Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says the party has been prepared for a snap election for more than three years and is actively organising meetings with candidates and supporters.

He confirmed the party will hold a meeting on Friday with its candidates and supporters to provide updates on caucus plans.

“All we are trying to do is to keep them [supporters] informed,” he said. “Keep them informed of what we in the caucus are planning to do, so that the whole country understands our different propositions. You know, of course, that we anticipate voters to vote in the full understanding of what the candidate stands for.”

Tuilaepa said the objective is to ensure voters are well-informed about who they are voting for and whether those individuals reflect the will of their communities.

“As well in the hope also that the voter will be able to judge whether the candidate that has offered to stand to represent his or her constituency is a person capable of carrying the wisdom expressed and desired by the people of that constituency,” he said.

When asked about the number of candidates HRPP will field, Tuilaepa said final numbers have yet to be confirmed.

“We cannot confirm the final number now because usually we end up with much more than the constituencies,” he said. “Right now, there are already many more candidates than the number of constituencies that we have in Samoa.”

There are 51 constituencies across the country, and Tuilaepa noted that HRPP has multiple candidates in some constituencies.

Tuilaepa also addressed questions about a former HRPP member who is now part of a new political party, including Maulolo Tavita Amosa, a former HRPP candidate.

“That comprises all our other failed candidates in the past, HRPP,” said Tuilaepa. When asked what he meant by “failed candidates,” Tuilaepa replied: “They did not come back. They were in our party in the last election.”

Tuilaepa confirmed there was no formal farewell for Maulolo.

“No, he just left,” Tuilaepa said. “Besides, he never said goodbye to us. He just disappeared. Now, goodbyes are always for people who have retired, but for people who decided to just leave, there is no need there to spend any more money to farewell a person who does not want a farewell party”