28 Feb 2011

Election candidates in Samoa pull out of race

8:59 am on 28 February 2011

The leader of Samoa's ruling HRPP party says he is confident his party can win yet another election.

The HRPP has been in power for almost thirty years, and its leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been Prime MInister since 1998.

The opposition, Tautua Samoa party, has more than 40 candidates for the election, due to be held on March the Fourth

The HRPP leader, and caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Mailielegaoi is says his government has the experience to govern again.

"It is to be noted also, that this is an ongoing government, if it is again elected, and we have numerous ongoing projects that are in progress now. So that means much of the projects are already ongoing."

The number of election candidates in Samoa has dropped from 161 to 158 after three candidates withdrew their nominations.

Two of them are candidates from the ruling HRPP, from Palauli West and A'ana Alofi number 3 constituencies and one independent.

No reasons were given by the Electoral Commissioner's office behind the withdrawal however 290 polling booths have been allocated for the election around the country on the main islands of Upolu and Savaii.

It includes special polling booths in town for constituencies at the rural areas in both Upolu and Savaii islands.

This year's election booths will open at 8 instead of nine in the morning and close at 3 in the afternoon.