A former Principal of Nofoalii Primary School, Agaseata Valelio Tanuvasa, will be swapping school grounds for Parliament if he successfully contests the seat of Aana Alofi No. 3 at the next election. 

The 56-year-old from Nofoalii will be running under the flag of the new opposition party Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.).

Speaking to the Samoa Observer on Thursday, Agaseata said he has been a Principal for more than ten years, and a teacher for 35 years.

Starting off as a young boy at Nofoalii Primary School, the ex-student of Avele College, eventually came back years later to take charge of the school as Principal more than a decade ago. 

He has since resigned in order to pursue his dream of serving his village and constituency by becoming a lawmaker with the aim of improving his community’s livelihood. 

The candidate said just as he has served diligently in his family and village, in the same manner,  he is ready to serve his constituency and country.

Agaseata said a few of the many projects he has in mind for the constituency includes better plantation roads for the village of Nofoalii, to ensure that people's accessibility is enhanced.

Agaseata also says that if he is voted into the seat, he will ensure all families of Nofoalii and other neighbouring villages of the constituency are able to access safe and clean water.

In the area of education, the candidate says there needs to be an improvement in the development and operation of the Early Childhood Education centres in the district.

Agaseata concluded that should his constituency put their trust in the party he has chosen, he will ensure that the party's recently-announced policy of directly providing $1 million to each constituency will be put to use by Aana Alofi no. 3 to assist with much-needed projects.

Last month, in a significant proposed reform for infrastructure spending, F.A.S.T. leader, La’auli Polataivao Schmidt, said $51 million would be reserved each Financial Year for the future use of each of Samoa’s 51 Parliamentary constituencies. 

The money would be distributed to villages who would take charge of leading their own developments rather than waiting on the central Government for grants or projects.  

Agaseata added that the reason he had chosen F.A.S.T. were its values and principles. 

Those, he says, align with everything he personally believes and stands for and are something every Samoan should themselves stand for. 

"Our family, our people, our nation, our culture and Christian values is our collective responsibility,” he said. 

Agaseata is a father of two children. He is married to Etevise Siaunuua Elia of Uafato Fagaloa is from the villages of Leulumoega and Safotulafai Savaii.