Loau Keneti Sio

Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio (born Apia, 3 April 1964) is a Samoan politician, former Cabinet Minister, and rugby union player. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).

Loau Solamalemalu Keneti Sio
Sio in 2016
Minister of Education, Sports and Culture
In office
18 March 2016 – 24 May 2021[lower-alpha 1]
Prime MinisterTuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi
Preceded byMagele Mauiliu Magele
Succeeded bySeuula Ioane
Member of the Samoan Parliament
Assumed office
9 April 2021
Preceded byConstituency established
ConstituencySagaga 1
In office
4 March 2016 – 9 April 2021
Preceded byTuisa Tasi Patea
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
ConstituencySagaga le Falefa
In office
31 March 2006 – 4 March 2011
Preceded byPatea Satini Epati
Succeeded byTuisa Tasi Patea
ConstituencySagaga le Falefa
Personal details
Born (1964-04-03) 3 April 1964
Apia, Samoa
Political partyHuman Rights Protection Party
SpouseMalama Sio
Children4
Occupation(s)Flight attendant
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988-1994 SCOPA ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988-1994 Samoa 14 (12)

Early life

Loau was educated at Faleula Primary School before studying at Samoa College.[1] He worked in a bank and as a farmer and fisherman.[2] Outside of the field, he worked as a flight attendant.[3]

Rugby career

His first cap for Samoa was against Tonga, at Apia, on 26 May 1988 and his last international cap was against Tonga, at Moamoa, on 4 June 1994. Loau represented Samoa for a total of 12 years, including at the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cup tournaments,[1] though he did not take part at both tournaments.

Political career

Loau was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa as an independent at the 2006 Samoan general election. He joined the HRPP[4] and was appointed Associate Minister of Education.[2] In November 2009 he was charged with threatening to kill over a shooting incident in the village of Faleula;[5][6] the charge was dismissed in 2010.[7] He subsequently lost his seat in the 2011 election.

Loau was re-elected in 2016 and appointed Minister of Education, Sports and Culture.[8][9] As Minister of Education he unsuccessfully attempted to reintroduce corporal punishment in schools,[10][11] and opposed sex education.[12][13] In July 2019, the New Zealand transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard was awarded two gold medals at the 2019 Pacific Games which were held in Samoa. Loau, speaking as the Samoa 2019 chairman, said that the decision to allow Hubbard to compete was "unfair" and added that "We all know that it is not fair to the women lifters but that is a reality we face in the world of sports".[14]

Loau was re-elected in the 2021 Samoan general election. On 12 July 2021 he agreed to resign as part of the settlement of an election petition.[15][16] On 20 July the agreement was rescinded, and the petition proceeded to trial.[17] Loau successfully retained his seat.[18]

Following the 2021 Samoan by-elections Loau publicly called for Tuila'epa and other HRPP senior leaders to step aside.[19]

Personal life

Loau is married to Malama Sio and they have four children. He is a member of the Congregational Christian Church and the Catholic Church in Faleula.[1]

Notes
  1. Disputed: 24 May – 23 July 2021

References
  1. "Minister of Education, Sports and Culture – Government of Samoa". Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  2. Sarafina Sanerivi (23 March 2016). "New Minister has a plan". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. "Rugby World Cup 1991". Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. "Vaisigano # 1 constituency wants newly elected MP to join HRPP camp". EventPolynesia.com. 6 April 2006. Archived from the original on 12 November 2006.
  5. "Police in Samoa investigate MP over shooting incident". RNZ. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. "Samoa MP appears in court for charge of threatening to kill". RNZ. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. "District court in Samoa dismisses criminal charges against a ruling party MP". RNZ. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  8. "Many New Faces in Samoa Cabinet". Talanei. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. "Former Samoa deputy PM left out of cabinet". RNZ. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. Deidre Tautua-Fanene (29 July 2017). "Govt. considers corporal punishment". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. "Corporal punishment continued in Samoa schools". RNZ. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. "Samoa govt says no to sex education". RNZ. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  13. Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu (7 December 2018). "Minister slams door on sex education call". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  14. "Samoan PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi hits out at Laurel Hubbard". Stuff. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  15. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (12 July 2021). "Education Minister resigns". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  16. Sina Retzlaff (12 July 2021). "Loau Keneti Sio Agrees to Resign, Papalii Panoa Declares he Will Not Run By-Election". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  17. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (20 July 2021). "Minister abandons 'agreement' to run for F.A.S.T." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  18. "Loau stays in office". Samoa Observer. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  19. "Senior HRPP MP calls for Tuilaepa to step aside". RNZ. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
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