Chiefs from several constituencies whose members of parliament (MPs) were sworn in as new cabinet ministers on Wednesday hope for a resolution to the internal party divisions as the country heads towards the 2026 general election. 

Their comments come after four MPs, including those from Va’a o Fonoti, Vaisigano No. 1, Palauli No. 3, and Aleipata Itupa-i-lalo, made the controversial decision to stand by former Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party leader, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. 

This move followed a dramatic development on Wednesday evening, when five Cabinet Ministers, including the Prime Minister, were expelled from the F.A.S.T. party, deepening rifts within the ruling political establishment.

The Samoa Observer reached out to various high chiefs from the four affected constituencies to gauge their views on the unfolding political situation. Many of the chiefs expressed disappointment over the divisions within the ruling party but reaffirmed their commitment to supporting their MPs, while also urging for unity and reconciliation.

These MPs are members of the ruling F.A.S.T. party. 

One high chief from Vaisigano No. 1, who requested to remain anonymous, expressed sadness over the disunity but remained steadfast in support of the F.A.S.T. party. 

He also spoke highly of the party chair La’auli Leuatea Schmidt for forming the party and bringing in strong candidates. 

“We still support the F.A.S.T. party,” the chief told Samoa Observer. “We respect La’auli because he made the bold move to form the party and get good candidates who won in the election. But things happen for a reason, and sometimes things get out of our control.”

Regarding the contentious issue surrounding the MP for Vaisigano No. 1 Niuava Eti Malolo appointed as the new Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.), replacing La’auli, the chief emphasised the importance of supporting their elected representatives. 

“People are entitled to their own opinions,” he said, acknowledging the criticism directed at Malolo for his alignment with the Prime Minister. “But when we elected Niuava, we entrusted him to make decisions for the greater good of the people. So whatever decisions he makes, we should support him.”

The chief also took solace in that Malolo’s tenure as a cabinet minister, even if temporary, would be recorded in the nation's history. 

“Even if he gets removed again next month or next year, his name will be written down in history that he was sworn in as a cabinet minister by the Head of State,” he said, adding that the people of Vaisigano continue to pray for peace and stability in Samoa. 

A high chief from Fagaloa also expressed frustration over the division caused by recent events, particularly with the language used by Samoans on social media to attack elected leaders. 

“It's really sad that this is happening in Samoa,” he lamented. “In this day and age, we are slowly losing our culture of respect. It’s like they don’t have respect anymore.”

The chief stressed that the people of Fagaloa continue to support their MP, Mau’u Siaosi Pu’epu’emai, who was appointed Minister for Women, Community, and Social Development. He refuted claims circulating online that Fagaloa no longer supported Mau’u. 

“You could tell by the number of people from Fagaloa who showed up at the swearing-in. The elders wouldn’t have come if they didn’t support him.”

He also addressed the issue of misinformation on social media, calling for better public understanding of the situation before jumping to conclusions. 

“There’s a lot of hatred towards the Prime Minister and those who chose to stand by her,” he said. 

“But people need to do some research and understand why these things happen before they judge our leaders. We, the people, voted them in, and we need to respect the decisions they make.” 

He criticised the rise of online cyberbullying as a means of expressing discontent, urging that respectful dialogue was the proper way to address concerns.

A matai (chief) from Palauli No. 3, where the MP is now the Minister for Women, Community, and Social Development, expressed cautious optimism for reconciliation. 

“If this is God’s will, then we are grateful,” the chief said. However, he also acknowledged that the internal conflicts within the F.A.S.T. party had been ongoing since the beginning of the parliamentary term. 

He urged the party’s leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue. “We have our Samoan way of addressing issues and finding solutions. We don’t solve things by avoiding them. We sit down and talk about it,” he explained. “We hoped they would have taken that path, but sometimes things get out of our control.”

The chief also warned that if the party’s leadership did not reconcile, it could have disastrous consequences for both the party and the nation. “Pride is a powerful thing, and it’s dangerous if you don’t consider what’s at stake,” he said. “If things continue to get worse, it might end badly for them and for Samoa.”