The passing of Vaafusuaga Toleafoa Ken Poutoa, the Member of Parliament from Lefaga and Falese’ela, was announced by the Speaker of the House, Leaupepe Toleafoa Fa'afisi, on Wednesday morning.

A member of the governing Human Rights Protection Party, Vaafusuaga passed away on 19 January, 2021 in Auckland New Zealand. 

“I speak on behalf of the Legislative Assembly to express condolences to the grieving families, his wife and children and the respective constituency," the Speaker said. 

Leaupepe's voice broke when calling the Members of Parliament together to observe a moment of silence in Parliament. 

Va’afusuaga was airlifted to New Zealand for medical treatment early last week. 

In Parliament on Tuesday, Leaupepe said the deceased M.P. had often been the one to open debate on the floor in discussions on main budgets or even the supplementary budget. 

A businessman by background, Toleafoa, was a Board Director of the Samoa Shipping Corporation before he entered the Parliament in 2016.

In 2018 at Faleaseela he was bestowed with the Va’afusuaga title, the highest honour in his family.

The Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi also expressed condolences on the passing of Va’afusuaga.

He announced the funeral of  Vaafusuaga will be held as an official state funeral.