Less than ten days away from polling day, Tofa Li’o Foleni is optimistic. 

The 69-year-old represented the constituency of Fa’asalele’aga No.3* in Samoa’s XVI Parliamentary term, an honor he said he did not take lightly. 

Reflecting back on the past five years he served as an M.P., Tofa said the highlight of his journey was the opportunity given to him to serve his people and to represent them in Parliament. 

“It was such a great honor,” he told the Samoa Observer. 

“Not once did I forget about those who voted for me and selected me to be an M.P.

“I used the opportunity wisely to push for the developments of our constituency and I hope with all my heart that the people are happy with my service and how I represented them in parliament. 

“I did my very best.” 

Being chosen as an Associate Minister was the icing on the cake for Tofa, as a first-termer. 

“When I was chosen as an Associate Minister, I was humbled and honored. 

“It came with responsibilities and duties, but I was able to do what I was required to do under the guidance of our Minister, and my colleagues. 

“It was a challenging journey, but I am happy that I was given the opportunity to serve our constituency and people. 

“It was such a great honor.”

He then took the opportunity to thank his constituency, especially his village of Saipipi. 

“When I won the election back in 2016, it was the first time in more than forty years that someone from Saipipi had won the seat for our constituency. 

“I could not have done it without the great support of my village of Saipipi. 

“Throughout the past five years, they have been supporting me and I am grateful to them for their love and support.” 

He also acknowledged the support of the other villages within his constituency, Sa’asa’ai, Faga, Si’ufaga, Sapini, Lu’ua, Malae, and Salimu.  

Looking ahead, Tofa said he will continue to push for infrastructural developments within his constituency, should he succeed again in the upcoming election. 

“For your information, we have opened not one but a few new access roads for the villages of my constituency. 

“Something we really pushed for in the past five years. We are also yet to open another big project which is the sea wall for some of the villages starting from Siufaga. 

“As you can see, the majority of the families within our constituency reside close to the shorelines. 

“They are vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change. 

“That’s why we are working really hard to build nice and good access roads for them to make transportation easy and convenient for them in case of a tsunami or any kind of natural disaster. 

“Having good access roads can encourage them to not only work the land but also motivate them to build houses further inland. 

“We are also pushing for good and secure sea walls to fight the big waves and climate change. 

“Those are some of the things I will continue to push and work to achieve if my constituency gives me their trust once again.”

In terms of education, Tofa, who had previously dedicated more than forty years of his life to Samoa’s education sector, said he had been working really hard to secure funds to improve education facilities within his constituency. 

“With the help of the Japanese Government, a new school building for the village of Saipipi is nearing completion. 

“That’s the same for the village of Sa’asa’ai. We hope that these facilities will shelter and improve our children’s learning environment.

“We will look at other ways to develop and assist not only the students but also the teachers in the future.”

Tofa is facing four election opponents for the seat of Fa’asaleleaga No.4. in the upcoming election. 

Three candidates from the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi [F.A.S.T.] political party, Unasa Viane Toala, To’oala Fetaua’i Unasa and former M.P., Tea Peato. The other election candidate is flagging the Human Rights Protection Party [H.R.P.P.], Unasa Tauheia Leva’ai.

When queried if he is nervous about the election race, Tofa replied, saying: “I am not worried or nervous at all.

“It’s not that I am being high-minded or anything, but I find solace knowing that I served my people well in the past five years. 

“My village of Saipipi has already given me their full support and blessings so I am not worried at all. 

“I am happy that there are other people who are willing to offer their service for the constituency. 

“But we will leave it to the voters and God to decide. 

“God already knows who will win the election so why should we worry?”

Tofa Li’o Foleni is from the villages of Saipipi and Sapapali’i. He is married to Tuliafiafi Tofa and they have six children. 

Prior to his calling as an M.P. Tofa was a well-known businessman in Savai’i. He also spent more than forty years of his life working for the Ministry of Education. 

 *Due to new divisions for electoral boundaries in Samoa, Fa'asaleleaga No.3 is now called Fa'asaleleaga No.4.