17 Jan 2012

Former Samoan woman MP Vermullen dies

4:52 am on 17 January 2012

A former Samoa woman MP and founding members of the the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, Matatumua Maimoana Vermullen, has passed away.

According to her family, she died last week while in New Zealand.

The former politician, however, resigned in the 1980s because of opposition in several party policies.

The late Matatumua Maimoana is one of the sisters of another former woman MP, La'ulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa, the late wife of the first Prime Minister when Samoa became independent back in 1962.

She was the MP for A'ana Alofi number one constituency and was the first woman politician who founded and led the Samoa People's party back in the early nineties.

A memorial service for Mrs Vermullen will be held this week for her family and friends in Samoa after her body was cremated in New Zealand.