Former Member of Parliament and leader of the Opposition Party, Palusalue Fa’apo II, had one more title added to his bow yesterday.

At Sataoa, Safata, the Afemata chiefly was conferred upon Palusalue at Tauese-a-le-Manū residence.

Afemata Palusalue Fa’apo II was flanked by families, friends and fellow villagers when he stepped up to the plate to accept the honour on behalf of his family.

Speaking to the Sunday Samoan, Afemata Palusalue said the title is a new chapter of his life.

“I thank God for today,” he said. “I am the second of Situā’s clan to the Afemata title and I want to thank my family especially our village here at Sataoa for this high honour."

“I know this is not easy but I’m thankful to God for the opportunity because without Him, nothing is possible."

“I think this is the right time for me, to sit down and have time with my family and village after years in politics."

“For the future, I want to try my best to serve our family, the village as well as the church in any way I can."

The formalities were followed by a huge family feast enjoyed by everyone.

Afemata Palusalue Fa’apo II is a Lay Preacher at the Congregational Christian Church at Sataoa.

He is 61-year-old and a father of five with wife, Leaupepe Malelega Fa’apo II.

A former Cabinet Minister in the H.R.P.P, Palusalue quit and joined the Opposition party where he later became the leader.

He was first elected to Parliament in 1996 and served as Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice. 

After being re-elected in 2001, he was appointed to Cabinet, first as Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, and then as Minister of Communications and Information Technology. 

After the 2006 election he became associate Minister of Finance.

Palusalue left the governing Human Rights Protection Party in March 2008 and joined the opposition as an independent Member of Parliament. 

He later became a founding member of the Tautua Samoa Party. 

As a result, in May 2009 he was one of nine Tautua Members of parliaments declared to have resigned their seats under an anti-party hopping law. 

He was subsequently reinstated after the Supreme Court of Samoa overturned the law and declared the formation of new parties legal.