By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
Voters in the Gagaifomauga No. 3 Electoral Constituency will go to the polls this week to elect a new Member of Parliament in a by-election on Friday, 28 August 2020.
Former MP La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, who leads the newly established political party FAST is expected to be the overwhelming favourite.
His opponent, Fa’aulusau Simi Laulua, is no newcomer to politics after an unsuccessful tilt in the 2011 general elections, but he is relatively unknown at the national level.
He is, however, a household name at his home village of Aopo, where the elders called him out to stand as a candidate in the by-elections.
Fa’aulusau did draw national attention when he registered as a candidate to rain on the popular belief that his rival will have a free run to retain his seat in Parliament.
The former Speaker and Cabinet Minister, La’aulialemalietoa, held the limelight for sometime with a controversial run of back to back resignations from the HRPP and as an MP.
Claims that he was following the wish of the Constituency added to the general understanding that he will return unopposed in the by-elections.
But that is as far as three other villages in the electoral constituency, Fagae’e, Letui and Sasina are concerned.
All have pledged unanimous support to the former MP.
A combined delegation of leaders from all three village even met with the elders of Aopo to win over their endorsement but came away disappointed.
Aopo village sources later revealed that the elders felt let down when the former MP did not turn up in person to meet with them.
Respect and love of his home village of Aopo is the driving force behind Faaulusau’s second attempt to win the trust of the electoral constituency in him as their next MP.
“ The elders made me their choice of by-election candidate and I respect their wish with a willingness to serve and do my best,” he told Newsline Samoa.
“Aopo has so much potential to offer Gagaifomauga No.3 with all that land to be developed along with natural attractions and mythologies to interest tourists to the village.”
Fa’aulusau is a graduate of the Marist education system from Mulivai to St. Joseph’s College.
He moved to New Zealand to live but his heart was always at home in Samoa where he eventually made the decision to return with his wife and daughter.
He is the son of well known radio personality, Mailata Laulua, with his daily market reports at Savalalo before it re-located to Fugalei, and a flea market was set up in place.
“La’auli and I maybe rivals in politics but we are brothers from Gagaifomauga and we play like brothers. May the best man wins.”