Leota Laki Lamositele-Sio is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the FAST Party.[1]

Leota Laki Lamositele
Minister of Commerce, Industry of Labour
Assumed office
1 October 2023
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byLeatinuu Wayne So'oialo
Minister of Women, Community and Social Development
In office
24 May 2021[a] – 1 October 2023
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byFaumuina Tiatia Liuga
Succeeded byMulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo
Member of the Samoan Parliament
for Palauli No. 2
Assumed office
9 April 2021
Preceded bySili Epa Tuioti
Personal details
Political partyFa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi

Leota is a statistician, accountant and manager, who served as Director-General of the National Health Services.[2] After running unsuccessfully as an Independent in the 2016 election, he joined the Human Rights Protection Party.[3] In October 2020 he switched his allegiance to the FAST Party to contest the April 2021 Samoan general election.[2] While preliminary results showed him losing to another FAST candidate, the final result showed him ahead by 9 votes, and he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa.[3]

On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Women, Community and Social Development in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[4] 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.[5] He was subsequently appointed Associate Minister of Finance, the first time an MP had held both ministerial and associate roles.[6]

In a cabinet reshuffle on 6 September 2023 he was replaced as Minister of Women, Community and Social Development by Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo. Leota was instead appointed Minister of Commerce, Industry of Labour, replacing Leatinuu Wayne So'oialo from 1 October 2023.[7]

Notes edit

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

References edit

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (19 September 2020). "Former Health Director flies F.A.S.T. flag in Parliament bid". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (16 April 2021). "Final count changes winner for Palauli No.2 seat". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  4. ^ Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  6. ^ Soli Wilson (30 July 2021). "Leota's historic combination of roles". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Samoa Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle: New Finance Minister and Two Additional Ministers". Samoa Global News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.