selection process for Chairpersons – given applicants had to be registered candidates. And there was only one registered candidate for Faleata 2.
The Electoral Commissioner, afioga Tuiafelolo Toleafoa John Stanley, issued a formal declaration to announce Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo as Samoa’s first elected candidate of the 2025 General Elections, on 27 August 2025, prior to the polls on the 29th.
The New Recruitment and Selection (R&S) Process for DDC Chairpersons
The Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt said the reason for the new approach was to improve on the governance of Committees, by assessing the performances of previous Chairpersons, and ensuring the right persons are appointed to Chair the DDCs.
Laaulialemalietoa said the change was a response to lessons learnt from the way some Elected MPs had Chaired the DDCs in the past.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the Development Programme was to receive over half a billion tala in the next 5 years and a new Government Authority would be established to monitor the project.
“This is a significant investment of funds,” said the Prime Minister, “$2 million a year that’s $10 million over five years for each district, that is $510 million tala. An investment of over half a billion tala..”
The Minister for Community Development, Hon Moefaauouo Julius Ah-Kui Tafuna’i had said in a press release that the new appointment process “reaffirms Commitment to Transparency, Good Governance, and Inclusive Development..”
Moefaauouo added in his press statement that “Transparency and Good Governance Remain Central” to the new recruitment process…
“Contrary to suggestions of opacity, the Government emphasises that:
● No Chairperson will be appointed without community consultation.
● Clear and public eligibility criteria will apply.
● A nationwide circular will be issued outlining the appointments.
“These steps reflect the Government’s intention to eliminate ambiguity, strengthen accountability, and ensure a fair and merit-based leadership selection process,” added the Minister.
HRPP Threatens Court Action
Critics say the policy change is a way for the Government to allow unsuccessful election candidates to lead committees in Districts currently represented by HRPP (14) SUP (3) or Independent MPs (3). Both the HRPP Leader and Party Secretary have spoken out about against the new process.
In his Letter to the Editor this week Opposition Leader Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says the new policy is discriminatory “and removes any accountability on the use of taxpayers and donor funds as all decisions will be made by FAST Party members in favour of their supporters and causes”.
Tuilaepa goes on to accuse the Government of using public and donor funds at District DevelopmentCommittees “to directly and indirectly to bribe voters during the recent general elections.”
“It will allow the alleged misuse of public funds by the FAST Party to continue with impunity.”
HRPP Letter Opposing the Process
The Prime Minister had revealed that 8 HRPP Members of Parliament included a Letter Opposing the Process with their applications. Laaulialemalietoa said those 8 HRPP MPs who signed that letter opposing the new recruitment process, were not appointed.
Laaulialemalietoa also stated that four MPs had failed to submit applications either at all, or before the deadline.
The Prime Minister said 2 HRPP MPs did apply, and did not include the letter with their applications. Both have been appointed as Chairpersons. Laaulialemalietoa confirmed Tuia Logoiai Puʻa Fuatogi Letoa of Safata 2 and Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei of Vaimauga 4 have both been appointed to Chair their DDCs.
The Prime Minister further stated that HRPP had run a campaign disagreeing with the District Development Programme and MPs who openly disagree with the initiative should not be leading the projects as Chair.
The HRPP have stated that they would be challenging the recruitment process in Court. In response the Prime Minister says that is their prerogative, but it will not delay the work from moving ahead.
The District Development Committees are expected to begin work next week on 12 January 2026.
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