A total of 11 women are standing for Parliament with the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) in the 2021 General Elections.

The final count of women candidates in H.R.P.P. was provided by the party's leader, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi at a press conference on Friday. 

Among the H.R.P.P. women candidates is Maugaoalii Ufagalilo Faamanu Mualia who is contesting the seat for Vaimauga 4.

She is the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Corporate Services at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.). 

Vaimauga 4 includes the following villages: Leufisa, Motootua, Malifa, Apia, Lalovaea, Lalovaea East, Aai Niue, Maluafou, Matafele, Vaimea, Palisi, Tamaligi, Tauese, Tufuiopa, Mulinuu, Fugalei, Savalalo, Saleufi, Sogi, Taufusi, Togafuafua, Aai o Fiti, Mulivai, Tuloto and Alamagoto.

The Samoa Observer approached Maugaoalii for comments; however, she declined the interview.

Two-term Parliamentarian Faimalotoa Kika Stowers-Ah Kau, incumbent for the Gagaifomauga No. 1 constituency and Minister of Health, is facing a male counterpart in the H.R.P.P. party.

The Samoa Observer approached Faimalotoa for comments about her bid against a male member of her own political party for the Gagaifomauga No. 1 seat.

When asked if she was worried, the Minister said:

“Oh no. Leave it to the people. Let each person cast their own ballot as they please. Don’t force them,” said Faimalotoa.

“The work speaks for itself. I have no worries.”

Asked what she hopes to achieve if she wins her seat again, Faimalotoa said she has many plans.

“There are so many plans for my district. I can’t promise anything and I don’t really want to talk about the elections at this time. We have so much work to do,” she said.

“The elections are not on my mind at this time. There is so much work to do. But let each person vote as they may, they should go and register and whoever they give their 'X' to. Let each person vote based on what will bless the village, their family and the district.”

The Health Minister reiterated her confidence.

“So that’s it. But I am not worried about anything,” Faimalotoa said.

The former Director of Broadcasting for Radio 2AP and former Minister for Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (M.C.I.T.) said she knew she was being taped but attempted to retrospectively declare her comments off-the-record; a condition to which the Samoa Observer never agreed when the interview began. 

“I know you are taping me but I am saying off the record, which I will make a fuss. Are you getting me? This is a golden rule. I say off the record but you are asking many questions,” said Faimalotoa.

The Observer did not agree to retrospectively grant the Minister off-the-record status for her interview.