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SAMOA'S
ALL WOMEN PARLIAMENT FOR ONE DAY |
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By Lagi Keresoma |
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Lepa School student was
Prime Minister of Samoa for one day, Ulalia Sulufai of Paul XI College
was the Speaker of the House and Regina Ahfar was Le Mamea Ropati, the
Leader of Opposition.
The students were among more than 40 female students from different
schools who for one day got the chance to become Member of Parliament
and to debate the amendment to the Electoral Act.
Tamaitai ma Upufai a Samoa was initiated by the Inailau a Tamaita'i
Organisation and other non government organisations, networking
together under the National Council of Women. The programme coincides
with the International Day for Women.
Organisers said having the young women in the programme gave them a
chance to know and experience life as a politician in parliament. It
was difficult trying to get them to start a debate, but once they got
going, there was no stopping them.
The issue discussed was — should the act be amended to allow more women
into parliament.
Under the current Electoral Act women are allocated 30 per cent of its
membership with the rest reserved for men.
In the debate among students 33 voted to amend the act while16 were
against it. The co-ordinators were impressed with the enthusiasm showed
by the participants, especially of "not being afraid to speak their
minds."
Since Samoa's first parliament, only a few women had made it into the
House. In the election of 1964, only one ran unsuccessfully. In the
election of 1967, no woman ran for any seat. In 1970, three women
competed and Taulapapa Faimaala won a seat in parliament from her
constituency in Savai'i. Taulapapa again ran in the election of 1973
under the title Leaupepe from Aana Alofi. She again won.
In 1975, Laulu Fetauimalemau entered parliament for the first time. The
year 1976 saw five women candidates competing. They were, Leaupepe
Faimaala, Fetauimalemau Mataafa, afioga Tuala Tiresa, Iiga Suafole and
Sina Annandale. Iiga and Sina won this election.
In 1979, again five women candidates |
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Student participants in the ‘Member of Parliament for one day’
program with former and current women Members of Parliament in
front of Samoa Parliament House. (Photo: Lagi Keresoma)
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Samoa College representatives who took part in the ‘Member of
Parliament for one day’ program. (Photos: Lagi Keresoma) |
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Women from around Samoa celebrating the International Day For
Women at Tooa Salamasina hall including including a day in
Parliament program.
(Photos: Lagi Keresoma) |
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competed, Laulu Fetauimalemau
Mataafa, Aiono Fanaafi, Tuala Tiresa, Frances Isobel Moores and Georgina Moores.
Laulu made it back into the House. In 1982, Matatumua Maimoana, Aiono Fanaafi,
Tagaloa Kuinimeli, Laulu Fetauimalemau Mataafa and Taito Sienei ran, and
Matatumua won a seat.
In 1985, only four women candidate ran, Aiono Fanaafi, Fiame Naomi Mataafa,
Matatumua Maimoana and Tuala Tiresa. Fiame and Aiono were elected. In 1988,
Fiame, Aiono, Matatumua, Va'asilifiti Moelagi Jackson and Fa'aloto Tofo ran.
Fiame came back as an MP.
In the election of 1991, Fiame, Matatumua, Tuato Neti Tufuga and Fepuleai Naifou
ran, again, Fiame secured a seat. 1996 was the year with most women runing,
Fiame, Aiono Sia, Aiono Fanaafi, Matatumua Maimoa and Tuilaepa Niusila, Tuala
Tiresa, Tavui Lene, Maiava Visekota Peteru, Tofaeono Anufe competed, with Fiame
and Maiava who successfully made it. The other candidates Tavu'i and Tofaeono
won the election, but lost out after the election court trials.
The current parliament has only three women MP's. They are Fagafagamanuali'i
Thresea McCarthy, Safuneituuga Neri and Fiame Naomi who holds the Ministerial
portfolio of the Ministry of Education.
Important questions raised in the debated were: Why are there so few female
members of parliaments? Is being an MP an appropriate role for women? Are there
any reasons why women can not be member of parliaments? What can be done to
ensure that more women are elected at MPs.
Event Polynesia (Samoa) had a chance to talk to the student MPs after the
session.
Tiffany Tuvao of Amoa Collge of Savai'i, was outspoken and was not afraid to
speak her mind. She said this one day programme taught her a lot about politics.
"I now have this urge to become a member of parliament,” she told Event
Polynesia (Samoa).
Utu Lamaga of St Mary School said, she now has a "good sense of what politicians
so in parliament. “its hard, but once you understand an issue, then there should
not be any trouble discussing it," she said.
Next year, the organisation is planning a different programme to commemorate the
International day for Women. Hon. Fiame Naomi was one of the co-ordinators.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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