After close to four months of political wrangling and four decades of one party dominance a new political future is dawning in Samoa, the nation's new Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said on Saturday.

In a press conference at 2 pm on Saturday at the Maota Samoa Events Centre at Vaitele fou, after earlier meeting with heads of Government Ministries and agencies, Fiame revealed the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) Administration will move into the Government offices coming Tuesday with the Parliament to be convened at the “earliest opportunity” in the coming week.

She then conveyed her deep gratitude to the people of Samoa for their patience as her party fought to resolve the lengthy national political crisis.

“As of yesterday afternoon, the caretaker Government ended its time and the new Government, under my leadership as the Prime Minister, together with the Ministers of Cabinet, sworn in on the 24th of May this year were confirmed as the new Government,” she said during the press conference.

“Can I offer my deepest gratitude to you, the people of Samoa, and in particular acknowledge the dignity with which you have waited with patience and forbearance, peacefully and respectfully for the Court process to be concluded.

“You have been strong in claiming the peace which comes from faith, for the deep love for your country and love for your family villages and districts.

“My administration is committed to returning this country to the special place dreamt of by our forefathers when they grabbed the mantle of independence almost 60 years ago.”

On Saturday morning the new Government convened its first meeting with some of the heads of Government Ministries.

Well placed sources told this newspaper that all Ministry and agency heads were present except for the Legislative Assembly Clerk Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei and the Attorney General, Savalenoa Mareva Betham-Savalenoa.

The senior bureaucrats in attendance include Agafili Shem Leo (C.E.O. Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet), Leasiosiofa’asisina Oscar Malielegaoi (C.E.O. Ministry of Finance), Acting Police Commissioner and Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti and Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo of the Samoa Police Prisons and Correctional Services.

“Today, I, and the Cabinet met with key officials to begin the transition of our new Government into office,” Fiame said.

“At the earliest opportunity next week, Parliament will convene to carry out its first order of business to pass a budget to ensure the ongoing operations of the Government.

“We have directed Treasury to prepare a budget premised on Article 95 of the Constitution which is 25 per cent of the last budget, [the] 2021-2021 [fiscal year].

“This will give effect of supply to continue the operations of Government and availing our new administration time to review the financial and economic situation of our country before presenting a full budget.”

Photos posted on the official Facebook page of F.A.S.T. on Saturday showed a closed-door meeting between the new Ministers and the senior bureaucrats, including the new Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo in discussions with Leasiosio.

“Cabinet will formally take office on Tuesday next week, on an expected smooth transition with the outgoing caretaker Government,” said Fiame.

“Let us now come together, each in our own way, to make Samoa, our beloved country, a place we can be proud of and happy to live in.

“It is my continuing prayer that God upon which this country is founded will continue to bless and guide Samoa.”

Fiame also said that whilst there is clarity on who the Government of the day is, the nation remains in uncharted waters as they work to find a way to swear in the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) Members into Parliament.

She said regardless of the political rivalry the H.R.P.P. Members of Parliament are also representatives of the various constituencies of Samoa and were chosen by their voters.

Her predecessor and H.R.P.P. leader Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi was also acknowledged for his contribution to Samoa’s development during his record 22-year Prime Ministership.

The Appellate court on Friday ruled that a Government swearing-in ceremony conducted by the Members of the F.A.S.T. on the lawns of Parliament on 24 May was in fact legally binding. 

That conclusion implied that the H.R.P.P. was unlawfully occupying the office of the nation's "caretaker Government". 

In their conclusion, the Court of Appeal said for the avoidance of doubt, Samoa has had a lawful Government since 24 May 2021, namely that led by the F.A.S.T. party.

The decision halted nearly four decades of uninterrupted political dominance by the H.R.P.P. which first won Government in 1982.