The Office of the Prime Minister could not confirm yesterday if Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, was due to return last night.
Contacted yesterday, a secretary, who did not want to be named, said as far as she was concerned, the Prime Minister was still in New Zealand. She did not know when he would return.
Asked if there was anyone else in the office who might know, she did not say.
“He is still in New Zealand,” she said. Asked whether he would be expected back to work next week, she said “probably”.
She gave no further details regarding his health or any other unknown plans regarding his whereabouts in Auckland at present.
An email sent to Vaosa Epa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, four days ago has not been responded to. Ms. Epa is in New Zealand with the Prime Minister.
She was among officials – including the Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr. Leao Tuitama, who accompanied the Prime Minister.
Tuilaepa, 68, was transferred to Auckland for a medical check- up late last month after being admitted to the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
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The Prime Minister had felt “chills” and a “fever” while attending one of Parliament’s night sessions on Wednesday 19 March.
He was assisted out of the chamber and taken to the national hospital for medical help. He was there for three days before flying to New Zealand after his infected toe caused a red patch to spread around the area.
Speaker of the House, La’auli Leuatea Polata’ivao in an earlier interview with this newspaper said the Prime Minister would be away for a week. But he said this was not confirmed.
The Prime Minister has been away for more than a week.
Tuilaepa has been Prime Minister of Samoa and leader of the Human Rights Protection Party since 1998.
Prior to his health scare, he had publically stated that he was as strong as a whale and that his heart was beating like that of a bull.
A source told the Samoa Observer that the Prime Minister was scheduled to return last night.
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