Judge Alalatoa dedicates honour to her parents

By Deidre Tautua 01 April 2017, 12:00AM

Alalatoa Rosella Viane Papali’i is Samoa’s newest District Court Judge.

The 45-year-old mother from Leulumoega Tuai, Falealili, Sapapali’i and Fagali’i took her oath before the Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu, in the Supreme Court yesterday.

The joyous occasion was well attended by her family, friends, colleagues and officials of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration.

But there was one man the new Judge would have loved to see there. 

That man is her father, the late Viane Papali’i. 

During her speech, she paid tribute to him and her mother, Rosalina Petersen-Papali’i.

“I will always remember how difficult it was at the beginning of our family at Leulumoega,” Judge Alalatoa said. “Those difficulties motivated and challenged me to do the best I can for our family, village and the church.”

Judge Alalatoa then dedicated her new role to her parents.

“This new appointment as a Judge is for you my beloved parents. If it weren’t for your love and the grace of God, I would not be here. Thank you so much!”

Judge Alalatoa becomes the fourth woman Judge in Samoa. 

She joins Justice Mata Tuatagaloa, Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren and Judge Talasa Sa’aga on the bench.

It is something she is very proud of. And she hopes it would motivate more women lawyers who are eligible to step up to the bar.

Chief Justice His Honour Patu congratulated Judge Alalatoa.

“Everyone is equal under the law,” he reminded.“It does not discriminate but treats the rich and poor, strong and weak, equally.”

Judge Alalatoa was reminded that the oath she took is to serve Samoa in accordance with the Constitution and the Law.

“As a Judge, you no longer have human feelings, but stand independently under the guidance of God,” said C.J. Patu. 

“Being a judge is no easy work because there will be times that your human feelings will debate with what is right.But you must always do the right thing.”

His Honour Patu encouraged Judge Alalatoa to let God be her helper.

“You will need God’s help in decision making and doing the right thing,” he said.

“Let Him be the bright star that will lead your every way and let Him be your guardian.He will never leave nor forsake you, but He will guide you when you go out and when you come in.

Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, and the President of the Samoa Law Society, Su’a Hellene Wallwork, congratulated Judge Alalatoa.

 Prior to her appointment, Judge Alalatoa had worked as a lawyer for 13 years. 

Eight of those years she had been practicing law as Principal of her law firm Rosella V Papali’i Law. 

Prior to this, she was an associate for Toa Law for five years from 2004 to 2009.

On the academic front, she was awarded a Diploma of Professional Legislative Drafting - University of South Pacific under scholarship from Commonwealth Institute (UK) in 2015.

In 2009, she was appointed as a Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Samoa, having been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Samoa and New Zealand in 2004.

She graduated with a Master of Laws from Waikato University in 2004, having had also obtained a Bachelor of Laws in 2003 from the same university.

She is a former student of Samoa College. She had served as the Vice President as well as the General Secretary of the Samoa Law Society.

The following in Samoan is Judge Alalatoa’s acceptance speech:

 

LAUGA O LE FAATAUTOGA FAAMASINO O LE FAAMASINOGA FAAITUMALO 

Judge Alalatoa Rosella Viane Papalii

Ua, fa’aifo le na’aloa i lona tao maga mutua, i tuleiga ma saunoaga matagofie o lenei taeao liuga lua. Ma ua a’e sagisagi foi le fa’atautaiga a manusina i Tua ’ia maualuluga. Ae o le aso nai tumua, ua taoto ai tofiga o atua, o ao, usoi’u ma tulauniu o atua. E leai la seisi na te tautalagia, aua o Samoa ma ona paia ua nofo fale nei i Sa Tui a ma’a.    

Aua o lea ua afio lau Afioga I le taitai sauniga, Lau Afioga Moseniolo Etuale Etuale, faapea faafeagaiga taulagi ma faletua; 

Afio foi lau Afioga i le Faamasino Sili ma lou Faletua ae tainane le vasega o al’ii ma tama’itai Faamasino o le faamasinoga maualuga ma le faamasinoga faaitumalo. 

Alalatai lau Afioga i le Peresetene, tou afioga i faamasino ma faatonu o le Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, 

Ua afio lau Afioga i le Minisita o Faamasinoga, lau Afioga Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu.

Afio foi lau Afioga I le Fofoga fetalai ma sui mamalu o le fono usu a Samoa. E le gata I lea ae faapea foi faauluuluga o le malo,  aemaise le Alii pule ma le Resitara o le Faamasinoga, ma le ofisa o Faamasinoga. 

Afifio foi a oulua Afioga I sui o  le komiti faafoe o galuega o faamasinoga poo le JSC. E le gata I lea ae o lo’o alalata’i foi lau Afioga i le Taitai fono, faatonu ma le alii pule a le matou komiti faatonu mo le malae vaalele poo le Samoa Airport Authority.  

Alalatai a oulua Afioga i le loia Sili o Samoa ma le tamaitai peresetene, sui tofia o le laulau, ma le lavaloa o le sosaiete o Alii ma tamaitai loia o Samoa. 

O lo’o Afifio fo’i  le ma’ave eseese o le auvalaaulia, ua aofaga potopoto, aemaise ou aiga pele, uo ma e masani. Tulou tulouna ia. 

E ia te au le ava ma le faaaloalo tele, ou te faatalofa atu ai i le maualuga o lenei aso. Ou te iloa, ua outou sanisani faamanuao o le vaveao, ma si’i mai la outou fale si’isi’igata ona o lo outou fia pati limaina o lenei  faamoemoe. Ae o o le fesili, o ai ea lo’u nei tagata fa’atauva’a ua outou manatu mai ai?

O le aso ma le faamoemoe, e leai ni upu e faalanu ai lo’u agaga  faafetai.

E mua pea mea i matautu sa, e pei o le tala ia Moaula,  fa’afoi lapalapa i malo aua le Atua ma lona agalelei. Aua e moni lava o ni lavasaga ma fuafuaga i tofa na a’e ona o lenei fa’amoemoe, a’o folauga a le Soama, e fai la, tu i le ama i le pule a le silisili ese. 

Ou te fia muai faafetai i lau Afioga Moseniolo Etuale o le puleaga o Samoa I  Apia, mo le osigataulaga, faapea le upu folafola sa manavaina e lau Afioga aua se upu faato matau, a o se upu faalaei au, aemaise tatalo faapea manatu tima’i ma le faamalosi au. Faafetai mo saunoaga  lu’itau mo lo’u nei tagata vaivai aua le alo atu i tofiga a lo tatou Tama oi le lagi. Ou te matu’ai ou talitonu, o le a avea foi lea ma oso ma ta’iala e le gata i lo’u nei tagata, ae faapea foi le paia ma mamalu ua sasao nei. Aua o le upu moni lava o tofiga faapenei e matu’ai manaomia ai tatalo ma talosaga e fesoasosani mai i le faatinoina o tiute ma galuega.Faafetai lava i lau Afioga Moseniolo.

Lona lua,  o la’u faafetai fa’ale lava i lau Afioga i le Faamasino Sili, lau Afioga Patu Falefatu Maka Sapolu mo au tuleiga matagofie a’o se saunoaga fa’atama ma lo’u nei tagata ma le faamoemoe. Faafetai lava mo le fa’atuatuaga ma le fa’aeaea a lau Afioga faapea sui mamalu o le komisi o le JSC i lo’u nei tagata fa’atauvaa. E toatele lava nai ou uso ma tuagane loia e matuai agava’a i lenei tofiga, ae peitai ane,  o lea ua alualu suaga a le va’a tele i lau Afioga ma sui o le JSC, o lea ua tasi ai nei Ta’u, fusi foi fau o malo. Faafetai faafetai tele lava

E tatau foi ona momoli la’u faafetai i lau afioga I le Alii Palemia e ui lava e le o auai mai ma le mamalu o le kapeneta, mo le faamautuina o lenei tofiga, aua ana leai, e le taunuu lenei fa’amoemoe.

 Lau Afioga i le minisita Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu, e leai lava se taimi na fesiligia ai lau lagolago i lenei tofiga. Faafetai lava mo lau lagolagosua.

O le upu moni, e le mama ia te a’u le tofiga aua e fai o le fale, a’o le ano fale.  Ma o le a ou galue punouai foi e tautua ma le faamaoni ma le le fefe e tusa ma la’u tautoga aua se ai mo le manuia o si o tatou Atunuu. 

 Faafetai lava. 

Lau Afioga I le Loia Sili Lemalu Amani Retzlaff, se faafetai mo lau saunoaga matagofie. E moni le’i lava se tatou mafutaga fa’aloia, ae e maitaulia lava lou taumafai mai I lau saunoaga. Faafetai lava. Ia e tusa lava pele lava se tatou ia mafutaga faaloia, ae, o lo’u iloa e lelei a le tatou ia mafutaga ona sa o tatou ao’oga mai lava o laiti ma tatou kiki kiki ma’a faatasi, (sei tulou mai) mai a i le Apia Primary sau ai a i Leifiifi. I lena foi vaitaimi o oe leisi fia “kama” e pei o agaga ua a’e nei i le matou auga tupulaga, ae o matou mai le village, o le au kalepe faipopo ia sa iai. Lemalu, faafetai mo lau saunoaga matagofie mo lenei aso.

O la’u talosaga Lemalu ma la’u tu’u alalo, a tele lava ni seleni a si a outou ofisa ona va’ai alofa ane lea isi o tatou Sosaiete, le tagolima ma le ausage, i ni aoaoga e saga fa’amausaliiina ai le malamalama o nai o tatou uo a Loia, i tulafono fou ma teuteuga o lo’o saputu mai I le tou Ofisa. O le fautuaga vaivai ae le faia’e, ia faifai malie lou sa ma ia mau le to’ovae. 

Ia saga faamanuia pea le agaga o le Atua ia te oe le tuagane aemaise le mamalu o si ou ofisa.        

I lau Afioga i le tamaitai peresetene lalelei o le tatou sosaiete o Alii ma tamaitai Loia o Samoa e sili ona pele ia te a’u, lau Afioga Su’a Hellene Wallwork – Lamb, se ua e si’i a’u tu’u I le ma’a salafa. Ua le mapu le fia faalogo atu ona ua o se matagi agi malie lau saunoaga matagofie ma le  manino mo lou nei tagata. Ou te mautinoa e te le’i tuu mamaina lau saunoaga i lenei taeao ma sa e saili ma suesue maioio aua se sao o le tatou sosaiete mo lenei taeao. A lea ua e saunoa iai.Faafetai tele lava.  O ai na manatu o le a sii le fale o asomualemalama I le mauga. Ua lagona le matamuli ma le faatauvaa

Faafetai tele lava i lau Afioga Su’a mo saafiafiaga ma saunoaga faalaei a’u ua matua lagona ai lota agaga faagaeetia ma le fiafia.

Ou te talitonu, o lenei tofiga e le se tofi na o a’u. Aua o lo’u piitaga i le tatou sosaiete ma le galuega fa’a loia ua vala’auina ai au e le Atua le Tama mo nei tofiga.

E tele foi tausaga o o tatou galulue so’oso’o tauau aua lava le taumafaiga ma se ai o si o tatou sosaiete. E le gata i lau Afioga Su’a ae faapena isi peresetene e pei o Savalenoa, Leota ma Leiataualesa. E lea la ou te iloa  lelei e le faigofie le galuega o lo’o outou fitaituga i ai. Ae faamalo lava le onosai.E tele lo’u faamoemoe, o le a saga mausali pea le agai i luma o si tatou sosaiete.

Ou te fia ta’ua foi, e iai nai a’u uo a loia sa fesoasoani mai i la’u savaliga faaloia e pei o Semi Leung Wai. O lenei tagata o Semi e fai lana lisi lena e ta’u o le “A” list. Ma ou te mitamita lava e ta’u atu, o a’u leisi tagata laki na lautogia i le lisi lea a Semi. E o’o mai lava i le taimi lenei e le’i aveeseina a’u mai I le lisi lea.

Ou te fia Faafetaia nai a’u uo a loia, na tau aao mai feau matagofie o le agaga fiafia ma le lagolagosua i lou tofiga. 

Faafetai lava i nai a’u uo a loia mo le tatou mafutaga mafana.Faafetai le faasoa manatu ma le tofa fetala’i.Faafetai le faufautua.

Ma o le tala moni, e matua ou misia le tatou  mafutaga. O le a ou misia foi a tatou fusuaga i tatou faamasinoga e faia. E pei tatou o ni teine ma ni tama autu o se ata tifaga.  O nisi o taimi e tiga lota le fiafia i sota uo a loia, ae inu lava le fualaau Panadol o le onosai ma tagai i le va fealoai.  Ma ou te misia itu uma nei o le tatou galuega.     

O nai a’u upu mulimuli, o le tu’ualalo i le mamalu o le tatou sosaiete ae maise nai uso ma tuagane e fou mai I le sosaiete, ia  fa’aauau le a’oa’oina ma le su’esu’e maioio i le tulafono ma aua le mata’u pe fefe. 

Aua foi le maasisi pe matamuli e tapa le fesoasoani mai i isi uso a loia i so’o se taimi ma Ia fesili muli mai ia mua mai. Faimai upu o si o matou Nuu, a mai mataiva mai tautai, amia se vai i punaolo aua le alofi taute a le Tuiaana ma Leulumoega. Ia maua pea le tofa mamao.

Ia saga faamanuia pea le agaga o Atua i lau afioga i le Peresetene, la outou laulau tofia, aemaise le mamalu o si o tatou sosaiete.

E le mafai ona galo ia te a’u ona ou faafetai i nai ou uso a Faamasino ia Mata, Lani ma Talasa, (Tulouna outou suafa matai). E le gata i le tatou faigauo mafana ae ou te mautinoa lo outou lagolago ia te a’u i lenei tofiga. O outou nai ou uso e amata mai ia Mata, sa mua i malae i le asa ina o le ala mo se ai o le tatou itupa i galuega fa’afaamasino o le Faamasinoga Maualuga ma le Faaitumalo. 

Ma ou te faafetaia pea le Afioga i le Faamasino Sili ma sui o le JSC ona o le tagai toto’a i nei tulaga ua o matou aeae ai. 

O lo’u oo mai i lenei tofiga e atoa ai le toa 4 o i matou. Atonu e avea foi lea ma faamalosi au ai nisi o tamatai Loia agava’a o lo’o iai so latou naunautaiga e fia faamasino i se aso oi luma.  Ma e talafeuga ai ma le pese matagofie o le tatou osigataulaga i lenei taeao, ina tatou usu ia se pese fou i luma o le Alii, ina ia lagona uma o tatou leo ma siufofoga i tumutumu o mauga.  

Nai ou tuagane a faamasino, e le taumate o le’a ou faamoemoe foi i sa outou fesoasoani ma le laolagosua i le faatinoina o le galuega ma tiute tauave.    

Lau Afioga i le ReEsitara poo le Alii Pule, lau susuga Papalii John Taimalelagi, sui resitara faapea le mamalu o le aufaigaluega, faafetai lava mo tapenaga uma o lenei aso. Tiano ma le tatou aufaipese, se faafetai, faafetai tele lava mo pesepesega malu o lenei aso, ua atili ai lota fia alu I le lagi, lota nuu moni. E pei ua ota faalogo i ni  si’ufofoga o ni agelu i tou siufofoga.  

Si a’u komiti o Faatonu o le Samoa Airport Authority, lau Afioga le taitaifono Vaatuitui ma sui faatonu faapea Magele ma le pulega, ia ua faanoanoa foi ua le mafai ona faaauauina tofiga. Ae ui i lea ia alofagia pea e le Alii o outou soifua laulelei aua tiute ma tofiga.  Faafetai lava le auai mai i lenei taeao.

O lo’u iloa o le vaega lenei o la’u faafetai e ese le taua ia te a’u. 

Nai ou matua pele, si ou Tina ia Rosa, ma si ou Tama ia Viane. E ui ina ua fai i lagi lau folauga ae e le mafai ona galo oe le tama ia te a’u aua ua gagana pine fa’amau o au galuega aemaise lou alofa fa’amaoni ia te i matou le fanau. Se maimau e pe ana e soifua mai pea. Ae ui i lea, ou te iloa o lo’o  e pese leotele mai i le lagi i lau pese foi lea “o le taeao segisegi le vaveao e le’ malamalama, le talalelei mo oe, le talalelei mo a’u” ma faa’ee le pu o lau taavale ona o lou mimita ma e matamata mai ia i matou.   

Si ou tina, Ma, se faafetai lou titi faitama.  Ua ou tifitifi i a’u taumafaiga ona o le ninifi o lou alofa moni ma lou faiva alofi lima fa’amatua. Faafetai tele Ma, mo au tatalo e le uma, misasa e momoli mo matou lau fanau,  aemaise le lauina o le Rosalio mo matou e le misi. O lo’u iloa, ana seanoa lau losalio, ma lou piiama mai semanu e tau mate i le ete taumafaiga. 

Ou te manatuaina pea le faigata o le soifuaga sa taumafai mai ai si o tatou aiga i Leulumoega. O nei fita ma faigata sa avea lea ma lu’itau malosi I lo’u olaga ina ia taumafai i se mea e gata mai ai lo’u taumafai aua se ai o si o tatou aiga, Nuu ma le Ekalesia. 

O le nei tofiga faafaamasino e mo oulua ou matua pele aua ana seanoa oulua, aemaise le alofa tunoa a le Atua, ou te le o’o i lenei tulaga. Faafetai, Faafetai, Faafetai tele lava Ma. 

I nai ou uso, tuagane ma a outou fanau e pele ia te a’u, faafetai lo outou alolofa ma le lagolago malosi ia te au. Si ou uso ia Angella ma si ona toalua o Jeovarny ua lua malaga mamao mai lava mai Amerika ona o le lua fia auai i lenei faamoemoe. Angie, e pei oe o so’u tina, aua sa e tausia mai au ma fa’aaoga faato’a 10 o’u tausaga. E tele foi lou sao i lou olaga tauatinae aemaise le malosi o lou finau ina ia lelei a’u aoaoga. Faafetai lava ia oe le uso lou alofa moni ia te au. Si ou tuagane e toatasi, Peter nai ou uso o Lika ma Claver o l’o auai mai, Mace, Aroni ma Sina, I love you all from the bottom of my heart.  

Ae se’i fai la’u tala, se e ese le fa’amanuiaina o a’u ona o le mafana o la’u mafutaga i nisi o aiga o si ou tina. Aunty Jean ma Margene, (tulouna lua suafa matai, e le lava ni au upu e faafetai atu ai ia te oulua faapea le Afioga ia Gatoaitele ona o le tou alolofa moni ia te au. You are amongst some of my most bias allies and staunch supporters.  

Faafetai mo tapenaga uma aunty ma fa’aaloaloga sa tapenaina mo lenei faamoemoe i lenei taeao. 

Ia talu ai o lenei o le a motu faasoloatoa si tou tei ona o Ie lava o le totogi o le a ou mauaina e taui ai le tou alolofa, o lea o le a ou toaga ai pea e tatalo i le Atua ina ia saga faatamaoaigaina oulua aunty e maua mai ai ni a’u tupe. Ae mo lenei taimi, faafetai faafetai tele lava. I love you my aunties. 

Ou te fia faafetaia foi aiga uma o si ou toalua ua auai mai e molimauina lenei faamoemoe. Faafetai tele lava i si ou tuagane o Tialavea ma si ou uso ia Liz ma le fanau mo tapenaga uma o le tatou faamoemoe nanei. Faafetai le tou lagolagosua ma le alolofa faamaoni ia te au mai i le amataga o le ma mafutaga ma Schwartz e o’o mai  i le aso. 

Si a’u aufaigaluega Lika ma Toa, Talofa e ia oulua. Malo le galulue punouai. O le’a ou matua misia le tatou fale faigaluega, fai o le leai o ni tupe, ova relax ma le kuoli. Ia lua alolofa, a tele ni tupe o le tou ofisa ona tufatufa mai lea faamolemole.  

 Paaga uma o si matou Ofisa Loia, faafetai lava mo lo outou fa’atuatuaga na tuuina mai ia te a’u ou te tauaveina ai a outou mataupu. E ui ina ua fa’amuta le tatou mafutaga ae e talitonu le mafaufau sa fa’amalieina outou finagalo i se auaunaga fa’atauva’a. 

Ou aiga uma, aemaise uo pele,  le mamalu o le valaaulia, faafetai tele lava le fa’aavanoa o lo outou taimi taua e tatou te molimauina ai lenei faamoemoe.   

Ia faamalo lava le onosai, o lo’u iloa ua vela le fala. Ae toe tasi lava la’u faafetai e aupito i sili fo’I le taua ia te au e fia momoli atu. 

Si ou toalua ia Alaiasa ma si o ma fanau toatele oe ua mafai ona auai mai o Junior, Jossy ma si a la fanau, si au tama ulavale o Mero na taunuu mai ananafi, Firoz, Meriz ae  faapea le fanau ua le mafai ona auai mai ona o aoaoga aemaise Ano, Isaac, Uaina ma Felix ou te alofa faamaoni ia te outou uma. I love you all so much and will continue to support you in your dreams. 

Alaia, talu mai le amataga ole ta mafutaga e lei faapea na iai se taimi na muta ai lou alofa moni ia te a’u. Tiga lava le mau tala ma mau faamatalaga, sa tumau pea lou alofa ia te a’u. O lou alofa fa’amaoni foi lenei ia te a’u o lo’o au malu ai. 

Faafetai i lou lagolago malosi ia te au i a’u galuega ma tiute tauave. Faafetai mo lou unaina o a’u ina ia saga finau i a’u galuega uma e fai. Sa e tu i ou autafa i taimi uma, e leai se taimi sa e alu ese ai. O lou alofa ma lau lagolago lava lea o le a ou tapa iai i ou tofiga fou. 

Alaia e le uma lo’u alofa faamaoni ia te oe.   Faafetai Faafetai tele lava

Si o ma fanau, faafetai lava lo outou fai matua. E pau lau tatalo, ia saga liligi faavai pea e le Atua le tama ana fa’amanuiaga ia te outou si a’u fanau ma ia manuia o outou olaga.   I love you all so much.                 

Ia le paia ma le mamalu o lenei faapotopotoga, ua lamalama faaiu la’u lauga. Ae a iai se upu ua sala poo se lape lafo ane I nu’u o aina. Aua e moni lava le upu, e poto le tautai ae e sese le atuiama.

E tusa ai ma tofiga fou, ia ua maea ona fai la’u tautoga. Ou te tatalo ia alofa mai le Atua le tama, ma faagaganaina ma foai mai le poto i lo’u nei tagata aua le feagai ai ma galuega.  Poo a ni fita ma ni faigata, o lou Alii o ia lea ou te mafaia ai mea uma.  

Ou te faamoemoe foi i la outou tapuaiga aemaise tatalo e mama ai le avega. Ae o lea ou taumafai i le mea e gata mai ai lou taumafai e tusa ai ma la’u tautoga e faatino ou tiute tauave ma le faamaoni, e aunoa ma se fefe, faapito, alofa poo le tiga. 

Lau Afioga Moseniolo, “I will make it my own judgment”.  

 

A sau se taimi tu’uama ma tatala le filialii, tatou mavae i le mavaega a le Aloalii “ia tu pea Ieova I lo tatou va”. 

 

Mai i le taele o lo’u fatu, faafetai, faafetai, faafetai tele lava.

 

Soifua ia, ma ia manuia. 

 

By Deidre Tautua 01 April 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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