Mase Toia Alama

{{Short description|Samoan doctor and civil servant (died 2022)}} '''Mase Fetuao Toia Fiti Alama''' OM (1951?<ref name=SO2017>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/23568 |title=Samoa pays tribute to pioneers |author=Sarafina Sanerivi |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=5 February 2017 |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref> — 7 May 2022)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/98210 |title=Samoa's 'Parliamentary Iron Lady' passes away |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=}}</ref> was a Samoan doctor and civil servant. She served as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa, Registrar of Electors, and Chief Electoral Officer of Samoa.

Alama was educated at the Fiji School of Medicine in Suva, Fiji, and at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.<ref name=SO2017/> In 1980 she became the first Samoan to become a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.<ref name=SO2017/> She subsequently worked as manager of the National Health Services and superintendent of Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.<ref name=SO2017/> She was later appointed Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Registrar of Electors, and Chief Electoral Officer.<ref name=SO2017/> In the latter role she oversaw the 1990 Western Samoan constitutional referendum and 1991, 1996 and 2001 elections. Her management of elections was controversial, with opposition parties alleging a conflict of interest as her husband was a candidate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2000/05/12/government-appoints-savea-sano-malifa-samoa-electoral-reform-commission |title=GOVERNMENT APPOINTS SAVEA SANO MALIFA TO SAMOA ELECTORAL REFORM COMMISSION |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=12 May 2000 |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref> In the 2001 election there was further controversy, with the opposition Samoan National Development Party alleging discrepancies in the vote count.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/16/samoa-opposition-alleges-foul-play-election-vote-count |title=SAMOA OPPOSITION ALLEGES FOUL PLAY IN ELECTION VOTE COUNT |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=16 March 2001 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720041215/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/16/samoa-opposition-alleges-foul-play-election-vote-count |url-status=dead }}</ref>

She was made a member of the Order of Merit of Samoa in the 2017 Samoa Honours and Awards.<ref name=SO2017/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/22275 |title=Honoured for service |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Sarafina Sanerivi |date=4 February 2017 |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alama, Mase Toia}} Category:1951 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Samoan civil servants Category:Samoan medical doctors Category:Fiji School of Medicine alumni Category:University of Auckland alumni Category:Members of the Order of Merit of Samoa