Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau

Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau
Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau in 2014
Minister of Communications, Information and Technology
In office 21 March 2011 – 18 March 2016
Prime Minister	Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Preceded by	Safuneitu'uga Pa'aga Neri
Succeeded by	Afamasaga Rico Tupai
Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure
In office 24 April 2006 – 21 March 2011
Preceded by	Faumuina Tiatia Liuga
Succeeded by	Manu'alesagalala Enokati Posala
Minister of Agriculture
In office 20 March 2001 – 24 April 2006
Preceded by	Va'ai Papu Vailupe
Succeeded by	Taua Kitiona Seuala
Member of the Samoa Parliament for Vaimauga East
In office 2 March 2001 – 4 March 2016
Preceded by	Lenui Avamagalo
Succeeded by	Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa
Personal details
Born	1952/1953 Territory of Western Samoa
Died	27 March 2024 (aged 71) Samoa
Political party	Human Rights Protection Party

Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau (1952/1953 – 27 March 2024) was a Samoan politician and cabinet minister.

Biography

Born in 1952/1953, Aveau was a musician.[1] He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the 2001 election, and was appointed Minister of Agriculture.[2] He was re-elected in the 2006 election and appointed Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.[3] As Minister of Transport he spearheaded the government campaign to change Samoa from left-hand to right-hand driving.[4][5]

Following the 2011 election he stood unsuccessfully for Deputy leader of the HRPP.[6] He was subsequently appointed Minister of Communications, Information and Technology.[7] In November 2011 he was investigated for assault by police;[8] the complaint was later withdrawn.[9] In 2014 he and his wife composed the theme song for the United Nations Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States.[10][11]

Aveau lost his seat in the 2016 election.[12][13] Following his election loss he established the Samoa Banana Farmers Association.[1] He contested the 2021 election as an HRPP candidate,[14] but was unsuccessful.

Aveu died on 27 March 2024, at the age of 71.[15]

References

1. Seia Lavilavi Soloi (17 March 2021). "H.R.P.P. candidate dismisses report". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
2. "Misa becomes new Minister of Finance". Samoa Observer. 20 March 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
3. "Five new faces in new Samoa cabinet". RNZ. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
4. "Samoa expected to change drive sides July 2008". RNZ. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
5. "Controversial road traffic bill in Samoa finally tabled in Parliament". RNZ. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
6. "Samoa's ruling HRPP elects party leader and country's prime minister". RNZ. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
7. "Former opposition leader in Samoa joins new ruling party cabinet". RNZ. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
8. "Samoa government minister faces assault complaint". RNZ. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
9. "Assault complaint against Samoa minister withdrawn". RNZ. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
10. "Samoan cabinet minister Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau composes a song to counter climate change". ABC. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
11. "Theme Song For Samoa's SIDS Conference Launched". Pacific Islands Report. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
12. "Samoa HRPP Party Returned In Landslide Election Victory". Pacific Islands Report. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
13. "HRPP 44, Tautua Samoa 2". Talanei. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
14. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (22 July 2020). "Former Cabinet Minister signs up for Vaimauga East contest". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
15. Former MP Passes Away Samoa Observer