SODELPA Leader Viliame Gavoka offered the Party’s congratulations to Fiame Naomi Mata’afa – Samoa’s seventh Prime Minister and the first woman to assume the Office of the Prime Minister in the neighbouring island nation.

“Hon Mata’afa has served her people well. She is commended as a long serving member of Parliament, became the first female Cabinet Minister, holding various Ministerial portfolios and rose to be Deputy Prime Minister,” Mr Gavoka said in a statement.

“She is a role model for women, not only in Samoa, but the Pacific, and as a ‘Matai’, she is a revered leader of her people.”

Mr Gavoka extended the Party’s congratulatory message to the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi (FAST) Party for its successful election victory.

He said they looked forward to strengthening bilateral relations between Fiji andSamoa.

Mr Gavoka also acknowledged former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi for his leadership in Samoa and throughout the region spanning more than two decades.