FAST Party

The caucus of Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi, or FAST, party was united in the decision to elect Fiame leader during a meeting on Tuesday.

Former HRPP MP and Speaker, Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, is now deputy leader.

Fiame is the daughter of the first Prime Minister, the late Mata'afa Fiame Faumuina Mulinu'u II.

She is the second woman to take the leadership of a political party after one of her aunts, former MP and founding member of the HRPP party, Matatumua Maimoana Vermullen, founded and led the Samoa All People's party in the 80s.

This week the party held a ceremony to welcome the Fiame as representative of the Lotofaga constituency.

Fiame was a longtime member of the ruling HRPP but left the government last year due to her opposition to three bills changing the Constitution and empowering the administration of the Lands and Titles court.

The former deputy PM's constituency took part in the ceremony where Fiame was officially presented to the newly established Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi which was founded by another former HRPP minister and former speaker, Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt.

The local matai are supporters of the current MP and candidate for the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).

The village matai delivered a letter to the Chairman of Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST), saying the party's road show could not be held in the village.

The chairman of FAST, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, accused MP and Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Afamasaga Toeolesulusulu Rico Tupa'i, of being behind the decision.

At a roadshow this week, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi joined an appeal for members of the Falealili 2 constituency to lend their votes to the FAST party.

Tui Atua was prime minister from 1976 to 1982, and was the head of state from 2007 to 2017.

The Samoa Observer reports hundreds gathered at a church hall to hear the FAST leader, Laauli Leauatea Schmidt, outline his party's plans for Samoa.

The FAST party visited Mapuifagalele last Sunday and supplied basic supplies for elderly people.

Party leader Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmid said they are doing their best to show their care and support to every individual.

A notably fast-growing social media presence of the new party shares much of their outreach programmes in the community.