Samoan politician
Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. She is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Gatoloaifaana is the daughter of former Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana.[1] She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the 2006 Samoan general election,[1][2] and appointed Minister of Health.[3] As health minister she advanced legislation banning the sale of tobacco to young people.[4] and managed an outbreak of Swine Flu.[5] She was re-elected at the 2011 election, but not reappointed to Cabinet.[6] In 2012 she supported constitutional amendments requiring that women hold a minimum of 10% of the seats in parliament.[7] In August 2014 she appeared in court charged with one count of issuing insulting words;[8] the charges were ultimately dropped.[9] She was re-elected again at the 2016 election.[10] She lost her seat in the April 2021 Samoan general election.[11]
Gatoloaifaana is married to Rodger Gidlow and they own and run the Savaiian Hotel in Lalomalava on the north coast of Savai'i. She has also been a Director on the Board of the Samoa Tourism Authority. In 2017 she was appointed a judge of the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant.[12]
References
- ^ a b "Samoan election result final". RNZ. 18 April 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "14th Parliament 2006 - 2011, Members of Parliament & Ministers". The Parliament of Samoa. Archived from the original on August 24, 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ^ "Five new faces in new Samoa cabinet". RNZ. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "SAMOA BILL TO PROHIBIT SALE OF TOBACCO TO YOUTH". Pacific Islands Report. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "FLU FEARS CLOSE SAMOA SCHOOLS". Pacific Islands Report. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Dumped Samoa minister says she's happy on the back benches". RNZ. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "SAMOA PARLIAMENT DIVIDED OVER WOMEN'S SEATS BILL". Pacific Islands Report. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Samoa MP in court for insulting language". RNZ. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Charges against Samoa minister dropped". RNZ. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Samoa HRPP Party Returned In Landslide Election Victory". Pacific Islands Report. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ Soli Wilson (12 April 2021). "Youngest candidate bests veteran M.P." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga (6 December 2017). "M.P. Gatoloaifaana a Judge, Tonga secures next Miss Pacific". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
