Two extremely important projects in the pursuit of justice in Samoa were launched at the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (M.J.C.A) yesterday.
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The first project was the Digitization of records for the Land and Titles Court.
The second was the installation of recording systems inside all of the Ministry’s 12 Court Rooms.
The projects cost more than a million tala.
Present at the launch yesterday was Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi and members of the Justice family including Judges and lawyers.
The Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, said the digitization of Court records is a step in the right direction for Samoa.
So far, more than 25,000 files have been digitized in Upolu. There are some 20,000 files that need to be copied and digitized from the records at Tuasivi.
Minister Fiame acknowledged the assistance from the Australian government, especially High Commissioner, Sue Langford, who has been a very great help to Samoa.
The Chief Executive Officer of M.J.C.A, Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe, also had positive words for the new system.
“The new system is very easy to access. Also files have a back up system which is in place.”
he said.
“However, only A.C.E.O’s, Court Registrars and Senior Officers can use this new system.”
The new systems will be used when Court starts next week.
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" class="caption" />A motorist who used the new airport parking facilities was concerned to see that the fee included a 19 percent charge for Valued Added Goods and Services Tax (V.A.G.S.T).
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The legislated rate is 15 per cent. The motorist handed in the ticket, above, and asked Samoa Observer to check whether this was accurate.
Questions sent in via email to the Samoa Airport Authority last week were not responded to by press time last night.
However, a clue to the mix up may come from the parking ticket itself. Tickets issued at Faleolo airport still retain the slogan from the installation company, “Designa VLT The Know How of Parking.”
An online search for this slogan shows the electronic parking fee system comes from Designa VLT, a company claiming 60 years experience with around 6,000 installed systems in over 50 countries.
The company, DESIGNA Verkehrsleittechnik GmbH, is headquartered in Germany, where the Valued Added Tax rate is 19 percent.
Meantime, back here, Section 57.1 f (ii) of the 1992 V.A.G.S.T.
Act applies against those who “knowingly” charge “in excess of the amount properly so charged under this Act”.
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