Keneti Sio

Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio (born Apia, 3 April 1964) is a Samoan politician, 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
Assumed office
18 March 2016
Prime MinisterTuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Preceded byMagele Mauiliu Magele
Member of the Samoa Parliament
for Sagaga le Falefa
Assumed office
4 March 2016
Preceded byTuisa Tasi Patea
In office
31 March 2006 – 4 March 2011
Preceded byPatea Satini Epati
Succeeded byTuisa Tasi Patea
Personal details
Born3 April 1964
Apia, Samoa
Political partyHuman Rights Protection Party
Keneti Sio
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988-1994 SCOPA ()
National team(s)
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]

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]

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[3] 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;[4][5] the charge was dismissed in 2010.[6] He subsequently lost his seat in the 2011 election.

Loau was re-elected in 2016 and appointed Minister of Education, Sports and Culture.[7][8] As Minister of Education he unsuccessfully attempted to reintroduce corporal punishment in schools,[9][10] and opposed sex education.[11][12] 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".[13]

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]

References
  1. "Minister of Education, Sports and Culture – Government of Samoa". Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  2. Sarafina Sanerivi (23 March 2016). "New Minister has a plan". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. "Vaisigano # 1 constituency wants newly elected MP to join HRPP camp". EventPolynesia.com. 6 April 2006. Archived from the original on 12 November 2006.
  4. "Police in Samoa investigate MP over shooting incident". RNZ. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  5. "Samoa MP appears in court for charge of threatening to kill". RNZ. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. "District court in Samoa dismisses criminal charges against a ruling party MP". RNZ. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. "Many New Faces in Samoa Cabinet". Talanei. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. "Former Samoa deputy PM left out of cabinet". RNZ. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. Deidre Tautua-Fanene (29 July 2017). "Govt. considers corporal punishment". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  10. "Corporal punishment continued in Samoa schools". RNZ. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. "Samoa govt says no to sex education". RNZ. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu (7 December 2018). "Minister slams door on sex education call". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  13. "Samoan PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi hits out at Laurel Hubbard". Stuff. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
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