Election candidates' participation in village meetings could soon become compulsory with a proposal being tabled for them to attend at least 50 per cent of the meetings in a year. 

The proposed amendment was tabled in the House by the Standing Orders, Electoral, Petitions and Constitutional Offices Parliamentary Committee after reviewing the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report that looked at issues from the 2021 General Election.

One of the key recommendations of the Committee is to consider an amendment to the Electoral Act 2019 in defining monataga by inserting the requirement for candidates to sit in village meetings and participate in any village events. 

According to the amendment put forth by the Parliament Committee, the monotaga means executing monotaga faale-nuu, attending village meetings, participating in any village events and at least participating in 50 per cent of village meetings within one year except for candidates holding official positions overseas. 

The proposed change seeks to prioritise monotaga faale-nuu (service rendered in the village) with the exception of urban constituencies where the use of matafale faale-lotu (church membership) is legally mandated.  

The recommendation from the Committee noted the provision to enforce the submission of accurate verification by villages regarding the total number of meetings attended by a candidate through a village representative and a village female representative. 

The existing law and definition of monotaga in the Electoral Act refer to compulsory service, assistance or contribution rendered for customary, traditional or religious activities, events function or similar purposes pursuant to the customs of a particular village.  

Furthermore, there are also proposed changes to drop the number of days a candidate can be in Samoa from the current 305 days each year for a consecutive 3-year period, which proposes that it is changed to at least 240 days each year for a three consecutive year period ending on the nomination day. 

Several candidates had their nominations rejected for the 2021 General Election because they fell short of the three-year monotaga requirement. 

The Committee’s report said a Samoan matai has responsibilities towards family and family-related obligations including frequent fa’alavelave (family events). 

“The role of a matai is to participate even if they hold a title and live overseas,” the report noted. “The amended time limits for overseas travel eligibility are deemed insufficient and the time limits for returning to Samoa are high considering the numerous family obligations that may arise.”

The Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party manifesto confirms the party plans to remove restrictions on the regime for the candidate nomination process. 

During one of the party’s roadshows, the F.A.S.T. Chairman, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt said current residency requirements are being used to discourage people from standing for public office. He also noted the importance of a matai attending to family obligations and due to travels to meet those commitments it has hindered candidates from running because of days they needed to be in Samoa.