Lepou Petelo II explained

Lepou Petelo II
Constituency Mp10:Faleata East
Parliament10:Samoa
Term Start10:July 2002
Term End10:31 March 2006
Predecessor10:Faumuina Anapapa
Successor10:Manuleleua Lalagofaatasi Falaniko Leleua
Death Date:16 April 2021
Party:Human Rights Protection Party

Lepou Petelo II (died 16 April 2021)[1] was a Samoan politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He was a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.

Petelo worked as a lab assistant at the University of the South Pacific in Samoa and as a construction foreman. He was elected to the Fono for the seat of Faleata East in July 2002 after his predecessor, Faumuina Anapapa, was appointed to the Council of Deputies. An arrangement between villages in the electorate saw him elected unopposed.[2] According to the agreement, he was supposed to stand down at the 2006 election to make way for a candidate from Vaimoso village.[3] When he contested the election, he was banished from his village.[4] He subsequently lost the seat to Manuleleua Lalagofaatasi Falaniko Leleua. The Lands and Titles Court later ruled his banishment was illegal and excessive.[3]

Petelo also contested the 2021 election.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: H.R.P.P. pays tribute to former M.P., Lepou Petelo II . Samoa Observer . Soli Wilson . 1 May 2021 . 1 May 2021.
  2. Web site: Samoa village poised to replace MP . RNZ . 19 July 2002 . 27 March 2021.
  3. Book: Democracy and Custom in Sāmoa: An Uneasy Alliance . Asofou Soʻo . IPS Publications . Suva . 2008 . 175-176.
  4. Web site: Samoa village banishes election candidate . RNZ . 22 March 2006 . 27 March 2021.
  5. Web site: Candidate focused on education, infrastructure . Vaelei Von Dincklage . Samoa Observer . 21 March 2021 . 27 March 2021.