The Samoan diaspora is heavily engaged with politics in Samoa and is all hyped up for this year's election outcome. 

So says a Samoan PhD candidate at the Faculty of Society and Design at the Bond University in the Gold Coast, Australia, Lefaoali'i Dion Enari. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Lefaoali'i who is also a high chief from Lepa says that this year's election is by far the most interesting election he has seen. 

Nevertheless, he also said that the diaspora in Australia is buzzing with excitement about this year's election in Samoa. 

"There's a lot of vibe and excitement amongst the diaspora community here, a lot of people are fundraising for their relatives back home running for both F.A.S.T. (Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi) and H.R.P.P. (Human Rights Protection Party)," said Lefaoali'i. 

"That's the main topic of discussions whenever we, Samoans congregate at church, at the stores, festivals, and on the Samoan radio, they're constantly talking about the elections in Samoa.

"In the diaspora, it's very interesting because you have collective fundraisers for the districts, collective fundraisers for the whole party and we've also had fundraisers for individual candidates that are running. 

"A lot of people are also very excited to see Fiame become Prime Minister because she is a woman, so a lot of them are really supporting the concept of female empowerment. There's also a lot of people that have genealogical connections to Fiame and are fully supporting her, so yeah it's a very interesting time. 

"You can walk around the Samoan diaspora community and you can see people wearing H.R.P.P. t-shirts and F.A.S.T. t-shirts, so a lot of people in the Samoan diaspora are actually far more interested in politics in Samoa than the politics of the country they live in. 

"And I believe a lot of that has to do with the fact that they identify as Samoans first and foremost. A lot of them also plan to move back to Samoa down the track as well. 

"A lot of Samoans here also regularly read the news articles that are coming out of Samoa and are regularly watching Parliament since it's broadcasted live, so they are fully engaged from the diaspora.

Lefaoali'i said a lot of the people in the diaspora are supporting Samoa's newest party, F.A.S.T., both financially and through words of encouragement.

"So amongst the diaspora, there is a real push for a change of government." 

When asked whether he believes Samoans overseas are hoping for the chance to vote in Samoa's elections, he replied saying: "There are mixed feelings of if overseas Samoans should vote during Samoa's election or not. 

"Some of the community agree and believe it's their birthright to vote because they are Samoans, and it doesn't matter where they live. 

"But there are also Samoans who believe it's unfair because they no longer live in Samoa, and their voice should not dictate what happens on the ground in the village."

When asked for his opinion about this year's election and his prediction of what the results would look like, Lefaoali'i said: "This election one of the most exciting elections I've seen in my time, there's a real sense of possible change. 

"I was in Samoa during the last election when the Tautua party was the opposition and there wasn't as much hype for Tautua compared to the attention and hype we have for F.A.S.T. this time around.

"I predict H.R.P.P. will win again, however, I believe F.A.S.T. will gain a lot of seats that will make a real and strong opposition this time around compared to the previous parliament sittings. 

"In terms of government, because I don't live there anymore, I would like to see democratic processes carried out by Samoans for Samoa. 

"Yeah, just seeing what the majority of people that actually live in Samoa want and seeing that being carried out, that's what I would like to see.

Lefaoali’i Dion Enari is a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast. His research interests include ethnography, Pacific language, cultural sustainability, indigenous studies, and trans-nationalism.  

He is from the villages of Lepa, Malaela, Vaiala, Nofoali’i and Safune.