The life and services of two former parliamentarians who had passed on since the Legislative Assembly last convened in December last year were acknowledged during the first session on Tuesday.

The Speaker of the House Papalii Lio Masipau called for a moment of silence to honour the late Va'ai Mafasolia Papu Vaai and Tapulesatele Mauteni Tamasone Metuli II Esera. 

Papali'i then read out an obituary of the deceased former politicians and offered condolences to their families as  the country ushered in the new XVII parliamentary term.

Former Cabinet Minister, Vaai passed away in New Zealand on 17 January 2022 and was the son of the Human Right Protection Party's first Prime Minister, the late Va'ai Kolone Va'ai. 

He first entered Parliament in 1996-1998 representing Falealupo and served as the Minister for Justice and Courts Administration under the H.R.P.P. banner. 

He later served as an M.P. for the Vaisigano No.1 constituency from 1998-2001 and was also the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.

Va'ai walked away from the H.R.P.P. after a fallout with the party's current leader, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi and led the Opposition party, Tautua Samoa Party. 

He pushed for a change in the Government and was often seen at the different roadshows run by the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party in the lead-up to the April General Election last year. 

Va'ai was also critical of the H.R.P.P. leadership and renamed the party "Human Rights Demolition Party", claiming that the party had drifted away from the policies and foundation that were set up by the party's founders, including his late father. 

He also rejected plans by the H.R.P.P. leadership to visit his late father's grave in Savai'i to lay wreaths, when the party executives and their supporters travelled to the big island for a vehicle-convoy rally, which was later abandoned due to rising tensions.

Also acknowledged in parliament was businessman and former Member of Parliament for Vaisigano No. 2, the late Tapulesatele Mauteni Tamasone Metuli II Esera who was laid to rest over a week ago. 

Tapulesatele passed away on 8 December 2021 in New Zealand and was 70 years of age at the time of his passing. 

Tapulesatele is the son of Namulauulu Tiumalu Liufau Dr. Iakopo Esera and Tusiata Tapulesatele Metuli I from the villages of Fogapoa, Solosolo, Sataua, Fatausi, Leauva’a and Vaimoso. 

He is survived by his wife, Folole Iaeli Esera and children.

The deceased was also a deacon in the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) and was also acknowledged for his contributions to the church. 

He was the M.P. for the Vaisigano No. 2 constituency under the Human Rights Protection Party between 2016–2021. 

His service as an M.P. contributed to various developments for his constituency such as water supply; construction of a water reservoir; construction of new roads and schools.

He also made time for community service and became a lifetime member of the Rotary Club of Australia, which led to assistance in upgrade works for school buildings, computer rooms, library while also assisting the associations for persons with disability.