The newest Members of Parliament of the ruling Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) were officially presented and welcomed by the ruling party caucus on Saturday. 

The new parliamentarians Ale Vena Ale (Faleata No. 4), Mau'u Siaosi Pu'epu'emai (Va'a-o-Fonoti) and Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota (Siumu) dominated last month's three by-elections to be declared outright winners. 

The welcome party on Saturday was attended by the party's parliamentary leader and Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, Legislative Assembly Speaker, Papali'i Li'o Ta'eu-Masipau, F.A.S.T. Chairman La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, Cabinet Ministers and hundreds of constituents and party supporters. 

A brief service led by lay preacher Seuamuli Fasi Toma, who is the M.P. for Gagaemauga No. 2 and current Associate Minister for Women, Community and Social Development kick-started the formalities on Saturday morning. 

Speaking on behalf of the party, Fiamē welcomed the re-elected Members of Parliament to the F.A.S.T. Government and congratulated them on their by-election victories to see out the remainder of the current parliamentary term. 

"I am reminded of our journey from the beginning after today's service," said Fiamē. "It is known that our journey from the start hasn't been easy, preparing for the elections, then the constitutional crisis after the election, and the by-elections that followed.

"The theme of the morning sermon reminded me of the path we took and what we went through to get to where we are today. I am once again reminded that God has been there for us leading the way so we are reminded to rely on his guidance and wait for him to guide our way forward."

Fiamē then used the opportunity to acknowledge the support for the ruling party from the residents of the three constituents who mostly voted for the F.A.S.T. candidates. 

"As leaders of the country, there are guidelines and policies to guide the work that we do. But we cannot fulfil anything without the support from our people and communities. 

"Therefore, we thank you for giving us your support and for honouring your words. We met when you presented your respective members to the party and you promised that you would continue to support them in the by-elections. As leaders, we need the support from our country and let us all continue to walk in faith and rely on the spirit of God."

The trio are former members of the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) who resigned from the former ruling party late last year and headed back to the polls last month after the Speaker went to the Supreme Court to declare their seats vacant after they declared themselves independent members. 

After the by-elections last month, Ale collected a total of 953 votes in the Faleata No. 4 seat while Ulu Bismarck Crawley who was an independent candidate received a total of 488 votes. Mau'u led the race for the Va'a-o-Fonoti seat by a large margin with 772 votes while for the Siumu seat, Tu'uu Anasi'i Leota won with a total of 658 votes, just 137 votes ahead of independent candidate, Fa'alogo Kapeli Lafaele.