The Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T) party celebrated Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa’s 65th birthday with a gathering at Maota o Samoa Catering Venue & Events in Vaitele on Friday afternoon.
The celebration also marked the opening of the Faatuatua i le Atua ua Tasi party’s spirital fasting period.
The prayer service was led by Reverand Letupu Mata’utia following a reading from the holy bible.
“Faafetai tama i au meaalofa ma faamanuiaga eseese ua matou sapi ma fiafia ai. O lenei aso e matou te faafetai faapitoa i lau Afio ona o lau meaalofa na foai mai mo lona aiga ma Samoa, lau auauna Palemia, le taitai o lenei atunuu. O lea matou te faafetai ai Le Alii e,. i au meaalofa na e foai mai mo i matou.”
The event was MC’d by Hon Niuava Eti Malolo, Associate Minister for Ministry of Works Transport and Infrastructure (MWTI) who delivered the formal welcome to greet those who were able to gather for the event.
“E momoli atu le faafetai i lau susuga le faafegaiga mo upu lelei, o upu tumumusu, o upu mamana.. faalototeleina ai le afioga le Tamaitai Palemia o le tina foi a le atunuu, o le taitai o le Malo, aua le feagai ai ma tiute ma faiva, ae maise le taitaiga o le Malo..”
Following the prayer, a special presentation was made by a women’s group, Women of the World for the Prime Minister – Tina ma Tamaitai o le Lalolagi mo le Palemia. The group, who had also organised the Prime Minister’s birthday cake, presented a Samoa Commercial Bank cheque for $5,000 tala for Fiame. Ms Lise Marie Schmidt and their secretary Karolaine Paila AhSee represented the group’s global membership, to make the presentation.
Ms Karolaine said the group of Tina ma Tamaitai o le Lalolagi mo le Palemia was founded by 13 Samoan women who live in various parts of the world such as the United States, Japan, Australia and Samoa.
“Lau afioga i le tamaitai Palemia ua na’o se meaalofa faatauvaa ua saunia e le faalapotopotoga Tamaitai Samoa i le Lalolagi mo le Palemia, aua lou aso soifua, mo le utuina o lau sa.”
The group had also presented gifts for the other two FAST party women members, Hon Minister of Finance Mulipola Anarosa Molioo and Hon Matamua Vasati Sili, Minister of Justice and Courts Administration.
In response, the Prime Minister delivered a warm speech to thank everyone who attended, especially the Minister for the Spiritual Word of encouragement. Prime Minister Fiame said for her, birthdays were a day for self-reflection, looking back and also forward to what may lie ahead.
Fiame joked about being commonly called “loomatua” – a word that literally means old lady but used to confer respect to a woman who is in a leadership role within an organisation. She says she had noticed many people referring to her by “loomatua” but wanted to remind everyone especially the men, that the correct word was, “olomatua”. which she has noticed everyone calling her since she had become the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said turning 65 is when Samoans start to receive their (SNPF) pension, and the word pension can be synonymous with the word, ‘retire’, and it seems this is an age where life tends to wind down.
The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude for the gifts and the event which she said she did not expect. She thanked the Reverend, all the guests and all those who had sent gifts.
#FaaSamoa
“Ua ou tulai atu ona o le agaga o le faafetai, sa iai se manatu e le faapea se tulaga o lenei aso, ae o au nei o o’u aso fanau ou te le ma iloa ai i le tatou aiga , ae pei o le aso mafaufau lenei, e toe faasolo ai le ata agai tua ma toe mafaufau ai i luma..
“Ae faafetai tele. E ese le tele o meaalofa o lenei aso ae maise le upu folafola a Le Atua.”
“Faafetai i lau susuga le failauga mo le feau taumolimoli o lenei aso ua taula iai le faasili pea o lenei aso..
“O au foi talu lava ona tatou mafuta i le tatou aiga, ua amata lava ona tupu le gagana lea ou te faalogo atu iai.. fai mai e faalogo atu i le loomatua.., na e vaai atu i le loomatua.. e oo foi i leoleo o loo matou feoai o le gagana lava lea ou te faalogo iai.. ua matua si loomatua…
“Ia na ou faapea lea pe ou te ita ea i lea faaupuga.. ae o le uiga lava ia ou te fia manao e faasa’o.. ina ia ave sa’o lava le uiga o le upu, o le upu, o le Olomatua.. O le puipuiga lea ia manatua lelei e outou tamaloloa le uiga o le upu.”
“Ia o lea ua iloa uma e le lalolagi atoa o lea ua aloaia le 65 tausaga.. Ia, ua tatou iloa foi le uiga o le 65 o le penisione.. E o faatasi le upu penisione ma le litaea ona faatupu foi lea i le mafaufau i le faitauga lava ia e le tagata, ua oo i le tausaga ua pulapula lagoto le soifua.”
“Lau susuga i le faafeagaiga, faafetai tele lava. Manuia tele i tatou uma i lenei aso. Faamanuia Le Atua. Soifua.”
