The hard working FAST Party Secretary, Va’aaoao Salumalo Alofipo, has won the Gagaemauga 1 seat, displacing Samoa’s former Deputy Prime Minister Hon Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio
Va’aaoao has won with 483 votes, with the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister polling 312. The FAST Secretary is ahead by 171 votes.
Independent candidate Lauano Mulivai Lauano got 236 votes; and Tevaga Mikaele Ah-Lam of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) secured 192 votes.
Vaaaoao had run a campaign with a promise to focus on agricultural development as a way to create jobs and boost Samoa’s economy.
That is well aligned with the FAST Party Manifesto that says the Government will invest heavily to boost exports with $50 million tala flagged to support commercial farmers for exports (mo faatoaga faipisinisi e siitia ai oloa faatau atu i fafo).
Another $50 million will go towards manufacturing for import substitution (mo oloa gaosi e faaitiitia ai oloa mai fafo) to help alleviate Samoa’s balance of payments.
Access to Finance for farmers will be boosted by $50 million tala to be given to the Development of Samoa for distribution.
“DBS is where farmers and micro enterprises should be going for access to unsecured loans, “that you can pay back when you harvest,” said FAST party leader Laaulialemalietoa.
The counting of votes continued until 3am this morning at the OEC Headquarters at Tuanaimato. The counting shall restart at 9am according to the schedule issued by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner.
The Preliminary results had FAST 33, HRPP 12, SUP 3 and Independents 3.
Day 2 recounting saw the close race for Faleata 1 declared as an HRPP seat with Faumuina Opapo Soanai Oeti edging out Manuleleua Sonny and Manuleleua Paletasala.
Another close race to look out for today (Day 3) is Falealili 2 where FAST party’s Fuimaono Maiava Tito Asafo is just 27 votes ahead of woman candidate Fuimaono Malia Meredith who had declared herself as an HRPP candidate just days before the elections.
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