Samoa’s Parliament Observes Moment of Silence for Two Former MPs Recently Passed

January 18, 2022

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Parliament’s first sitting of the year began with a moment of silence to honour two former MPs who have recently passed.

The official announcement was made by the Speaker of the House Papalii Lio Taeu Masipau after the opening prayer.

Hon. Tapulesatele Taulapapa Toleafoa Tiumalu Mauteni Esera II passed away on the 8th of December 2021 and Hon. Va’ai Mafasolia Papu Vailupe Vaai passed away in New Zealand yesterday, on the 17th of January 2022.

Hon Tapulesatele Mauteni Metuli II Esera was a Member of Parliament from 2016 – 2021, representing the Savaii constituency of Vaisigano 2. In that time he served as a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Development.

Hon Papu Vaai first entered Parliament as a Human Rights Protection Party representative of Falealupo in 1991. He returned in 1996 and from 1996 to 1998 he served as Minister of Justice before switching in a Tuilaepa-led Cabinet reshuffle in 1998 to Minister of Agriculture. He lost his seat in 2001 but the veteran MP returned to Parliament in 2006 as an Independent. This time as a Member of Parliament for his father’s old seat, Vaisigano 1. Vaai Kolone was a co-founder of HRPP. In 2008 Papu Vaai joined other Independent MPs to form the Tautua Party.

Speaker of the House Papalii Lio Taeu Masipau.

“On behalf of Samoa’s Parliament I wish to convey our sincere sympathies to members of their respective constituencies, their wives and children, friends and families..,” said Papalii in Parliament.

“O le mea lea ou te valaau atu ai i le mamalu o le tatou palemene ina ia tatou tutulai mo sina minute se tasi e faailoa ai le tatou faaaloalo mo nai sui usufono ua fa’ilagi i le folauga.”

PRAYER

“E le uma lo matou faafetai le Alii e, i au meaalofa sa e tu’uina mo nei foi tama, le faaaloalo, le alofa o le faamaoni e le galo lava lo matou mafuta i le olaga nei ua matou tatalo le Alii e, ia avea ia nei uiga taua ma au meaalofa i nei tamalii ia fai ma oso foi o le faigamalaga a lenei palemene ia aua la matou folauga i lenei tausaga le Alii e, ua matou tatalo ia iai pea lau faamaisega i lau palemene aemaise o aiga le Alii e, o le matou tatalo lea e ala lava ia Iesu Keriso. Amene.”