Va'aelua Eti Alesana
Encyclopedia
Va'aelua Eti Alesana was a Samoa
n politician
and opposition leader who served as a founding member and President of the Tautua Samoa Party
in 2011.
He was the son of former Prime Minister of Samoa
, Tofilau Eti Alesana
. His sister, Gatoloaifaaana Amataga Gidlow, has remained a member of the ruling Human Rights Protection Party
.
Alesana was elected President of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party
in February 2011, a post he held yntil his death later in the year. He opposed Prime Minister's Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
re-election bid in the March 2011 general election
. However, Malielegaoi's was returned to office in the election.
Va'aelua Eti Alesana died in Samoa on Friday, September 30, 2011. The leader of Tautua Samoa, Palusalue Fa’apo II
, said that "We are really saddened by this. He has done so much for the party." Alesana was buried in his native village of Lalomalava
, Savai'i
. In his eulogy, Palusalue Fa’apo II told mourners, "Va'aelua always maintained a positive attitude and before the General Elections last March, he kept encouraging the Tautua Samoa members to stay positive, despite the odds being stacked against us."
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...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and opposition leader who served as a founding member and President of the Tautua Samoa Party
Tautua Samoa Party
Tautua Samoa is a political party in Samoa. The party's policies include economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector, public service reform, a limit on the number of Associate Ministers, and a reduction in the term of Parliament from 5 to 3 or 4 years...
in 2011.
He was the son of former 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...
, Tofilau Eti Alesana
Tofilau Eti Alesana
Tofilau Eti Alesana, AC, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana, was a Samoan politician. He was born in Vaitogi, Tutuila, American Samoa to a Samoan upper-class parents, Reverend James Alesana Fai'ivae and Vaoita Iosefa Mala'itai...
. His sister, Gatoloaifaaana Amataga Gidlow, has remained a member of the ruling 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...
.
Alesana was elected President of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party
Tautua Samoa Party
Tautua Samoa is a political party in Samoa. The party's policies include economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector, public service reform, a limit on the number of Associate Ministers, and a reduction in the term of Parliament from 5 to 3 or 4 years...
in February 2011, a post he held yntil his death later in the year. He opposed Prime Minister's Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi is a Samoan politician who has been Prime Minister of Samoa since 1998.-Biography:Born at Lepa, Samoa, Malielegaoi is an economist by profession...
re-election bid in the March 2011 general election
Samoan general election, 2011
A general election was held in Samoa on 4 March 2011, in which the people elected the 49 seats of the Fono for its 15th term. Unlike most neighbouring countries in the Pacific, Samoa has established party politics...
. However, Malielegaoi's was returned to office in the election.
Va'aelua Eti Alesana died in Samoa on Friday, September 30, 2011. The leader of Tautua Samoa, Palusalue Fa’apo II
Palusalue Fa’apo II
Palusalue Fa’apo II is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is the leader of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party.Palusalue was first elected to Parliament in 1996. He served as Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice...
, said that "We are really saddened by this. He has done so much for the party." Alesana was buried in his native village of Lalomalava
Lalomalava
Lalomalava is a village at the southeast end of Savai'i island in Samoa. The village is part of the electoral constituency Fa'asaleleaga I which is within the larger political district of Fa'asaleleaga....
, Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
. In his eulogy, Palusalue Fa’apo II told mourners, "Va'aelua always maintained a positive attitude and before the General Elections last March, he kept encouraging the Tautua Samoa members to stay positive, despite the odds being stacked against us."