Seuula Ioane Tuuau (born ~1957)[1] is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the FAST Party.[2]

Seuula Ioane
Minister of Education, Sports and Culture
Assumed office
24 May 2021[a]
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byLoau Keneti Sio
Member of the Samoan Parliament
for Alataua Sisifo
Assumed office
9 April 2021
Preceded byAli'imalemanu Alofa Tuuau
Personal details
Born1957 (age 66–67)
Political partyFa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi

Seuula is from the village of Tufutafoe.[3] He is a former school teacher and principal, and served as principal of Tufutafoe Primary School for 20 years.[1] He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the April 2021 Samoan general election,[4] defeating Ali'imalemanu Alofa Tuuau.[5] When Tuuau was declared elected under the women's quota on 20 April 2021, he was a party to the court challenge which saw her appointment overturned.[6][7][8]

On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Education, Sports and Culture in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[9] 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.[10]

In October 2021 he graduated from the National University of Samoa with a Bachelors of Education.[3]

Seuula is married with six children and eight grandchildren. He is a member of the Assembly of God Church.[11]

Notes edit

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

References edit

  1. ^ a b Soli Wilson (10 October 2020). "Education access drives F.A.S.T. candidate". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ a b Adel Fruean (1 October 2021). "Cabinet Minister among N.U.S. graduates". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  4. ^ "FAST Ushers In More New MPs Than HRPP". Newsline Samoa. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. ^ Soli Wilson (13 April 2021). "Principal takes out former Parliamentary Committee Chair". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. ^ Lagi Keresoma (29 April 2021). "Why Elected Candidate Seu'ula Ioane must be part of the motion". Talamua. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Extra seat thrown out: FAST win Samoa election". RNZ. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ Marieta H Ilalio (17 May 2021). "Additional Parliamentary Seat Declared "Unconstitutional and Void"". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  9. ^ Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  10. ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Seuula Ioane". www.samoagovt.ws. Retrieved 10 March 2024.