Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong
Leatinuu Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong (also known as Leatinuu Wayne Soʻoialo) (born June 1959) is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister who has served as the minister of Commerce, Labour and Industry since 2021.
The Honourable Faumuina Fong | |
|---|---|
Leatinuu Wayne Soʻoialo in 2023 | |
| Minister of Public Enterprises | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
| Preceded by | Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell |
| Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour | |
| In office 24 May 2021 – 1 October 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
| Preceded by | Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell |
| Succeeded by | Leota Laki Lamositele |
| Member of the Samoan Parliament | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Taefu Lemi |
| Constituency | Faleata No. 2 |
| In office 4 March 2016 – 9 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Constituency | Urban West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1959 |
| Political party | Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi |
| Other political affiliations | Human Rights Protection Party (until 2020) Independent (2020-21) |
Faumuina worked as a cargo manager for Polynesian Airlines in the United States, before moving to Hawaii. After returning to Samoa he ran a shipping company. He was first elected to the Samoan Parliament in the Urban West seat at the 2016 Samoan general election.
In March 2017 Fong called for a law change to allow Samoans to gamble in casinos. In October he criticised "dirty politics" within the Human Rights Protection Party, alleging that factions were moving against Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi while he was in hospital in New Zealand. In December he called for a relaxation of border controls with American Samoa. In 2018 he opposed the government's Customary Land Alienation Bill. In June 2019 Fong criticised the government's budget, claiming it was "unbalanced".
In May 2020 Fong was asked to leave the Human Rights Protection Party by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi over his opposition to Tuilaʻepa's proposed constitutional reforms. In July 2020 he was sacked from the party. He remained in parliament as an independent.
In September 2020 Fong pledged his loyalty to former Deputy Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa following her resignation, and promised to follow whichever party she joined in the 2021 election. On 17 October Fong registered to run as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party in the 2021 election. As a result his seat was declared vacant under anti-party-hopping provisions. On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa.
Fong ran in the seat of Faleata No. 2 at the April 2021 Samoan general election and was re-elected. On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa. The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.
On 19 December 2022 Leatinuʻu was medevaced to New Zealand for treatment for a serious heart condition.
In a cabinet reshuffle on 6 September 2023 he was replaced as Commerce, Industry of Labour by Leota Laki Lamositele from 1 October 2023, but retained the Public Enterprises portfolio.