Tuiloma Pule Alaimoana Unasa Lameko Gae’e (6 July 1935 – 1 April 2018) was a

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

n politician and

Cabinet Minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ‘prime minister’, � ...

. He was a member of the

Human Rights Protection Party The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP, sm, Vaega Faaupufai e Puipuia Aia Tatau a Tagata) is a Samoan political party. It was founded in 1982 and dominated Samoan party politics for decades thereafter, leading every government until their defea ...

. Lameko was born in Falealili. Initially educated at a free church school, he later attended Poutasi Primary School. He gained entry to Avele School using a younger cousin's birth certificate, as he was too old to attend. He briefly attended

Samoa College Samoa College is a secondary school in Samoa officially opened in 1953. It is co-educational and teaches from years 9 to 13. It is in Apia on the island of Upolu and is considered the main college in the country. The early college and curriculum was ...

and a teachers training college, but in both cases left due to inability to pay fees. While working as a cashier, he took night classes to train as an accountant. He worked for the Treasury Department, then after serving a secondment to the

International Monetary Fund The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an international financial institution, headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 190 countries. Its stated mission is "working to foster globa ...

in 1975 was appointed the first manager of the Samoa Shipping Corporation in 1976. He was first elected to the

Legislative Assembly of Samoa The Legislative Assembly ( sm, Fono Aoao Faitulafono a Samoa), also known as the Parliament of Samoa ( sm, Palemene o Samoa), is the national legislature of Samoa, seated at Apia, where the country's central administration is situated. Samoan P ...

in a by-election in 1979, after Muliagatele Vena was unseated for bribery. He held the seat until 1991. Between 1991 and 1996 he served as Public Service Commissioner. In 1996 he returned to parliament representing Falealili. He served as Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Sports & Cultural Affairs in the government of

Tofilau Eti Alesana Tofilau Eti Alesana, AC, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana (4 June 1924 – 19 March 1999) was a Samoan politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Samoa from 1982 to 1985, and again from 1988 until his resignation in 1998. Biography ...

and as Associate Minister to the Prime Minister and later Minister of Revenue under Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi. In February 2016 he stepped down from parliament in order to be appointed to the

Council of Deputies The Council of Deputies ( sm, Sui O Le Fono a Sui Tofia) is a constitutional body in Samoa. Its members serve as Deputy O le Ao o le Malo and act as head of state when the O le Ao o le Malo is unable to fulfill their duties due to absence or inca ...

. Lameko died at Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

in April 2018. His death was marked with a public holiday and a state funeral. Lameko also served as president of Samoa Rugby Union.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lameko, Tuiloma Pule 1934 births 2018 deaths Human Rights Protection Party politicians Members of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa Government ministers of Samoa Members of the Council of Deputies Samoan civil servants