Staff Writer
The joyful spirit of Christmas has come early for Gatoloaifaana Mrs. Tilianamua Afamasaga as advocator of women in leadership in Samoa.
The merry gift of the season appeared in the form of 6 membership seats guaranteed under the Constitution for women in Parliament, decided after recent by-elections.
The seating allocation represents 10 percent of women in the highest decision making leadership body in the country.
All but the official swearing-in is now left for the two new women seats confirmed for Alataua Sisifo candidate Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tu’uau and Fagaesealii Sapoa Feagiai of Aleipata Itupa-i-Lalo.
“I’m overjoyed at this historical landmark for our women taking up leadership roles in Parliament,” Gatoloaifa’ana assured Newsline Samoa in celebration of the most ever number of women to be seated in Parliament.
The determined campaigner has been pushing hard since the build up to the April general elections this year as part of the UN call for the rights of women in leadership.
Uncertainties still lingers in the final selection of the added seats for women, but Gatoloaifa’ana is quietly confident of the momentum generated going forward.
“We have to remain consistent with still more work to do to,” she added with Samoa playing catch up.
“Some of the countries already have women in leadership up to 30 per cent while others are more advanced.”
The biggest stumbling obstacle the relentless advocator has found is the women lack of interest in leadership roles.
Politics is felt by many to be a male gender issue but Gatoloaifa’ana will not agree entirely with the influence of the local culture where women defer to the men.
She signaled out women notables in the local culture with the legendary Nafanua and Sooaemalelagi among others who stood out in leadership roles in Samoa’s past.
“In some villages, women leadership stands out prominently so I don’t fully agree with the setbacks from culture.
“I believe it is a mind-set about leadership that needs changing for women”
Gatoloaifa’ana admitted zero interest in pushing women into taking sides in party politics except to encourage them to take advantage of their leadership potentials.
As a member of an international organisation of advocators in women leadership, the biggest impact she and the others have talked and hoped for is to have a woman elected Prime Minister.
“The election of Fiame Naomi Mataafa as the first woman Prime Minister of Samoa is huge for us but by the same token, we try to steer very clear of politics.
“Our focus is to overcome the challenges of encouraging women to become leaders and not be seen to support any political side.”
The new added women MPs are both candidates of the opposition Human Rights Protection Party HRPP.
Alataua Sisifo candidate Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tu’uau is a returning MP who represented the constituency in the previous Government.
Aleipata Itupa-i-Lalo candidate Fagaesealii Sapoa Feagiai is a newcomer.