"You cannot serve two gods" - P.M. tells Fiame

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, has questioned the decision by his former deputy, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, to register as an Independent candidate while endorsing Fa'atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi [F.A.S.T.].

“You cannot serve two gods," Tuilaepa said, speaking during his weekly programme on TV3.

The Prime Minister laughed when he was asked to comment on the decision by Fiame to be nominated as an Independent M.P. while also endorsing F.A.S.T.

“I will say this [as indicated in the Bible] one cannot serve two gods. You can only serve one God,” he said, and made reference to F.A.S.T. founder and former Cabinet Minister, La’auli Leuatea Polataivao.

“You cannot have one foot here and one foot on the other side.”

Fiame submitted her nomination to the Office of the Electoral Commission on Tuesday afternoon and was joined by F.A.S.T. supporters and members at the S.N.P.F. Plaza.

Releasing a statement after her nomination, she said she has registered as an Independent candidate for next April’s General Election.

“Today, with the support of the chiefs and orators of my village and constituency of Lotofaga, I registered as an Independent candidate for the 2021 general elections,” Fiame said in a statement. 

“I decided to register as an independent for the major reason to protect my constituency’s seat and for me to continue to serve as my constituency’s voice in Parliament until the end of the Parliamentary term.”

When approached by the Samoa Observer on Wednesday to comment on Tuilaepa’s latest statement, the former Deputy P.M. declined.