Fiame Naomi Mata'afa

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa (standing, far left) at a meeting of Pacific Islands leaders with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (center), in Samoa, 26 July 2008

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is a Samoan high chiefess (matai) and the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa. She is a Member of Parliament (HRPP) for the electoral constituency of Lotofaga in the political district of Atua. She is the current Minister of Women, Community & Social Development in Samoa. Following the March 2006 general elections in which she was reelected for a sixth term she was nominated by Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to her new portfolio at her request. She was Minister of Education for 15 years (three terms). She is one of the longest standing Members of Parliament in Samoa and the first female member of Cabinet.

On 19 March 2016, she was sworn in as Samoa's first ever female deputy prime minister.[1]

Family

Her father, Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II, a paramount chief, was the first Prime Minister of Samoa. Her mother, Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa, was a diplomat, educator and politician. Her maternal grandfather, Le Mamea Matatumua Ata was one of the framers of the Samoan constitution.

She was studying at university in New Zealand when she was recalled by her 'aiga (extended family) to take up one of her father's matai titles, Fiame from Lotofaga.

Her mother, Laulu Fetaui, had entered parliament in 1975 from the constituency of Lotofaga, following her husband's death. On Laulu Fetaui's retirement from politics Fiame Naomi contested the seat and was elected. She has held the seat since then.

References

  1. ↑ Samoa swears in first female deputy PM, NZ Herald, 19 March 2016

See also

External links

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