Matatumua Maimoaga
Encyclopedia
Matatumua Maimoana also known as Matatumua Maimoaga Vermeulen is a matai
, Stateswoman
, Nurse and Environmentalist
of Samoa
. Her chief title, Matatumua, is an orator's title from the village of Faleasiu
. She is a former member of parliament in Samoa and the founder of the Samoa All People's Party
(SAPP),
becoming the first woman to lead a political party in the country. SAPP allowed people as young as 16, regardless of gender or whether they were matai to be officers in the organisation which included village branches. She was a founding member of the Human Rights Protection Party
(HRPP), which has dominated Samoan politics in the last two decades.
Matatumua is a former Superintendent of Nursing who was instrumental in the founding and development of the Samoa School of Nursing. She was an active member of the Samoa Public Service Association (PSA) during the 1981 PSA General Strike which brought down the government
of Tupuola Efi. She is involved in environmental issues and is currently a board member of Matuaileo'o Environmental Trust (METI).
and is married to Dr. Walter Vermeulen
. Her older sister Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa
was also a chief and a politician who was the wife of paramount chief Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II
, the first Prime Minister of Samoa
. Another sister Eni was also a founding member of HRPP and the wife of politician Aiono Nonumalo Sofara
who left HRPP in 1993 and subsequently formed the Samoa Democratic Party.
(HRPP), first entering parliament as one of the members for the constituency of Aana Number 1 (comprising the villages of Faleasiu
and Fasito'o) after the 1982 election. However, later she became known for being a critic of the HRPP government under Tofilau Eti Alesana,
often voting against her party and opposing its leader in caucus
. Among her criticisms was the extension of the parliamentary term from 3 years to 5 years and the fact that the extension took effect during that sitting of parliament rather than after the subsequent general election
. Another major area of contention was the expansion of Cabinet
from eight to thirteen members, and the inclusion of under secretaries (deputy ministers), which was seen as depleting the backbench.
In 1990 she introduced a motion for the introduction of universal suffrage
while in parliament
but was not supported by her own party. After the defeat of the motion, both the HRPP and the coalition under Tupuola Efi
and Vaai Kolone
promised to introduce universal suffrage if they gained power in the following election. When the HRPP retained power following that election, in which Matatumua lost her seat, the HRPP introduced the bill and Tofilau Eti Alesana claimed credit for the introduction of universal suffrage.
As Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, she often questioned and criticized the government's fiscal policies
and practices as well what she saw as its deliberate lack of accountability to parliament. Eventually she resigned from the HRPP and founded SAPP. which has never attained any seats in parliament.
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
, Stateswoman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, Nurse and Environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
of Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. Her chief title, Matatumua, is an orator's title from the village of Faleasiu
Faleasiu
Faleasi'u is one of the largest village settlements on the island of Upolu in Samoa. It is located on the northwestern coast of the island.Faleasi'u is part of A'ana Alofi I Electoral Constituency which forms the larger political district of A'ana.Faleasi'u consists of five sub-villages pito nu'u:...
. She is a former member of parliament in Samoa and the founder of the Samoa All People's Party
Samoa All People's Party
The Samoa All People's Party was a political party in Samoa. It was formed on March 24, 1996 by former Human Rights Protection Party MP Matatumua Maimoaga, who became Samoa's first female political party leader. The party was notable for its internal equality, allowing people as young as 16 and...
(SAPP),
becoming the first woman to lead a political party in the country. SAPP allowed people as young as 16, regardless of gender or whether they were matai to be officers in the organisation which included village branches. She was a founding member of the Human Rights Protection Party
Human Rights Protection Party
The Human Rights Protection Party is a Samoan political party. It has been the dominant party in Samoan politics since 1982.The party was co-founded in May 1979 by Va'ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana in opposition to the government of Tupuola Efi...
(HRPP), which has dominated Samoan politics in the last two decades.
Matatumua is a former Superintendent of Nursing who was instrumental in the founding and development of the Samoa School of Nursing. She was an active member of the Samoa Public Service Association (PSA) during the 1981 PSA General Strike which brought down the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of Tupuola Efi. She is involved in environmental issues and is currently a board member of Matuaileo'o Environmental Trust (METI).
Family
Matatumua is the daughter of Le Mamea Matatumua AtaLe Mamea Matatumua Ata
Le Mamea Matatumua Ata was one of the framers of the Constitution of Samoa. He held senior positions under the New Zealand Trusteeship of Samoa and in the Independent State of Samoa....
and is married to Dr. Walter Vermeulen
Walter Vermeulen
Dr. Walter J. Vermeulen is a Samoan / Belgian surgeon, farmer and environmentalist. He was born in Belgium and educated at the University of Brussels, the University of Liverpool and Hawaii.- Biography :...
. Her older sister Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa
Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa
Masiofo La'ulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa also known as Fetaui Mata'afa was an ambassador and a Member of Parliament in Samoa. She was also the wife of Samoa's first Prime Minister Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II. Their daughter, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is a matai high chief and Cabinet Minister in...
was also a chief and a politician who was the wife of paramount chief Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II
Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II
Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II, C.B.E. was a paramount chief and the first Prime Minister of Samoa. He was Prime Minister from October 1, 1959 until February 1970 and again from March 1973 until his death in 1975...
, the first Prime Minister of Samoa
Prime Minister of Samoa
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Samoa from the establishment of that office in 1875 until the present day.-List of Prime Ministers of Samoa :-See also:*Samoa**Politics of Samoa...
. Another sister Eni was also a founding member of HRPP and the wife of politician Aiono Nonumalo Sofara
Aiono Nonumalo Sofara
Aiono Nonumalo Sofara is a chief and former Member of Parliament in Samoa. He was a member of political parties Human Rights Protection Party and later Samoan National Development Party ....
who left HRPP in 1993 and subsequently formed the Samoa Democratic Party.
Politics
Matatumua founded the Samoa All People's Party (SAPP) on 24 March 1996. Prior to leading the new political party, she had been a founding member of the Human Rights Protection PartyHuman Rights Protection Party
The Human Rights Protection Party is a Samoan political party. It has been the dominant party in Samoan politics since 1982.The party was co-founded in May 1979 by Va'ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana in opposition to the government of Tupuola Efi...
(HRPP), first entering parliament as one of the members for the constituency of Aana Number 1 (comprising the villages of Faleasiu
Faleasiu
Faleasi'u is one of the largest village settlements on the island of Upolu in Samoa. It is located on the northwestern coast of the island.Faleasi'u is part of A'ana Alofi I Electoral Constituency which forms the larger political district of A'ana.Faleasi'u consists of five sub-villages pito nu'u:...
and Fasito'o) after the 1982 election. However, later she became known for being a critic of the HRPP government under Tofilau Eti Alesana,
often voting against her party and opposing its leader in caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
. Among her criticisms was the extension of the parliamentary term from 3 years to 5 years and the fact that the extension took effect during that sitting of parliament rather than after the subsequent general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. Another major area of contention was the expansion of Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
from eight to thirteen members, and the inclusion of under secretaries (deputy ministers), which was seen as depleting the backbench.
In 1990 she introduced a motion for the introduction of universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
while in parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
but was not supported by her own party. After the defeat of the motion, both the HRPP and the coalition under Tupuola Efi
Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi
Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi, also known as Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi,and formerly known as Tupuola Efi, is a Samoan political figure who has been Samoa's head of state since 2007...
and Vaai Kolone
Va'ai Kolone
Va'ai Kolone was a Prime Minister of Samoa and a founder of the Human Rights Protection Party in Samoa. He served as Prime Minister twice, first between 13 April and 18 September 1982, and then from 30 December 1985 until 8 April 1988...
promised to introduce universal suffrage if they gained power in the following election. When the HRPP retained power following that election, in which Matatumua lost her seat, the HRPP introduced the bill and Tofilau Eti Alesana claimed credit for the introduction of universal suffrage.
As Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, she often questioned and criticized the government's fiscal policies
Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy....
and practices as well what she saw as its deliberate lack of accountability to parliament. Eventually she resigned from the HRPP and founded SAPP. which has never attained any seats in parliament.