The latest political party to register for the 2021 general elections in Samoa wants to limit the Prime Minister’s term in office to just two terms.
Fa’atuatua I Le Atua Samoa ua Tasi, (FAST) was officially registered yesterday with the Office of the Electoral Commissioner and promptly announced that they will be fielding a candidate at every of the 50 seats up for grabs next year.
Heading the party is former speaker and cabinet minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, who resigned from Parliament last month and now faces a by-election.
Eleven matai representing the traditional seats of Samoan cultural tradition, 6 from Savai’i representing Pule, 3 from Upolu representing Tumua and one each from Aiga-i-le-tai and Va’a-o-Fonoti.
The party has promised to stop church ministers paying taxes and review the controversial three bills seeking to change the Constitution to allow for major overhaul of the Judiciary in the country.
Samoa Observer reports that the party stated that limiting the term of a Prime Minister to two terms will ensure good governance and avoid the abuse of power and entrenched corruption.
The party wants to recognize overseas-based Samoans’ “major contribution” to the country’s development.
They said they will be decentralizing selected services to come under the management of village councils and push for more transparency and efficiency in the management of public-owned assets under the government’s care.
FAST says it wants to actively practice and promote principles of accountability within Government, Judiciary and Parliament to the people of Samoa.
They also declared they intend to stamp out any unacceptable practice of corruption in Government, Judiciary and Parliament.
It was not clear if all of the eleven representatives of the “traditional seats” at the registration would all be run-in in the general elections.
Photo: Talamua Media
