“It shouldn't be swept under the carpet. We want to pursue (this matter) to the end and do our duty” – Tu’u’u Anasi’i Leota
A group of Members of Parliament calling for justice to be served in relation to findings of “collusion” and “corrupt practises” in certain government bodies, by the Controller and Chief Auditor and backed by the Officers of Parliament Committee, continue to wait.
According to a member of the group and Siumu M.P, Tu’u’u Anasi’i Leota, they will not give up and are keenly waiting for the next Parliamentary session, when the government is expected to respond.
Parliament is schedule to reconvene early next month.
That’s when Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, is expected to table the government’s response to the Officers of Parliament Committee (O.P.C) findings on the Controller and Chief Auditor’s 2009 report.
During an interview with the Samoa Observer this week, Tu’u’u reminded that it is their duty to pursue the matter.
“We are still waiting for the government to respond,” Tu’u’u said.
The Associate Minister of Education, Sports and Culture said just because the government has taken a while to respond, it does not mean the issue should be forgotten.
“It shouldn't be swept under the carpet. We want to pursue (this matter) to the end and do our duty.”
Tu’u’u was not aware that the government has been given an extension by the Speaker of Parliament, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata’ivao, to table their response.
{googleAds}<script async src="http://www.samoaobserver.ws///pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- ads-articles(24.03.14) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="2395638412"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}
While La’auli is overseas and could not be contacted for a comment, he is quoted by the Talamua Media as saying that the deadline for the government has been extended. The Speaker did not specify when the extension will end but he pointed out that it was done due to a request from the government.
Asked about this, Tu’u’u said Members of Parliament should have been informed about this.
“Such a change should be announced in Parliament, not outside (of the House),” said Tu’u’u.
The Samoa Observer was told that the delay is due to the Attorney General’s Office and the Audit Office.
Asked for a comment, the Controller and Chief Auditor, Fuimaono Camillo Afele, denied this.
“The report is that of the O.P.C based on the reports of the Audit Office,” he said, adding that the “responses should be that of the Executive Government."
“The Audit Office is outside of the Executive Government as far as the separation of the three branches is concerned.”
An email sent to the Attorney General Aumua Ming Leung Wai was not responded to at press time.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker Agafili Patisela Eteuati declined to comment on the extension. Asked yesterday, he said: “I cannot respond to that, I’m not in the office at the moment.”
Asked when he would be available, Agafili said he wouldn’t be as he was leaving the country.
Last month, the Associate Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang demanded that justice be served against public servants whom the Controller and Chief Auditor, Fuimaono Camillo Afele, and a
Parliamentary Committee have found to have “defrauded” taxpayers through “collusion” and acts of “corrupt practises.”
According to Papali’i, their actions cost taxpayers millions of tala and they should be held accountable.
“I really want to bring these people to account and be brought to justice,” Papali’i told the Samoa Observer during a recent interview. “I mean it is millions, we are talking about millions."
“(It is) not $100 for a public servant to go to jail just for defrauding a hundred bucks.”
The matter, since the reports from Chief Auditor and the O.P.C surfaced, has taken too long.
“So where is the justice?” Papali’i asked. “I don't like that. To me it is not fair, my conscience is not right if they keep on doing that. So I have to fight for that.”
When Prime Minister Tuilaepa was asked about the delay in the government’s response, he said it was none of “your business.”
Tuilaepa said he doesn’t know “what they’re waiting for”.
“When it comes to meetings, whether it’s a rugby team, volleyball team, church, Parliament or the United Nations, there is always a set agenda. On the agenda is where all the issues for a meeting are listed.”
<!-- 336x280 (bottom-article) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="1033882026"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}