The secret is out of the bag. The ruling Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) has revealed that more than 120 candidates will be flying the party’s flag when the nation goes to the polls on 4 March 2016.

Of the 121 candidates, 34 are sitting M.Ps, 46 are regarded as newly registered with 41 independent candidates.

On Friday, caretaker Prime Minister and leader of H.R.P.P, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, addressed the candidates, reminding them that the government exists to serve Samoa.

He said the H.R.P.P is a working government and Members of Parliament should be at the forefront of developments being implemented to benefit the people.

He said the H.R.P.P’s long existence is a reflection of the faith placed by the people of Samoa in their ability to lead the country. Further, he reminded that all appointments are from God.

Speaking about the sitting M.Ps and other H.R.P.P candidates challenging for these same seats, Tuilaepa said the Party would always prioritise the incumbents. He referred to them as passengers with first class tickets while the other candidates hold business class seats.

 “The seats are all the same,” he said. “You can recline it so you can sleep if you’re in the first class area and the same with business class. 

 “After twelve hours of sleep on a flight from New Zealand to Los Angeles, you wake up and you feel good, no problems.” 

Tuilaepa also used the opportunity to elaborate on the government’s work as a caretaker government. According to him, the law allows the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to remain as caretakers in case an emergency assembly needs to be called. 

The same applies to Cabinet Ministers.

 “A Minister is a Minister whether you are sitting in Cabinet or not,” said Tuilaepa. 

“Associate Ministers exist to assist the Ministers. These positions are very crucial and that is why you see associate ministers all the time being very busy.”

Tuilaepa added that projects to improve the lives of people cannot wait for the Election. He referred to the work being done to improve hospitals, schools and the infrastructure.

In reading out the list of candidates for the party there was a mixture of different professions such as lawyers, doctors, former politicians and business people throwing their names in. 

One interesting face that was seen during the meeting was Tautua Whip, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi who later declared his switch for the political party.

With the caretaker M.P. for Lefaga and Falease’ela, Le Mamea Ropati Mualia being elected as new member of the Council of Deputies some familiar names are vying for the vacant seat. 

One of them is former Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice, Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe amongst four other H.R.P.P candidates.

But that is not all. The Tautua Samoa also has a candidate for Lefaga and Falease’ela with former A.C.E.O. for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Unasa Iulia Petelo carrying their flag. 

Speaking of vacant seats, since former M.P. for Gagaemauga no.2, Levaopolo Talatonu Va’ai was stood down for changing constituency to run from about five candidates from H.R.P.P. are on a race to snatch the seat.  

Perhaps there are only two caretaking M.Ps that have little to worry about with no sign of competition being the sole candidate in H.R.P.P. They are caretaker Minister of Public Enterprises and M.P. for Satupaitea, Lautafi Selafi Fio and Tuilaepa from Lepa.   

H.R.P.P. candidates  

Current members:

Total Name Constituency 

1. Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau - Vaimauga Sasa’e 

2. Lenata’i Victor Tamapua - Vaimauga Sisifo (Nu.1)

3. Tuisa Tasi Patea - Sagaga le Falefa

4. Seiuli Uelegitone Seiuli - Sagaga le Usoga 

5. Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama - Aana Alofi Nu.1 (Sasa’e)

6. Leaupepe Apulu Fa’afisi - Aana Alofi Nu.1 (Sisifo)

7. Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua - Aana Alofi Nu. 2

8. Ifopo Matia Filisi - Aiga i le Tai

9. Taefu Lemi - Falelatai & Samatau 

10. Manu’alesagalala Enokati Posala - Safata (Sisifo)

11. Tusa Misi Tupuola - Falealili (Sisifo)

12. Tuu’u Anasii Leota - Siumu

13. Fiame Naomi Mataafa (Tamaitai) - Lotofaga

14. Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi - Lepa 

15. Fagaivalu Kenrich Samu - Aleipata Itupa i Luga

16. Tafua Maluelue Tafua - Aleipata Itupa i Lalo

17. Tialavea Tionisio Seigafolava - Vaa o Fonoti 

18. Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo - Anoamaa i Sisifo 

19. Magele Mauiliu Magele - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.1 Sisifo 

20. Gatoloaifaana Amataga Tamaitai) - Fa’asaleleaga Alesana-Gidlow Nu.1 Sisifo

21. Peseta Tevaga Vaifou - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.4

22. Sala Fata Pinati - Gagaemauga Nu.1

23. Fa’amoetauloa Faale Tumaali - Gagaemauga Nu.3

24. Faimalotoa Kika Stowers (Tamaitai) - Gagaifomauga Nu.1

25. Sooalo Mene Siaosi - Gagaifomauga Nu.2

26. Laauli Polataivao Fosi - Gagaifomauga Nu.3

27. Tufuga Gafoaleata Faitua Vaisigano Nu.1

28. Lafaitele Patrick Leiataualesa - Alataua Sisifo 

29. Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell Satupaitea

30. Agafili Eteuati Tolovaa - Palauli Sisifo 

31. Afoafouvale John Moors Palauli Sasae

32. Faumuina Tiatia Liuga - Palauli Falefa 

33. Papaliitele Niko Lee Hang - Itumalo Tu Taulaga-Sasae

34. Maualaivao Pat Ah Him - Itumalo Tu Taulaga-Sisifo 

NEW MEMBERS: 

35. Fa’aolesa Katopau Ainuu - Vaimauga Sisifo Nu.2

36. Lepou Petelo II - Faleata Sasa’e 

37. Salausa John Ah Ching - Faleata Sasa’e 

38. Nu’ulesa Tapasu Leung Wai - Faleata Sasa’e 

39. Aulavemai Tafito Faaaliga - Faleata Sasa’e 

40. Ale Vena - Faleata Sisifo 

41. Ulu Bismark Crawley - Faleata Sisifo 

42. Moala Panoa Tavita - Faleata Sisifo 

43. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi - Faleata Sisifo 

44. Amataga Rico Tupai - Aana Alofi Nu.3

45. Leituala Logona Va’afusuaga - Aana Alofi Nu.3

46. Lemalu Nele Leilua (Tamaitai) - Lefaga & Falese’ela 

47. Toleafoa Ken Poutoa - Lefaga & Falese’ela 

48. Lemalu Silivia Iona (Tamaitai) - Lefaga & Falese’ela 

49. Su’a Tanielu Su’a - Lefaga & Falese’ela

50. Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe - Lefaga & Falese’ela 

51. Laumatia Mathew Purcell - Safata (Sasae)

52. Nonu Lose Niumata - Safata (Sasae)

53. Fuimaono Esera Rimoni - Falealili (Sasae)

54. Maiava Viiga Fuimaono - Falealili (Sasae)

55. Vaetuifea’i Poe Alama - Falealili (Sasae)

56. Fuimaono Alex Wright - Falealili (Sasae)

57. Alaiasa  Sepulona Moananu - Anoamaa i Sasae

58. Sili Epa Tuioti - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.1 Sasae

59. Pauli Ivan Williams - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.1 Sasae

60. Leatigaga Tuasivi Samoa - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.1 Sasae

61. Letoa Sefo Pa’u - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.2

62. Namulauulu Sami Leota - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.2

63. To’oala Tolouna Umaga - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.3

64. Tofa Lio Foleni - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.3

65. Unasa Faapupula Sua (Tamaitai) - Fa’asaleleaga Nu.3

66. Semau Fa’amau Levi (Tamaitai) - Gagaemauga Nu.2

67. Aufa’i Lofipo Uesile - Gagaemauga Nu.2

68. Alofipo S. Siliniu – Mua (Tamaitai) - Gagaemauga Nu.2

69. Fa’asootauloa Taulapapa Pati - Gagaemauga Nu.2

70. Lofipo Faletolu Lofipo - Gagaemauga Nu.2

71. Tapulesatele Esera - Vaisigano Nu.2

72. Aeau Togia Mareko - Falealupo 

73. Seumanutafa Akerei - Salesa Falealupo 

74. Toomata Aki Tuipe’a - Salega (Sisifo)

75. Tapuai Matautia Suimai - Salega (Sasae)

76. Tapuai Faalagilagi - Salega (Sasae)

77. Tapuai Titi Fuli - Salega (Sasae)

78. Faumuina Wayne Fong -  Itumalo Tu Taulaga-Sisifo

79. Falanaipupu Matafeo Aiafi - Itumalo Tu Taulaga-Sisifo 

80. Matamua Fred Amoa - Itumalo Tu Taulaga-Sisifo

Sui Tauva Tutoatasi 

1. Sulamanaia Tuivasa Tauiliili - Vaimauga Sasa’e 

2. Fuatimau Maumea Leniu - Vaimauga Sasa’e 

3. Patu Sola Siaosi - Vaimauga Sisifo Nu.1

4. Loau Keneti Sio - Sagaga le Falefa 

5. Tagaloatele Papalii Poloa - Sagaga le Falefa 

6. Maulolo Tavita - Sagaga le Usoga 

7. Togatalima Faafouina Milford - Sagaga le Usoga 

8. Fesola’i Aleni Sofara - Aana Alofi Nu.1 Sasa’e

9. Fesola’i Tusiupu Tuigamala - Aana Alofi Nu.1 Sasa’e

10. Aiono Tile Gafa - Aana Alofi Nu.1 Sisifo 

11. Ili Setefano Manamulivae - Aana Alofi Nu.2 

12. Taupau Mulipola Oliva - Aiga i le Tai

13. Mulipola Leiataua Laki - Aiga i le Tai

14. Taefu To’omaga Salapu - Falelatai & Samatau 

15. Anae Misa Taeoalii - Falelatai & Samatau

16. Lea’ana Ronnie Posini - Safata Sisifo

17. Te’o U’uvale Mauga - Falealili Sisifo 

18. Aumua Isaia Lameko - Falealili Sisifo 

19. Afoa Fetulima Nonu - Siumu

20. Fa’alogo Iosefa - Siumu

21. Fiaola Iosua Lole - Lotofaga

22. Leo’o Dr. John Adams -  Aleipata Itupa i Luga 

23. Fa’agasealii Sapoa Feagia’i - (Tamaitai Aleipata Itupa i Lalo

24. Fonoti Fata Asiata - Vaa o Fonoti 

25. Laumea Togia Sagapolutele - Vaa o Fonoti 

26. Molioo Pio Molioo - Vaa o Fonoti 

27. Tufeao  Pulepule Fanolua - Anoamaa i Sisifo 

28. Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio - Gagaemauga Nu.1

29. Nafo’i Talaimanu Keti - Gagaemauga Nu.3

30. Lavea Natoi Ieti -Gagaifomauga Nu.1

31. Fa’atoatoa Rosa Lavea (Tamaitai) - Gagaifomauga Nu.3

32. Lopao’o Natanielu Mu’a - Vaisigano Nu.1

33. Faialii Ma’o Ropati - Vaisigano Nu.1

34. Ta’atiti Maiava Visekota (Tamaitai) - Alataua Sisifo 

35. Aliimalemanu Alofa Tuuau (Tamaitai) - Alataua Sisifo 

36. Afoa Amituanai Mauli - Palauli Sisifo 

37. Lepta Lene - Palauli Sisifo 

38. Misa Risati Leleisiuao - Palauli Sasae

39. Fiso Taupau Faamoetauloa (Tamaitai) - Palauli Sasae

40. Tuisata Tiatia Kalapu - Palauli Falefa 

41. Leota Laki Lamositele - Palauli Falefa