18 Apr 2006

Samoan election result final

3:14 pm on 18 April 2006

The Samoan head of state, Malietoa Tanumafili II, has declared the result from last month's election of a 49-member parliament final.

It has 21 new members, including two women.

Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia reports.

"Of the 21 new MPs, two are woman MPs, one was elected from Fa'asaleleaga Number one constituency and she is Gatoloaifa'ana Amataga Alesana Gidlow, the daughter of late Prime and leader of HRPP, Tofilau Eti Alesana. The other new woman MP is Fuimaono Na'oia Te'i, the daughter of an Opposition MP and former Cabinet Minister during former Oppositon leader, tamaaiga, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi's government. Another new MP, La'auli Leuataea Polataivao, is elected by the ruling HRPP caucus as Deputy speaker of parliament. La'auli is the son of a former HRPP Cabinet, and founding member of the party, the late Polataivao Fossie Schmidt. Three of the twenty one new MP's are former parliamentarians in previous years."