Longserving General Manager of the Samoa Shipping Services is the Faatuatua i Le Atua Samoa ua Tasi party candidate for the upcoming by-elections for Vaimauga 3, recently vacated by the sudden passing of the late Tapunuu Papaliitele Niko Lee Hang.
Lautimuia Afoa Uelese Vaai has been the driving force behind the success of the Samoa Shipping Services focused on the provision of Samoan crewing services for International Ship Owners. Under Lautimuia’s watch, Samoa currently has over 2,000 international seafarers employed on-board overseas vessels and over 300 Maritime students with the National University of Samoa.
Lautimuia now resigns his post as GM of SSS, to take up the race for the vacant seat in Parliament.
Lautimuia’s candidacy for FAST was made official this morning in a formal cultural exchange of oratory between the village of Magiagi and the FAST party.
Mataiopule Faaniniva spoke on behalf of the village matai, to convey the village’s endorsement of their chosen candidate, to run under the banner of FAST. Mataiopule conveyed the village’s support for the ruling party.
“O le afifio ma tala mai aao o le au fue loloa ma le au tulatoa, o lau sinasina ma le au fai tofa o le itumalo, matou te omai e momoli atu le matou sui i le faigamalo o loo tulai mai i le foe, sei saili se ai o le itumalo, ma lagolago sua i lo outou pito laau aua Samoa.”
In response, FAST Party Chairman, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt thanked the village elders, matai and constituency members for choosing FAST as the party to support in the upcoming byelection.
“Faafetai pule, o lea lava ua outou faalele la outou lagolago ao faafofoga Samoa, faafetai i la outou tofa faatupu, tofa faatamalii, faafaleupolu, ua outou filifilia ai le faigamalo e momoli mai ai la outou sui faaolioli.”
Speaking to the media after the ceremony at Maota o Samoa FAST headquarters this morning, Lautimuia said if successful, one of his areas of focus would be to promote business growth for income generation in his constituency.
“To create jobs and employment opportunities through supporting businesses, as well as promote education amongst the youth.”
Prior to joining the Samoa Shipping Services and leading them as the General Manager, Lautimuia also worked with the Electric Power Corporation as the Manager of the Energy Sector Division and taught at the National University of Samoa. As an Accounting and Financial Management major, Lautimuia also previously worked as a Financial Advisor with Infinity Samoa Consultancy.
The opposition Human Rights Protection Party have also announced their candidate for the by-election. Lautimuia will be up against HRPP’s Samau Solitamaalii Timani Samau, 59, from the village of Matautu.
Nominations for candidates will close 12pm Friday 3rd February. Pre-voting is on Wednesday 22 February and the main polling day is Friday 24 February 2023.
