By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The ‘Fautasi o Toa’ rowed to a proud second place in the St. Joseph’s College 70th Anniversary longboat race on Friday.
There was general agreement among spectators along the seawall that for a few more meters, they would have edged out the ‘green rowers’ of the Alfred House to a famous win in the five-boat race.
What was so special about this race and the ‘Fautasi o Toa’? For starters the ‘Fautasi o Toa’ is a fautasi/longboat of women rowers only.
The other four boats were all crewed by strong men, powerful enough to each carry two women rowers on their shoulders without breaking a sweat.
House Dieter was third, Marcellin fourth and Darnard fifth.
A proud moment and race placing for the women to celebrate with full credit to their inspirational and race savvy master skipper Vaimasenu’u Zita Martel.
Beyond the novelty of women competing against the men in a traditional sport for men, were bigger challenges the ‘Fautasi o Toa’ was eager to highlight.
Women’s rights and domestic violence are issues dear to skipper Vaimasenu’u that she wanted to address by competing against the men.
She made that clear on the black sand beach infront of the seawall section at Tamaligi, for the official launching of their special cause earlier in the week prior to the race.
The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, was there as well to lend his support.
He added a few quips about how it will look for the men if they lose the race to the ‘Fautasi o Toa’.
He was quick to make the exception about his house team boat that was badly beaten into last place, after taking off at the gun a long way behind all the other boats.
The United Nations Development Programme’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Project fired up the women crew with their full support of the gender issues.
The UN and European Union’s Spotlight Initiative was also on board to highlight the surge in domestic violence cases.
The UNDP Resident Representative, Jorn Sorensen, cranked up the women’s winning resolve by commending the “example of using traditional sports as a vehicle to address the issue of domestic violence.”
Sorenson showed concern at the spike in domestic violence during the COVID-19 lockdown period and the “gender biases that continue to discriminate against and prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential.”
“The fact that the longboat is made up entirely of women, and captained by a champion female skipper, and competing with the men in the same competition under the same rules, sends a strong message that women’s equal participation, and leveling the playing field for both men and women, is very much possible,” Sorensen said.
The Head of State Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II and Masiofo Fa’amausili Leinafo along with the Member of the Council of Deputies, Le Mamea Ropati, offered moral support as well by attending the event.