Va'ai Kolone
Encyclopedia
Va'ai Kolone was a Prime Minister of Samoa
and a founder of the Human Rights Protection Party
(HRPP) 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. He was from Vaisala
village on Savai'i
island in the political district of Vaisigano
.
Kolone was first elected to parliament, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa, in 1967. In 1979, together with Tofilau Eti Alesana
he founded the Human Rights Protection Party
to oppose the government of Tupuola Efi. The HRPP won 24 seats in the 1982 election
, and Kolone was appointed Prime Minister. However, an election petition stripped him of his seat shortly afterwards due to bribery charges and he was forced to resign. Tupuola Efi was appointed Prime Minister and served until Kolone regained his seat in the subsequent by-election. In the meantime Tofilau Eti Alesana
had been elected leader of the HRPP and served as Prime Minister for the rest of the parliamentary term.
Kolone resigned from the HRPP after failing to regain the party leadership after the 1985 election
. However in late 1985 11 HRPP Members of Parliament defected to form a coalition government with the then-opposition Christian Democratic Party
. Kolone was elected Prime Minister on 30 December, with Efi as his deputy. The coalition was later formalised as the Samoan National Development Party
. He subsequently led the SNDP in the 1991 election, gaining 14 seats.
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...
and a founder 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) in 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...
. He served as Prime Minister twice, first between 13 April and 18 September 1982, and then from 30 December 1985 until 8 April 1988. He was from Vaisala
Vaisala (Samoa)
Vaisala is a small village on the northwest coast of Savai'i island in Samoa. The village lies within the political district of Vaisigano.It is located close to the coast in the northwestern corner of the island. To the west are the neighbouring villages of Auala and Asau.A significant family from...
village on 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...
island in the political district of Vaisigano
Vaisigano
Vaisigano is a political district at the western tip of Savai'i island in Samoa. The capital of the district is Asau.This area is also referred to as 'Itu Asau' in the Samoan language.The population of Vaisigano is 6,643 ....
.
Kolone was first elected to parliament, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa, in 1967. In 1979, together with 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...
he founded 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...
to oppose the government of Tupuola Efi. The HRPP won 24 seats in the 1982 election
Samoan general election, 1982
General elections were held in Samoa on 27 February 1982. Voting was restricted to Matai and citizens of European origin , with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. The result was a victory for the Human Rights Protection Party, which won 24 seats. Its leader, Va'ai Kolone, was appointed...
, and Kolone was appointed Prime Minister. However, an election petition stripped him of his seat shortly afterwards due to bribery charges and he was forced to resign. Tupuola Efi was appointed Prime Minister and served until Kolone regained his seat in the subsequent by-election. In the meantime 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...
had been elected leader of the HRPP and served as Prime Minister for the rest of the parliamentary term.
Kolone resigned from the HRPP after failing to regain the party leadership after the 1985 election
Samoan general election, 1985
General elections were held in Samoa on 22 February 1985. Voting was restricted to Matai and citizens of European origin , with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. The result was a victory for the Human Rights Protection Party, which won 32 seats...
. However in late 1985 11 HRPP Members of Parliament defected to form a coalition government with the then-opposition Christian Democratic Party
Christian Democratic Party (Samoa)
The Christian Democratic Party was a political party in Samoa. The party was founded in February 1985 by the supporters of former Prime Minister Tupuola Taisi Tufuga Efi...
. Kolone was elected Prime Minister on 30 December, with Efi as his deputy. The coalition was later formalised as the Samoan National Development Party
Samoan National Development Party
The Samoan National Development Party was a political party in Samoa, and the country's main opposition party between 1988 and 2003.The party was formed from a merger of the Christian Democratic Party and Samoa National Party in April 1988. At the 2001 election the party won 23.5% of popular...
. He subsequently led the SNDP in the 1991 election, gaining 14 seats.
External links
- Profile at rulers.org