By Martha Taumata Faavae
When the Minister of Women and Social Community, Tuitama Dr. Talalelei Tuitama, asked his wife and children for their opinion, the response was unanimous.
Time to retire. No more politics. It is family time.
After 4 consecutive terms in Parliament, the last two as a Cabinet Minister, it is the end of the political road for the 76 year old medical doctor turned veteran politician.
The end was actually decided before he made his last and final attempt to win the Aana Alofi No. 1 seat in the 2016 general election.
He did win but he knew it was to be his farewell term in politics.
“I felt it was to going my last term and I talked it out with my family and they unanimously agreed,” Tuitama confessed.
“In the end it was a collective decision that I retire from politics because they felt I was not young any more and it is their time.”
Any lingering doubts of staying on were wiped out after he was forced to seek medical treatment in New Zealand.
As the Minister makes his final bows from politics his advice to all who aspire for a career in public life is to have a strong heart and a firm resolve.
“One of the hardest, heartbreaking burdens you learn to endure as a public figure especially as a political leader, is what your angry, mocking critics dumped on you.
“I feel very deeply for the hurt my children felt at what my critics openly said about me but I find consolation in my faith in the just and fairness of God.”
Voter demands and expectations are burdens that the Minister often identified from his long career as all part of the job.
The constant asking for money is what he and all the other fellow politicians have accepted as normal.
“Voters think you have a lot of money and they would come to you for help and I am willing to help out but it is not as if I have money all the time.
“I will always try to contribute when I can but I cannot be in a position to do so all the time.”
To all future Cabinet Ministers who think it is an easy job just sitting there with everyone at your beck and call, the Tuitama advice is think again.
The biggest burden he found was the nagging conscience of realising that at stake is the country and the lives of the people.
“ Committee reports have to be studied and forwarded for approval on issues that affect many lives and your appetite returns only after an anxious wait for endorsement.
“ Going on the scrounge for donor funding for much needed developments in your particular Cabinet portfolio is another major commitment
“It is only when a donor partner is committed to help out are you as Minister able to walk freely without any burden weighing down on your shoulders.”
Tuitama sang sweet praises of his Human Rights Protection Party, HRPP, mostly based on his personal experience of the quality of leadership that makes a strong party.
The Minister’s political career started off in 2001 as MP for Fagaloa under his Leao ‘matai’ or chiefly title.
He joined the SNDP opposition political party that his constituency favoured until he was elected for a second term from 2006-2011 when he made the switch to the HRPP.
He was appointed Associate Minister of Health in his new party.
It was at the end of his second term in Parliament that he made the switch to the Aana Alofa No. 1 Constituency under his Tuitama matai title and won.
He was appointed to his first full Cabinet portfolio as Minister of Health in his third term in Parliament from 2011-2016.
He remained a Cabinet Minister on his fourth and final term from 2016-2021 as Minister of Women and Social Development.
The political journey ends for him but his heart is with Samoa continuing to stay on the pathway of development it is has been following under the HRPP.
“ I love Samoa and my prayer is for God to continue his love and guide the voters into making the right choice for the future good of Samoa.
“ My faith in God has led me to believe that all the work the HRPP has done and achieved for Samoa are divinely inspired.
“The work and achievements Government has made to benefit the country speaks for itself.”
Tuitama is serving out the remainder of his political career as a caretaker Cabinet Minister until a new Government is elected after the 9 April General Election.