Leatinuu Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong (also known as Leatinuu Wayne Soʻoialo)[1] (born June 1959)[2] is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister who has served as the minister of Commerce, Labour and Industry since 2021.[3][4]
In March 2017 Fong called for a law change to allow Samoans to gamble in casinos.[6] In October he criticised "dirty politics" within the Human Rights Protection Party, alleging that factions were moving against Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi while he was in hospital in New Zealand.[7] In December he called for a relaxation of border controls with American Samoa.[8] In 2018 he opposed the government's Customary Land Alienation Bill.[9] In June 2019 Fong criticised the government's budget, claiming it was "unbalanced".[10]
In May 2020 Fong was asked to leave the Human Rights Protection Party by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi over his opposition to Tuilaʻepa's proposed constitutional reforms.[11][12] In July 2020 he was sacked from the party.[13] He remained in parliament as an independent.[14]
In September 2020 Fong pledged his loyalty to former Deputy Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa following her resignation, and promised to follow whichever party she joined in the 2021 election.[15] On 17 October Fong registered to run as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party in the 2021 election.[16] As a result his seat was declared vacant under anti-party-hopping provisions.[17][18] On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa.[19][20]
Fong ran in the seat of Faleata No. 2 at the April 2021 Samoan general election and was re-elected. On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[21] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[22]
On 19 December 2022 Leatinuʻu was medevaced to New Zealand for treatment for a serious heart condition.[23]
In a cabinet reshuffle on 6 September 2023 he was replaced as Commerce, Industry of Labour by Leota Laki Lamositele from 1 October 2023, but retained the Public Enterprises portfolio.[24]
^Soli Wilson (29 October 2020). "Olo, Leatinuu ousted; seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
^Adel Fruean (16 June 2019). "M.P. Faumuina celebrates 60th birthday". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^. Talamua Online. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
^"Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour / Minister of Public Enterprises". www.samoagovt.ws. from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
^ abcSoli Wilson (17 October 2020). "Faumuina registers for F.A.S.T.; braces to challenge decision". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
^"Samoa MP calls on govt to allow locals to casinos". RNZ. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi-Luamanu (14 October 2017). "Member hits out at dirty H.R.P.P. politics". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^"Call for freer border between Samoas". RNZ. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^"Heated debate in Samoa's Parliament over land bill". RNZ. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^"Samoan backbencher alleges Budget is unbalanced". RNZ. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^"Samoa PM speaks out regarding dissenting MP". RNZ. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (18 May 2020). "P.M. told me to resign, Faumuina confirms". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^"Another dissenting Samoa MP sacked". RNZ. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (8 July 2020). "M.P. Faumuina happy with removal from H.R.P.P." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (12 September 2020). "M.P. Faumuina pledges loyalty to Fiame". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^"Independent MP Leatinuʻu Wayne Fong chooses the FAST Flag". Talamua. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
^"Samoa Speaker ousts two independent MPs". RNZ. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
^Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi (18 November 2020). "Speaker officially declares seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
^Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (14 December 2020). "Olo and Faumuina delighted, ready for Parliament return". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
^Mataʻafa Keni Lesa (15 December 2020). "Let's embrace spirit of Christmas, Speaker welcomes Olo and Faumuina". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
^Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
^Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
^Shalveen Chand (20 December 2022). "Leatinuʻu airlifted to N.Z." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
^"Samoa Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle: New Finance Minister and Two Additional Ministers". Samoa Global News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
faumuina, pauli, wayne, fong, leatinuu, also, known, leatinuu, wayne, soʻoialo, born, june, 1959, samoan, politician, cabinet, minister, served, minister, commerce, labour, industry, since, 2021, honourablefaumuina, fongleatinuu, wayne, soʻoialo, 2023minister,. Leatinuu Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong also known as Leatinuu Wayne Soʻoialo 1 born June 1959 2 is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister who has served as the minister of Commerce Labour and Industry since 2021 3 4 The HonourableFaumuina FongLeatinuu Wayne Soʻoialo in 2023Minister of Public EnterprisesIncumbentAssumed office 24 May 2021 a Prime MinisterFiame Naomi MataʻafaPreceded byLautafi Fio Selafi PurcellMinister of Commerce Industry and LabourIn office 24 May 2021 a 1 October 2023Prime MinisterFiame Naomi MataʻafaPreceded byLautafi Fio Selafi PurcellSucceeded byLeota Laki LamositeleMember of the Samoan ParliamentIncumbentAssumed office 9 April 2021Preceded byTaefu LemiConstituencyFaleata No 2In office 4 March 2016 9 April 2021Preceded bySeat establishedSucceeded bySeat abolishedConstituencyUrban WestPersonal detailsBornJune 1959Political partyFaʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua TasiOther politicalaffiliationsHuman Rights Protection Party until 2020 Independent 2020 21 Faumuina worked as a cargo manager for Polynesian Airlines in the United States before moving to Hawaii 5 After returning to Samoa he ran a shipping company 5 He was first elected to the Samoan Parliament in the Urban West seat at the 2016 Samoan general election 5 In March 2017 Fong called for a law change to allow Samoans to gamble in casinos 6 In October he criticised dirty politics within the Human Rights Protection Party alleging that factions were moving against Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi while he was in hospital in New Zealand 7 In December he called for a relaxation of border controls with American Samoa 8 In 2018 he opposed the government s Customary Land Alienation Bill 9 In June 2019 Fong criticised the government s budget claiming it was unbalanced 10 In May 2020 Fong was asked to leave the Human Rights Protection Party by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi over his opposition to Tuilaʻepa s proposed constitutional reforms 11 12 In July 2020 he was sacked from the party 13 He remained in parliament as an independent 14 In September 2020 Fong pledged his loyalty to former Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa following her resignation and promised to follow whichever party she joined in the 2021 election 15 On 17 October Fong registered to run as a candidate for the F A S T party in the 2021 election 16 As a result his seat was declared vacant under anti party hopping provisions 17 18 On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa 19 20 Fong ran in the seat of Faleata No 2 at the April 2021 Samoan general election and was re elected On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour in the elected cabinet of Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa 21 The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing in ceremony was constitutional and binding and that FAST had been the government since 24 May 22 On 19 December 2022 Leatinuʻu was medevaced to New Zealand for treatment for a serious heart condition 23 In a cabinet reshuffle on 6 September 2023 he was replaced as Commerce Industry of Labour by Leota Laki Lamositele from 1 October 2023 but retained the Public Enterprises portfolio 24 Notes edit a b Disputed 24 May 2021 23 July 2021References edit Soli Wilson 29 October 2020 Olo Leatinuu ousted seats vacant Samoa Observer Retrieved 25 May 2021 Adel Fruean 16 June 2019 M P Faumuina celebrates 60th birthday Samoa Observer Retrieved 8 July 2020 First FAST Cabinet Down to Work When the Impossible Happens Talamua Online 29 July 2021 Archived from the original on 31 July 2021 Retrieved 5 September 2021 Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour Minister of Public Enterprises www samoagovt ws Archived from the original on 16 November 2021 Retrieved 9 December 2021 a b c Soli Wilson 17 October 2020 Faumuina registers for F A S T braces to challenge decision Samoa Observer Retrieved 25 May 2021 Samoa MP calls on govt to allow locals to casinos RNZ 8 March 2017 Retrieved 8 July 2020 Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi Luamanu 14 October 2017 Member hits out at dirty H R P P politics Samoa Observer Retrieved 8 July 2020 Call for freer border between Samoas RNZ 27 December 2017 Retrieved 8 July 2020 Heated debate in Samoa s Parliament over land bill RNZ 22 March 2018 Retrieved 8 July 2020 Samoan backbencher alleges Budget is unbalanced RNZ 21 June 2019 Retrieved 8 July 2020 Samoa PM speaks out regarding dissenting MP RNZ 20 May 2020 Retrieved 8 July 2020 Lanuola Tusani Tupufia Ah Tong 18 May 2020 P M told me to resign Faumuina confirms Samoa Observer Retrieved 8 July 2020 Another dissenting Samoa MP sacked RNZ 7 July 2020 Retrieved 8 July 2020 Lanuola Tusani Tupufia Ah Tong 8 July 2020 M P Faumuina happy with removal from H R P P Samoa Observer Retrieved 8 July 2020 Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi 12 September 2020 M P Faumuina pledges loyalty to Fiame Samoa Observer Retrieved 13 September 2020 Independent MP Leatinuʻu Wayne Fong chooses the FAST Flag Talamua 17 October 2020 Retrieved 18 November 2020 Samoa Speaker ousts two independent MPs RNZ 29 October 2020 Retrieved 18 November 2020 Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi 18 November 2020 Speaker officially declares seats vacant Samoa Observer Retrieved 18 November 2020 Lanuola Tusani Tupufia Ah Tong 14 December 2020 Olo and Faumuina delighted ready for Parliament return Samoa Observer Retrieved 15 December 2020 Mataʻafa Keni Lesa 15 December 2020 Let s embrace spirit of Christmas Speaker welcomes Olo and Faumuina Samoa Observer Retrieved 15 December 2020 Marieta H Ilalio 25 May 2021 Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds Samoa Global News Retrieved 25 May 2021 Lanuola Tusani Tupufia Ah Tong 23 July 2021 F A S T declared new Government as appeal upheld Samoa Observer Retrieved 23 July 2021 Shalveen Chand 20 December 2022 Leatinuʻu airlifted to N Z Samoa Observer Retrieved 20 December 2022 Samoa Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle New Finance Minister and Two Additional Ministers Samoa Global News 6 September 2023 Retrieved 6 September 2023 Legislative Assembly of SamoaNew seat Member of Parliament for Urban West2016 2021 Constituency abolishedPreceded byTaefu Lemi Member of Parliament for Faleata No 22021 present IncumbentPolitical officesPreceded byLautafi Fio Selafi Purcell Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour2021 2023 Succeeded byLeota Laki LamositeleMinister of Public Enterprises2023 present Incumbent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong amp oldid 1205279737, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
