Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai (formerly known as Levaopolo Talatonu Vaai)[1] is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister who has served as the minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure since 2021.[2][3]
In 2015 Vaai decided to switch electorates and contest the seat of Salega East in the 2016 election following a decision by his village to reject a tourism project he had proposed. As a result, he was disqualified from Parliament as he was no longer eligible to represent his old seat.[7] He subsequently announced plans to form a new political party[8] and contested the election as an independent, but after winning re-election he re-joined Tautua.[9] When he switched electorates, he adopted a new title, becoming Olo Fiti Vaai.[10] In the 2016 term he was a vocal critic of the government, being called a "One man Opposition Party" by the media.[4] In May 2019 he was removed from the Finance and Expenditure Committee after criticising government spending decisions.[11] In December 2019 he called on the government to launch an inquiry into the 2019 Samoa measles outbreak, saying "we failed you, Samoa".[12]
In October 2020 Vaai registered to run as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party in the 2021 election.[11][13] As a result, his seat was declared vacant under anti-party-hopping provisions.[14][15] On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa.[16][17]
On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[18] 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.[19]
In June 2022, Olo announced that he would be suing opposition leader Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi for defamation. Tuila'epa had previously alleged that Olo registered a government automobile as his private property, which the opposition leader claimed was the equivalent of theft. Olo said that comment dishonoured his family and constituency. In addition, Olo also filed a lawsuit against Maota o Vi'iga, a Samoan radio station based in Australia, for echoing Tuila'epa's claims.[20]