Lefau Harry Schuster

Lefau Harry Schuster (also known as Faualo Harry Schuster) is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the FAST Party and was a founding member of the Tautua Samoa Party.[2][3] He is the cousin of fellow FAST MP Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster.[4]

The Honourable
Lefau Harry Schuster
Schuster in 2022
Minister of Police and Prisons
Assumed office
24 May 2021[lower-alpha 1]
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Preceded byTialavea Tionisio Hunt
Member of the Samoan Parliament
for Vaimauga no. 4
Assumed office
9 April 2021
Preceded byFaaolesa Katopau Ainuu[1]
Member of the Samoan Parliament
for Vaimauga West
In office
4 March 2011 – 4 March 2016
Preceded byAnauli Pofitu Fesili
Succeeded byFaaolesa Katopau Ainuu
Personal details
Political partyF.A.S.T. (since 2020)
Other political
affiliations		Tautua Samoa (until 2020)

Early life

Schuster was educated at St Joseph’s College in Samoa and St Paul's College, Auckland before studying law at Victoria University of Wellington.[2] He worked for the New Zealand Ministry of Education before returning to Samoa to work in the Attorney General’s office. After time in private practice, he was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2000[5] before resigning in 2010 to enter politics.[6] He has also served as president of the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions.[7]

In September 2018 he was awarded the Faualo title by his village.[8]

Political career

Schuster was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa at the 2011 Samoan general election, as a candidate for Tautua.[4] He lost his seat at the 2016 election.[9]

In July 2020 Schuster criticised new electoral laws limiting candidate eligibility as unfair and discriminatory.[10] In October 2020 Schuster announced he would stand as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. Party in the 2021 election.[2] He was elected in the Vaimauga no. 4 constituency.[11] On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Police and Prisons in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[12] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[13]

In his role as Minister in charge of the Electoral Commission Schuster advocated for electoral reform, including the repeal of "arbitrary" restrictions on candidacy and on MPs changing parties.[14] As Police Minister he was critical of the impact of the Land and Titles Bill, claiming that it had led to village councils abusing their authority to violate human rights.[15]

Notes
  1. Disputed: 24 May 2021 – 23 July 2021

References
  1. Seia Lavilavi Soloi (13 April 2021). "Five Cabinet Minister lose seats after polls". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  2. Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (23 October 2020). "Lefau Harry Schuster joins F.A.S.T." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  3. "First FAST Cabinet Down to Work – When the Impossible Happens". Talamua Online. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  4. "NEW FACE IN SAMOA PARLIAMENT HOPES FOR CHANGE". Pacific Islands Report. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  5. "Samoa appoints new judge". RNZ. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  6. "District court judge in Samoa will run as a candidate in next year's election". RNZ. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  7. "Lefau warns IRB against "shambles"". Samoa Observer. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  8. Deidre Tautua-Fanene (30 September 2018). "Lefau Harry Schuster gets Faualo title". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. "HRPP 44, Tautua Samoa 2". Talanei. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  10. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (21 July 2020). "Former Judge and M.P. slams Electoral laws". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  11. "FAST Candidates Displace 4 Ministers and Deputy Speaker". Samoa Global News. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  12. Marieta H Ilalio (25 May 2021). "Fiame Sworn in as Prime Minister under Marquees on Parliament Grounds". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  13. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  14. Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (28 July 2021). "Minister zeroes in on electoral reform". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  15. Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (3 September 2021). "Chiefs' new powers being abused: Minister". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 September 2021.


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