Maiava Iulai Toma

Maiava Iulai Toma is a Samoan diplomat and civil servant. He served as Samoa's Ombudsman from 1994 — 2020.

Maiava Iulai Toma
3rd Samoan Ombudsman
In office
1994–2020
Nominated byTofilau Eti Alesana
Appointed byMalietoa Tanumafili II
Preceded byVaovasamanaia Filipo
Succeeded byLuamanuvao Katalaina Sapolu
Personal details
BornSamoa
Alma materUniversity of the South Pacific

Maiava was born in Samoa and educated in Hamilton, New Zealand.[1] While later serving as Ombudsman he completed a Bachelor of Laws at the University of the South Pacific.[1]

Civil servant and diplomat

He worked as a civil servant, serving as Secretary to the Samoan Government, chief executive of the Department of Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs & Cabinet, and Commissioner to the South Pacific Commission.[1] In January 1978 he was appointed ambassador to the United States, permanent representative to the United Nations, and High Commissioner to Canada.[1][2] He was recalled from those positions in 1982 by the new government of Vaʻai Kolone, sent back when Tofilau Eti Alesana took power later that year, and finally recalled in January 1983 to return to his old role as secretary to the government.[3]

Ombudsman

In 1994 Maiava was appointed Ombudsman.[1] Shortly after his appointment he was asked by the government to investigate auditor-general Sua Rimoni Ah Chong's findings of corruption by government ministers.[4] His report cleared the ministers,[5] and was used by the government as justification to suspend Ah Chong. In 1998 he chaired a commission of inquiry into the leaking of Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana's police record,[6] in which he ordered the media not to report on proceedings.[7][8] In 2000 he chaired the Electoral Reform Commission.[9] His appointment to the position caused another member, Savea Sano Malifa, to resign.[10]

In 2007 an inquiry by Maiava into sexual harassment by the chief executive of the Samoa Tourism authority saw the chief executive fired.[11] In 2008 he chaired a commission of inquiry into the smuggling of weapons from American Samoa aboard the police patrol boat Nafanua.[12] The inquiry found police commissioner Papalii Lorenese Neru and the Nafanua's captain in breach of duty and recommended a criminal investigation, but the latter recommendation was ignored by the government.[13][14]

In 2013 he led an inquiry into mismanagement and abuse of power at Tafaigata prison[15] which led to police commissioner Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo being fired.[16]

In 2016 he led a major inquiry into domestic violence in Samoa.[17] The inquiry reported back in 2018, recommending the creation of a Family Violence Prevention Office.[18][19]

In 2018 he opposed proposals by the Samoan government to reinstate corporal punishment in schools.[20] In 2020 he opposed the government's Land and Titles Bill.[21]

He retired in 2020[22] and was replaced by Luamanuvao Katalaina Sapolu.[23]

References
  1. "MAIAVA Iulai Toma". Office of the Ombudsman. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021.
  2. "Diplomatic Representation for Samoa". U.S. State Department. 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. "People". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 54, no. 3. 1 March 1983. pp. 51–52. Retrieved 30 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. Martin Tiffany (1 September 1994). "WESTERN SAMOA Under pressure". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 64, no. 9. p. 15. Retrieved 30 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Alan Ah Mu (1 January 1995). "APIA'S POLITICAL CRUNCH". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 65, no. 1. p. 12. Retrieved 30 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "MORE INVESTIGATION OF SAMOA PM TOFILAU'S THEFT CHARGES". Pacific Islands Report. 27 April 1998. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  7. "NO REPORTING OF SAMOA PM POLICE FILE INQUIRY PERMITTED". Pacific Islands Report. 1 May 1998. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  8. "Samoan media banned from reporting inquiry into Prime Minister's theft file". IFEX. 30 April 1998. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  9. "SAMOA ELECTORAL REFORM COMMISSION SET UP". Pacific Islands Report. 10 May 2000. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  10. "SAVEA SANO MALIFA QUITS SAMOA ELECTION COMMISSION". Pacific Islands Report. 15 May 2000. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  11. "Samoa Tourism Authority sacks CEO after Ombudsman's report on sexual harassment". RNZ. 2 March 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  12. "Samoa probe into gun smuggling to open". RNZ. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  13. "Two senior Samoa police officers escape criminal charges over gun smuggling". RNZ. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  14. "Criticism of decision in Samoa not to charge Police Commissionor". 2 February 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  15. "Appointments made to Samoa prison commission of inquiry". RNZ. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  16. "Samoa Police Commissioner to fight cabinet termination". RNZ. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  17. "Samoa PM announces violence inquiry commissioners". RNZ. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  18. "'Veil of silence' on Samoa's domestic violence". RNZ. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  19. "Samoa domestic violence inquiry seeks to lift 'veil of silence'". RNZ. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  20. "Samoa Ombudsman questions corporal punishment". RNZ. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  21. "Samoa's Ombudsman voices opposition to divisive bills". RNZ. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  22. "Samoa seeks transparency and rights protector". RNZ. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  23. "Samoa first female Ombudsman takes office oath". RNZ. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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