By Staff Writer
The leading advocator of more women in politics is hopeful there will be slightly more women elected on their own leadership merits in the 2021 General Elections.
The president of the Women in Leadership in Samoa, WILS, Gatoloai Ms. Tilianamua Afamasaga, firmly believes there will be more than four (4) this time around.
“My gut feeling is 7-8 women will come through on their own leadership qualities and it’s an improvement from the last time,” Gatoloai reacted hopefully.
Four were elected in 2016 with one more added to increase the count to five (5) under the Electoral Act amendment.
Under the amendment the woman with the highest number of votes but was not elected would go in to make up the legal number of women in Parliament.
WILS has been advocating strongly for more women in politics since 2018 through public awareness promotions.
Gatoloai believed the momentum they have built up is there and would be keen to keep it going.
There was a note of frustration with the 23 women candidates nominated, compared to 24 in 2016.
“ We were hoping for more but it is good to see that the women candidates are spread out in more constituencies rather than concentrated in a few like in the last general elections.”
The WILS leader remains hopeful the changes are coming if they continue to push with their awareness drive and embolden women to step up in political leadership roles.
Gatoloai is also hopeful the decision by former Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa to become an independent MP will add more spark to the women’s cause.
“Fiame has gone off on a limb by leaving the Government party and it is a move that will go a long way in promoting political leadership in women.
“Women are still having to battle the same dependency mentality on men’s leadership and it will take the kind of action by Fiame to bring changes.”
Gatoloai is wary, however, of how the former HRPP second in command will fare in her future political role.
“ I just hope she will align herself with good people she can trust to work with but that is going to depend on her advisers, perhaps.”
The way forward for WILS, according to Gatoloai, is to continue the push for more women in politics.
The aim is to make an early start with their awareness promotion right after the general elections next year.
