“Read PALEMIA, read and say thank you for the service provided by this leader for the country – our entire country”.
Those were the final words by Fofo Sunia to end his keynote address at the launch of the biography of Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegoi at the Lee Auditorium earlier today.
Fofo was personally asked by Tuilaepa to give a review of his memoirs.
The reviewer described “Palemia” as a history lesson that every young aspiring leader should read.
With his usual eloquence, Fofo said it would take all day, and then some, to relate the many and varied developments under Tuilaepa’s leadership. 
But the roads, the hospitals, the schools, government buildings, wharves and ships and many other major developments like the airport under construction, all bear witness to his wisdom and frugal economic sense.
“He has become adept at enticing and luring assistance from larger countries such as China and Japan,” said Fofo.
And even at the other end of the scale, he is at home speaking with the youth, and even the traditional healers as well as involvement in sports and any other event where the country is involved.
Fofo also spoke about Tuilaepa’s recollections of the strategies used by the Human Rights Protection Party which has been in power for close to 30 years.
He said Tuilaepa writes in the book that the strategy the HRPP used to build a strong and solid government, was to weave together the Samoan and the palagi ways to make one solid guiding strand. 
Fofo said in Tuilaepa’s memoirs, the Prime Minister stresses that HRPP sticking steadfastly to that strategy is why Samoa has such a stable government.
Tuilaepa watched the launching from his hospital bed in Auckland where he was medivaced earlier this week.
The speech he was supposed to deliver was read by Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.
Here’s an excerpt.
Play Audio
In the audience were Lt Governor lemanu Peleti Mauga, First Lady Cynthia Moliga, Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega and District Governors along with several lawmakers and directors.
Director of the Office of Insular Affairs, Department of Interior, Nikolao Pula was also present.
The CEO of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo and Samoa’s Consul General in American Samoa, Auseugaefa Vaasatia Poloma also attended the book launch,
Dr. Peter Swain who wrote the book said that in three months since it was released, the first edition of Palemia was sold out.
A Samoan version will be out before the end of the year.
The launching was sponsored by SSAB Pago.
