Page 11 - IB December 2021

Pacific Person Of The Year Pacific Person Of The Year

BORN TO LEAD

FIAME’S LONG TRAIL OF FIRSTS

By Samisoni Pareti Yet she didn’t.
Lagipoiva tells Islands Business this is because: “Fiame is
Fiame Naomi Mata’afa needed no coaxing as to who should of a certain lineage, intellect and had the law and (election)
be credited for preventing her island nation from descending results on her side.
into chaos the moment Samoa’s Court of Appeal ruled that ‘[Violent reaction] was never mentioned or ever inferred.
her Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party had won “She knew her party won, so she was comforted by that
Samoa’s election on 23 July. very fact.
“Can I offer my deepest gratitude to you, the people of “She had a very strong legal team who backed her and
Samoa, and in particular acknowledge the dignity with which made sure everything was by the book and they were
you have waited with patience and forbearance, peacefully observing due process.
and respectfully for the court process to be concluded,” she “Fiame is a high chief of special status, and they don’t
said. make rash decisions or act in haste.
“This is a time for renewal, reconciliation and a time for “All her actions and words were befitting of her stature.”
national restoration. For her steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and her
“Our country has been ‘shaken and stirred’ but totally unbreakable loyalty to the ideals of democracy and free
supported through challenging times by our absolute belief choice, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, the first woman Prime Minister
and commitment in God’s plans to prosper and not harm us, of Samoa, is Islands Business’ Pacific Person of the Year, shar-
and that love ultimately prevails.” ing the honours with Fiji policewoman and UN trailblazer,
Two months later when she addressed the 76th session Unaisi Bolatolu Vuniwaqa.
of the United Nations General Assembly for the first time
as Samoa’s Prime Minister, Fiame knew to whom the island Respect earned, not entitlement
nation was indebted. Fiame’s view on her responsibilities as a traditional leader
“Many labeled the events that unfolded following our 2021 have been grounded by her upbringing, especially by her
elections a constitutional crisis. mother, the late Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata’afa, herself a
“While these were difficult times for Samoa, it was also parliamentarian.
a key part of our journey moving forward as a mature “I think what I learnt through her … is that perhaps from
democracy. the outside people think that you’re respected, you’re
“It divided our country and tested all key pillars of our revered, whatever, because of your title,” Fiame told the au-
society – our faith, our culture and the rule of law. thors of her biography, ‘Fiame Naomi Mata’afa – Samoa’s First
“However, my delivering this statement as the first female Female Deputy Prime Minister.’
Prime Minister of Samoa and bringing about a change in gov- “There is definitely that element because that’s what the
ernment after decades are testament to the fact that the rule system is [based] on, but what my mother taught me mostly
of law has prevailed.” is that it’s actually the relationships that really make that
As leader of FAST, she could have easily entered into a strong.
tit-for-tat battle with her former leader, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele “So it’s a real earning thing, as opposed to [an] entitlement
Malielegaoi who as minister of finance in 1988 offered Fiame thing.”
her first junior ministerial job working as the parliamentary From the time her mother changed her primary school be-
under-secretary for finance. cause she was being recognised as (and acting like) the Prime
As a politician and high-ranking matai (chief), she could Minister’s daughter to one where she was more anonymous,
have whipped up her people and supporters into a frenzy of to starting a family banana business to help pay for Fiame’s
violent protests and rioting during the protracted stand-off schooling in New Zealand, a life of earning respect was
after the election. drummed into her at a very early age.
As Samoan journalist and political commentator Lagi- This was her compass when she had to go before the Lands
poiva Cherelle Jackson rightly pointed out, tribal warfare is and Titles Court at just 20 years of age to contest her fa-
entrenched in Samoan culture, and Fiame “has the cultural
clout to trigger such reaction.” Continued on page 17

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