Tupuola Heeds

Political Currents

A Warning

A dramatic cabinet shake-up in Western Samoa has been one immediate effect of a 20%

swing against Prime Minister

Tupuola Efi in Western

Samoa’s legislative assembly,

writes Mike Field from Apia.

On March 28 Tupuola was re-elected prime minister by 24 votes to 23. He was saved largely by the vote of his minis ter of lands, Lesatele Rapi, who

voted against the opposition

leader, his brother Va’ai Kolone.

Lesatele was one of only two ministers to retain his original lands and survey portfolio in

Tupuola’s eight-man cabinet.

The other was Finance Minis ter Vaovasamanaia Filipo.

Education Minister Lilomaiava Niko was defeated at the polls, while Tupuola dropped Health Minister Tofaeono Tile and Justice Minister Talamaivao Niko.

Asi Eikeni, formerly minis ter of economic development, now takes over justice, while Letiu Tamatoa, former minis ter of works, moves into econ omic development. The previous minister of agricul ture. Fuimaono Mimio, is minister of education in the new cabinet.

Two new members of parlia ment have been given posts.

Seumanu Aita Ah Wa becomes minister of agriculture and Faumuina Anapapa takes on health. Seuamuli Kurene will be minister of works

Making judgments on trends

in Samoan politics is extemely difficult because of the largely closed nature of matai suffrage.

But Tupuola’s new cabinet probably does reflect some of the shock of his reverse in sup port.

In 1976 he defeated sitting Prime Minister Tupua Tamasese Lealofi, 31 votes to 16. Since then his critics have said he has moved develop ment in Samoa too fast, and his selection of this new cabinet may reflect acknowledgment of his critics.

Tupuola told the newspaper Savali that his next three years would be a period of consoli dation as the pace of the past three years slows down.