Purcell was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in a 2011 by-election,[2] and appointed Associate Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.[1] Following a Cabinet reshuffle in April 2014 he was appointed as the first Minister of Public Enterprises.[3]
He was re-elected unopposed at the 2016 Samoan general election[4][5] and appointed Minister of Labour, Tourism and Samoa Land Corporation, as well as retaining his Government Enterprises portfolio.[6][7] Another reshuffle in June 2016 saw him lose the Tourism portfolio to Sala Fata Pinati but retain Labour, Commerce, and Government Enterprises.[8]
He is married to public servant Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell.[9]