Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has rejected claims there are frictions within the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P).
He also reiterated that the H.R.P.P caucus has decided on the future of the Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, and as far as he was concerned, there is no issue there anymore.
“This thing is not new,” he said.
“We’ve already met about this.”
During the meeting in question, held last year, Tuilaepa said “only three voted differently, wanting him to resign. Everyone else wanted him to continue and that’s how it is.”
Tuilaepa refused to give names. He also denied reports about factions within the H.R.P.P.
“There is nothing wrong [within our party],” Tuilaepa said. “We had a party last week and everyone was there except for these two who are still angry. They still don't have the heart to forgive.”
Asked who the two members are, he said: “I won’t tell you who they are.” So is he likely to make a decision on them to put an end to claims that the H.R.P.P is divided? “No,” said Tuilaepa.
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“You know Christianity is about love and forgiveness.”
The Prime Minister said he is a leader who forgives. “Just like [I exercised forgiveness against the] M.P for Satapuala, the boy at Sili and all of you who write these wrong things. I forgive all of you.”
Tuilaepa made the comments when he was speaking to the media at his office on Tuesday night. He also used the opportunity to address the Chief Auditor’s report as well as the Officers of Parliament report.
Both reports found and confirmed instances of “corrupt practises” within the running of some government bodies.
The reports have also revived questions about the behaviour of the Minister of Finance, especially when he was the Minister for the Samoa Land Corporation (S.L.C).
“I’ve already responded to it,” he said about the reports. “Parliament has also been told about the report, I don’t think you listened to it.”
According to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Officers of Parliament Committee, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, summed up the situation well when he said that a lot of the issues raised had been resolved.
“The Committee came up with their recommendations and they responded to them by themselves by saying that a lot of these things have been resolved,” said Tuilaepa.
“The significance of that response is that it reflects the principles governing the work of the government. What are these principles?
“First, the Chief Auditor will investigate. When he finds some problems, he then writes a management letter listing all the problems.
“In that letter, he advises the C.E.O to look at those things that are wrong. “Then the C.E.O acts.”
The Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for whatever Ministry is investigated are copied in the correspondence.
“And because I am copied, I also ask the C.E.O to look into the concerns raised by the Chief Auditor and address them. “But the Chief Auditor will still write his report and submit it to Parliament.”
Tuilaepa said his government is all about doing the right thing.
“Once there is a problem it gets fixed [and] that is nothing new. It has been a practise by H.R.P.P for a long time.”
Tuilaepa said it is this very practise the Chief Auditor and all government ministries follow.
He confirmed that there have been matters where the Chief Auditor had given advice and the Ministries don’t follow through.
“Again when this happens, we end up with more problems.”
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