Matamua Vasati Pulufana
Matamua Seumanu Vasati Pulufana is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. She is a member of the FAST Party.
Matamua Vasati Pulufana | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Justice and Courts Administration | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2021[lower-alpha 1] | |
| Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
| Preceded by | Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu |
| Member of the Samoan Parliament for Faasaleleaga No. 1 | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Sili Epa Tuioti |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi |
Matamua is the wife of former MP Tiata Sili Pulufana and is a former educator.[1] She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the April 2021 Samoan general election,[2][3] defeating finance minister Sili Epa Tuioti.[4] On 24 May 2021 she was appointed Minister of Justice and Courts Administration in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[5] 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.[6][7]
In December 2021 Matamua suspended the appointment process for the Deputy President for the Land and Titles Court of Samoa on the grounds that a "drafting error" in the Land and Titles Bill meant that there were no legal provisions for appointments to the court.[8]
Notes
- Disputed: 24 May 2021 – 23 July 2021
References
- Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (20 November 2020). "Matamua follows late husband's footsteps". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- "FAST Candidates Displace 4 Ministers and Deputy Speaker". Samoa Global News. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- "FAST Ushers In More New MPs Than HRPP". Newsline Samoa. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (10 April 2021). "Sili will challenge defeat in court". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- "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.
- Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (6 December 2021). "Justice Minister halts L.T.C. Deputy President appointment". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 December 2021.