The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Water Sector Coordination Unit granted $50,000 to the Institute of Professional Engineers of Samoa (I.P.E.S).
The money is to pay for the drafting of Regulations, which in turn will accompany their 16-year-old legislation, the Professional Engineers (Registrations) Act 1998.
According to the minutes of an I.P.E.S. Executive Council meeting obtained by the Sunday Samoan, dated July 17 2014, Council Member Fonoti P. Perelini questioned the whereabouts of the money.
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“Fonoti asked about Item Number three, in regards to request for Funding from Water Sector,” the minutes of the meeting read.
“(The) Treasurer replied that I.P.E.S. has received $50,000 which will now be diverted to the redrafting of the Regulations.”
When questioned about this in an email, I.P.E.S. Treasurer, Seugamaalii Jammie Saena, said the money came from an application made to the Water Sector.
“This $50,000 was an application to the Water Sector for funds to assist the Institution with reviewing their Regulations,” she said in an email.
“You may contact the Water Sector Coordinator Ms. Frances Brown for confirmation. You may also approach any of the I.P.E.S. Council members for confirmation.”
Ms. Brown was asked about how money from the M.N.R.E.’s Water Sector Coordination Unit ended up providing the Institute with the financial means to write a set of draft Regulations.
The following are the questions that were emailed two her more than 10 days ago.
“According to the I.P.E.S. minutes of their last meeting, the Water Sector bequeathed $50,000 tala to the Institute to assist them in writing regulations for their Act, which is now close to being 20 years old. Is this correct?” the email from the Samoa Observer reads.
“How will this money assist them in doing this?
“It seems odd that the water sector would pay for this. Why is it paying?
“How did the Institute go about applying for such a large amount of money?
“I understand the EU funds a large chunk of your budget, are they aware of this expenditure?
“Do other institutes/associations have access to this money? If so how do they access it?”
At the time of press, Ms. Brown had not responded.
Returning to the above meeting minutes, they read that that the Executive Council had already obtained quotes from several law firms in regards to the drafting of the Regulations.
“Registrar stated that the E.C. has received three quotes from the law firms that were recommended in the previous Council Meeting,” the Minutes read.
“They are Vaai, Hoglund & Tamati Law, Ponifasio Law and Schuster, Annandale & Betham. A summary of the quotes was tabled for discussion.
“Treasurer stated that I.P.E.S. needs to involve someone from the Water Sector in the evaluation committee.”
According to the document, under the Council Resolution, an evaluation team was selected to carry out the evaluation of the quotes.
“The team will be chaired by Fonoti and the other members will consist of Leiataua (Tom Tinai), Vui (Sebastian Mariner), Tupai (Mau Simanu) and Frances Reupena (Brown) from the Water Sector.
“Registrar will inform Frances. Council decrees that the committee shall come up with a recommendation within two weeks.
“Registrar will distribute copies of quotes from law firms.”
During the course of the meeting Council Member Lei’ataua Thomas Tinai wanted to be noted down in the minutes the great work done by the Executive Committee in securing funds for the Regulations draft.
Those present at the meeting were Tologata T. Tuimaleali’ifano (chair), Fonoti P. Perelini, Tuiaopo A Ah Liki, Seugamaalii J Saena, Vui S. Mariner, Lei’ataua T. Tinai, Muaausa J. Walter, Tupa’i M. Simanu, Unutoa A. Fonoti.
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