Leatinuʻu Wayne Soʻoialo

The Honourable
Leatinuʻu Wayne Soʻoialo
MP
Soʻoialo in 2023
Minister of Public Enterprises
In office
24 May 2021 – 16 September 2025[a]
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byLautafi Fio Selafi Purcell
Succeeded byMulipola Anarosa Ale Molioʻo
Other post
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour
In office
4 April 2025 – 16 September 2025
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byFaleomavaega Titimaea Tafua
Succeeded byFata Ryan Schuster
In office
24 May 2021 – 1 October 2023[a]
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byLautafi Fio Selafi Purcell
Succeeded byLeota Laki Lamositele
Member of the Samoan Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 May 2021
Preceded byTaefu Lemi
ConstituencyFaleata No. 2
In office
18 March 2016 – 3 March 2021
Preceded bySeat established
Succeeded bySeat abolished
ConstituencyUrban West
Personal details
BornJune 1959 (age 66)
PartySamoa Uniting Party (since 2025)
Other political
affiliations

Leatinuʻu Wayne Soʻoialo[1] (also known as Leatinuʻu Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong) (born June 1959)[2] is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister who served as the minister of Commerce, Labour and Industry from 2021 to 2025.[3][4]

Soʻoialo worked as a cargo manager for Polynesian Airlines in the United States, before moving to Hawaii.[5] After returning to Samoa he ran a shipping company.[5] He was first elected to the Samoan Parliament in the Urban West seat at the 2016 Samoan general election.[5]

In March 2017 Soʻoialo called for a law change to allow Samoans to gamble in casinos.[6] In October he criticised "dirty politics" within the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), alleging that factions were moving against Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi while he was in hospital in New Zealand.[7] In December he called for a relaxation of border controls with American Samoa.[8] In 2018 he opposed the government's Customary Land Alienation Bill.[9] In June 2019 Soʻoialo criticised the government's budget, claiming it was "unbalanced".[10]

In May 2020 Soʻoialo was asked to leave the HRPP by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi over his opposition to Tuilaʻepa's proposed constitutional reforms.[11][12] In July 2020 he was sacked from the party.[13] He remained in parliament as an independent.[14]

In September 2020 Soʻoialo pledged his loyalty to former Deputy Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa following her resignation, and promised to follow whichever party she joined in the 2021 election.[15] On 17 October Fong registered to run as a candidate for the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) in the 2021 election.[16] As a result his seat was declared vacant under anti-party-hopping provisions.[17][18] On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa.[19][20]

Soʻoialo ran in the seat of Faleata No. 2 at the 2021 Samoan general election and was re-elected. On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[21] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[22]

On 19 December 2022 Soʻoialo was medevaced to New Zealand for treatment for a serious heart condition.[23]

In a cabinet reshuffle on 6 September 2023 he was replaced as Commerce, Industry of Labour minister by Leota Laki Lamositele from 1 October 2023, but retained the Public Enterprises portfolio.[24]

On 15 January 2025 Soʻoialo, Mataʻafa, and four other cabinet ministers were expelled from FAST, following a power struggle between Mata’afa and party chairman Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao.[25][26] Soʻoialo re-assumed the portfolio of Commerce, Industry and Labour in April after his predecessor, Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua, was charged.[27] Prime Minister Mata‘afa called a snap election following the government's budget defeat in parliament on 27 May 2025.[28] Following the dissolution of parliament,[29] Soʻoialo, Mata‘afa and the rest of cabinet confirmed their resignations from FAST and established the Samoa Uniting Party.[30]

He was elected unopposed in the 2025 Samoan general election after successfully challenging the eligibility of both competing candidates.[31] Soʻoialo's tenure as a cabinet minister concluded on 16 September 2025, and he was succeeded by Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioʻo as public enterprises minister. Fata Ryan Schuster replaced him as commerce minister.[32]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Disputed: 24 May 2021 – 23 July 2021

References

  1. ^ Soli Wilson (29 October 2020). "Olo, Leatinuu ousted; seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  2. ^ Adel Fruean (16 June 2019). "M.P. Faumuina celebrates 60th birthday". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. ^ "First FAST Cabinet Down to Work – When the Impossible Happens". Talamua Online. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour / Minister of Public Enterprises". www.samoagovt.ws. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Soli Wilson (17 October 2020). "Faumuina registers for F.A.S.T.; braces to challenge decision". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Samoa MP calls on govt to allow locals to casinos". RNZ. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  7. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi-Luamanu (14 October 2017). "Member hits out at dirty H.R.P.P. politics". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Call for freer border between Samoas". RNZ. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Heated debate in Samoa's Parliament over land bill". RNZ. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Samoan backbencher alleges Budget is unbalanced". RNZ. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Samoa PM speaks out regarding dissenting MP". RNZ. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  12. ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (18 May 2020). "P.M. told me to resign, Faumuina confirms". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Another dissenting Samoa MP sacked". RNZ. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  14. ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (8 July 2020). "M.P. Faumuina happy with removal from H.R.P.P." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  15. ^ Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (12 September 2020). "M.P. Faumuina pledges loyalty to Fiame". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Independent MP Leatinuʻu Wayne Fong chooses the FAST Flag". Talamua. 17 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Samoa Speaker ousts two independent MPs". RNZ. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  18. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi (18 November 2020). "Speaker officially declares seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  19. ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (14 December 2020). "Olo and Faumuina delighted, ready for Parliament return". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  20. ^ Mataʻafa Keni Lesa (15 December 2020). "Let's embrace spirit of Christmas, Speaker welcomes Olo and Faumuina". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  21. ^ Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  22. ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  23. ^ Shalveen Chand (20 December 2022). "Leatinuʻu airlifted to N.Z." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Samoa Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle: New Finance Minister and Two Additional Ministers". Samoa Global News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Samoa: FAST chairman removes PM from party". RNZ. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  26. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (17 January 2025). "FAST appoints new executives: Laauli is leader and chairman". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  27. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (4 April 2025). "Leatinuu takes over MCIL portfolio". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 19 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  28. ^ Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai (10 June 2025). "Samoa head of state issues official election writ". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Speaker continues in office after Parliament dissolves without fanfare". Talamua Online. Apia. 3 June 2025. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Fiame & 15 confirm resignation and want share of FAST Funds". Talamua Online. Apia. 5 June 2025. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  31. ^ Bethel Ale (15 August 2025). "Leatinu'u will be uncontested". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Laaulialemalietoa announces his first Cabinet as Samoa's Prime Minister". Samoa Global News. 16 September 2025. Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
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