Afamasaga Rico Tupa'i
Samoan politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Afamasaga Lepuiai Rico Tupa'i (born c. 1969)[1] is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Afamasaga Rico Tupa'i | |
|---|---|
Tupa'i in 2018 | |
| Minister of Communication and Information Technology | |
| In office 18 March 2016 – 24 May 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi |
| Preceded by | Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau |
| Succeeded by | Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo |
| Member of the Samoa Parliament for A'ana Alofi No.3 | |
| In office 4 March 2016 – 9 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster |
| Succeeded by | Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Afamasaga Lepuiai Rico Tupa'i c. 1969 |
| Party | Human Rights Protection Party |
Tupa'i previously worked in the media, including media agency Skylite, the Samoan Department of Broadcasting, and as one of the founders of Fiji's Mai TV.[2] He worked for Digicel Pacific[2] and the National University of Samoa.[3] He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa at the 2016 Samoan general election, and appointed Minister of Communication and Information Technology.[4][5]
In March 2021, Tupa'i was accused of extracting A$90,000 from an Australian investor seeking to establish a business in Samoa.[6][7] He subsequently lost his seat in the April 2021 Samoan general election.[8]
