Hundreds of Savai'i residents assembled at the Apita o Pisaga Hall at Salelologa to meet the Tautua Samoa Party, Samoa First Political Party (S.F.P.P.), and Sovereign Independent Samoa (S.I.S.) on Friday. 

The event was also used to announce election plans of the three parties who formed an alliance over a month ago, as well as to introduce the 20 candidates who have already registered to contest the 2021 General Election under the three parties' collective banner. 

Leaders of the three parties, Afualo Dr. Wood Salele of Tautua Samoa, Feagaimaalii Bruce Toomalatai (S.F.P.P. leader), and Fesola'i Logo Tepa-Toloa (S.I.S) were thrilled to be in Savai'i for the significant occasion for the party. 

Afualo said their plan to launch their manifesto in Savai'i was supposed to take place last year in November. 

However, their plans had been scuttled by election petitions which inconvenienced two of their political candidates. (Petitions are the process by which a candidate's legitimacy to contest an election can be challenged in court). 

The former opposition party lost one candidate after the electoral petition process but gained another who successfully fended off a legal battle. 

Afualo said he was pleased to have rolled out their public awareness campaign in Savai'i together with their campaign partners, S.F.P.P. and S.I.S. 

"It has been a burden for us, because when you put all your soul and spirit into something and then it turns out the other way. At some point, we thought we would forecall, but God has provided the opportunity for us to finally come to Savai'i," Afualo told the Samoa Observer.

"It's long overdue but it came right on time. Because back then, it was just us (Tautua Samoa) and it didn't have the aura like what we have now, with the other two parties joining us. 

"That's something huge and even though we know that we only have 20 candidates, we strongly believe that we will come up with a good number after the election.

"I believe that it's a challenge for the ruling H.R.P.P. (Human Rights Protection Party) to bring 26 members to make up a Government, even for F.A.S.T. (Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi).

"So the best option to topple H.R.P.P. for a new Government will be a coalition to happen. 

"That's something that will happen after and I know that will be the outcome of the election. 

"We are encouraging our candidates to be strong and courageous. A calling is from God and so they should be brave to carry out his calling."

Afualo is confident that they still have strong backing from their supporters and was pleased with the turnout. 

He said the party has been actively engaging with voters and audiences on different platforms through TV programmes, radio stations and online forums.

"There are 14 of us, with the 6 from S.F.P.P. and S.I.S. so it's a good number in my opinion. You cannot manage big things if you cannot manage a small group," he said. 

"I'm happy with the turnout and the number of people who came out to our event. 

"There are only six constituencies here in Savai'i with our candidates and the weather was not in our favor but people came out. 

"But we expected the turnout to be more than three hundred. 

"What we wanted was, to deliver our message to our people and what we wanted to tell the people was that we are not making promises. 

"We will deliver our plans and we will make it happen."

The message and manifesto were well-received by the people from the young to the olds who gathered at Apita o Pisaga Hall. 

This echoed through the different speeches made by the elders who attended the event, encouraging the leaders and candidates to be "brave" and "bold."

The three parties will host a public awareness forum aimed at Upolu in February.