The Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) candidate for the electoral constituency of Falealupo has made an impassioned plea to his voters residing in Upolu to consider him for public office. 

On Thursday night close to a hundred of voters from the constituency, who are currently residing in Upolu, assembled at the Maota o Samoa Convention Center at Vaitele to meet with their candidate and the leadership of the F.A.S.T. party. 

The meeting was convened after the party and its leader, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, travelled over to Savai'i last Saturday to meet with hundreds of voters on the big island.

The Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, who spoke on behalf of the Government leadership, addressed the gathering. 

Then the party's candidate vying for the seat of Falealupo, Fuiono Tenina Crichton made an appeal to voters. This will be his second time to run for the seat as he contested in the April election but did not succeed. 

He ran second to senior lawyer and daughter of former M.P. for the Falealupo constituency, Leota A'eau Tima Le'avai. However, Leota resigned from office in July triggering a by-election for the constituency but exited under unusual circumstances. 

The Member-elect agreed to forgo her election victory but also not contest in any by-election as part of a settlement reached after the legitimacy of her victory was challenged in court. 

A month later after Leota resigned, closed to a hundred constituents of Falealupo traveled over to Upolu to officially present Fuiono to the F.A.S.T. camp as their candidate for the by-election. 

But the supporters of the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) in the constituency disagreed and said they are endorsing Tuitogamanaia Dr. Peni Junior Le'avai as their candidate. Tuitogamanaia is the brother of Leota and son of retired veteran M.P. A'eau Peniamina Le'avai. 

Fuiono has challenged the eligibility of Tuitogamanaia and the matter is currently before the court with a ruling to be delivered next week. 

When addressing the Falealupo voters residing in Upolu on Thursday evening, Fuiono said that he was "getting tired of losing."

He asked for their support as they prepare for the by-elections next Friday but nevertheless declared that they should accept whatever outcome they will get on Monday from the court proceeding. 

"If we lose the [court] case, then remember your vote for the by-election on Friday. We should prepare ourselves to accept whatever decision we will get."

He also acknowledged the support of those who had been there, supporting him before raising his tone to say he was getting exhausted. 

"I am tired of always losing, the next thing that can happen if I keep losing is firing gun shots," he said jokingly with his remarks met with laughter from the audience. 

The Chairman of the F.A.S.T. party, La'auli Leuatea Schmidt then interjected and reminded Fuiono to "be patient, courageous and be humble."

"Don't doubt yourself; don't talk about the by-election. Wait for the decision on Monday and talk about victory," said the F.A.S.T. party founder.

"As the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala said, get your suit ready and be prepared to hop on board."