The Vice President and Judge of the Land and Titles Court, Misa Iuli Pita Anae, has declared his candidacy for the General Elections in March.

In doing so, Misa confirmed during an interview with the Sunday Samoan that he has resigned from his position to concentrate on the elections.

His last day at work was 30 December 2015, ending 17 years as a Judge.

Now, his focus is to win the Falelatai and Samatau seat currently occupied by the Associate Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Taefu Lemi.

Misa said his term as a Judge ends next year but he wanted to do the right thing and resign so that he can concentrate on one thing at the time.

Asked about his thoughts on the election, Misa said he has a plan but would not discuss what that plan is. 

He said this would be revealed in due course.

In the meantime, he said he is extremely grateful for the opportunity he has had to serve the country in the Land and Titles Court.

“I want to thank the people of Samoa,” he said. “I want to thank the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi and the government of Samoa for supporting me throughout my time at the Court.

“It has been a long journey and there were a lot of challenges but I guess this is my calling from God and he gave me the grace to see it through.”

Misa said he would not have been able to do his work if it weren’t for the support from the government and also the people of Samoa.

“Being a Judge is not something easy,” he said. “There are a lot of challenges but with the help of the country, the government, my family and especially God, I have been able to do it.

“Being a Judge is different from all the other positions within the government,” he said.

“This is one of the hardest jobs because you get to make the decision and at the end of the day you will sit down and think if you had actually made the right decision or not.

“I rely on God to show me what to do during my time. He is the only one I rely upon to help me make the right choice.”

As for the upcoming Elections, Misa said he is well prepared. He is running for the ruling Human Rights Protection Party.

Misa first became a Judge of the Land and Titles Court in 1998. 

The following is a letter of gratitude from Misa in Samoan:

FAAMAVAE ALOAIA LE SUI PERESETENE SINIA O LE FAAMASINOGA O FANUA MA SUAFA SAMOA.

MISA ANAE IULI 

FUIMAONO ATANOA PITA ANAE.

A uma ona tatou faia se galuega, ona o tatou faapea ifo lea, oi tatou o ni auauna le aoga.

Ia viia le Atua i lou filifilia I le galuega na faaaoga ai lau auauna i lalo o lana Pule aoao.

Ou te le tuua faafale tatala o le pogisa e taape le lua lua lona taunuuga I lou taimi i le faamasinoga. Ae avea lenei avanoa taua ou te momoli atu ai la’u faafetai tele ma le faamalo Samoa I lona aoao, eoo lava i ona i’u.

Faafetai – I le ao mamalu o le malo.

Faafetai – Sui o le Fono o Sui Tofia.

Faafetai – Alii Palemia.

Faafetai – Faamasino Sili.

Faafetai – Peresetene.

Faafetai – Minisita o le Faamasinoga.

Faafetai – Taitai o le itu Aiga.

Faafetai – Fofoga Fetalai.

Ma Minisita ma sui mamalu uma o le Palemene o le Tafatolu o le Malo.

Faafetai – I le Au tatalo o Auauna a le Atua.

Faafetai – I le tapuaiga s Samoa aoao.

Faafetai – I lou nuu ma lou Itumalo. Aemaise le auauna a le Atua ma le aufaigaluega I lou pulega Falelatai ma Samatau, Siufaga, Pata.

Ou te talitonu e tele lo tou sao mo au ao avea ma a tou auauna i le tofi.

Sui Peresetene o le Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa a Samoa.

O le mea lea, ou te le tulai gugu ai, ae ao ona ou manatua mea lelei uma na o tou lagolago mai ai.

Faafetai.

Ae peitai ou te faamalulu ma ou faamaulalo atu afai o i ai sou sese pe ua lape foi lau auaunaga Samoa, ia faamagalo le auauna.

O loo i le Atua le taunuuga o le galuega na filifilia ai au.

Ia tatou folau i le vaa o manu i lenei Tausaga Fou.

Soifua,

Misa Anae Iuli Fuimaono Atanoa Pita 

Anae.