FORMER Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has called on the government address medical supply shortages and power blackouts instead of creating a Christian state.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi made the comment after Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt’s proposal to restrict religious practice to faiths “founded on God.”
Schmidt has called on churches to consider the banning of non-Christian religions and ordered the Foreign Ministry to create an embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, this year.
“Israel is not a Christian country,’’ Malielegaoi said in the letter to the editor of the local newspaper.
“When Jesus our Saviour was crucified, the Jewish people had already pronounced that the blood of the Son of God be upon them and their children.’’
Schmidt’s attempt to ban non-Christian religions has received little support from churches.
His government has implemented a Civil Service fast every Wednesday in 2026 to seek divine protection for the nation. This will include weekly worship on Wednesday evenings at the Palisi Prayer House.
The fasts are ostensibly to protect Samoa during the cyclone season, and members of the public have been urged to join the fasting and worship.
Sundays have been designated as days of rest, with bans on construction and high-noise activities.
Malielegaoi said the fast was not a national priority.
“Meanwhile, fix our shortages of medical supplies and electricity blackouts, the most immediate priority for our people,’ he said.