Minister Faumuina resigns

The Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, broke down in Parliament late last night when he resigned as a Cabinet Minister.

“Only God knows,” he told the House, as tears flowed freely from his cheeks. “I’m not mad at anyone. I believe God allows these things to test the faith of people who trust in him.”

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, accepted Faumuina’s resignation. He acknowledged Faumuina’s contribution to the development of the country saying 14 years of service to Parliament is not a short period of time. He also praised Faumuina’s bravery in implementing a number of projects that many politicians were scared of. Among them, he said, included the transformation of a Ministry previously known as a “Ministry of Waste” to what is known today as a “well run” Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.

“Don't forget that God has blessed you with many talents,” Tuilaepa told Faumuina. “The end of your service in this area will mean your availability to serve in another area.”

Tuilaepa also announced that a new Minister of Finance would be sworn in at 4pm on Friday 25 April 2014. “It will not be an easy decision,” he said.

“Everyone in this party is a professor.” Last night was the first time Faumuina broke his long held silence over numerous allegations against him. Speaking during a Ministerial statement allowed by the Speaker of Parliament, La’auli Leuatea Polata’ivao - despite objections to it – Faumuina maintained his innocence, saying he acted in the best interest of the government and the people of Samoa.

Among the questions he addressed were:

• Questions surrounding his time at as the Minister of Works
• Questions surrounding the South Pacific Games 2007
• Questions surrounding the Samoa Land Corporation
• Questions surrounding the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa
• Questions surrounding the Unit Trust of Samoa

Faumuina addressed the questions during a statement delivered at the beginning of Parliament’s debate over the Officers of Parliament Committee report into the Controller and Chief Auditor’s Report for 2009 and 2010. During his tenure as the Minister of Works, Faumuina told Parliament his task was not easy because he had to implement a number of plans – including downsizing the Ministry.

These plans, he said, had been in the pipeline for sometime and yet there was lack of “political will” to see them through. So when he started to move these plans, he encountered many problems. He dismissed criticisms against his handling of S.P.G facilities saying such facilities were built to international standards.

“There was a lot of criticism about the facilities,” he admitted.

“But the longterm vision at the time was looking far beyond 2007, the government’s vision was to attract world tournaments to be held in Samoa. “We have already seen this happen.”

As for S.R.O.S and U.T.O.S, the Minister said these organisations play a vital in the development of Samoa. He said S.R.O.S and U.T.O.S are both flourishing because there is clearly a need for the services they provide. The Minister also strongly defended his behaviour as the Minister of S.L.C.

In a detailed response to the allegations raised in the Controller and Chief Auditor’s report as well as the O.P.C Report, Faumuina said S.L.C had addressed questions raised by the Auditor but their response had been rejected. About the shortfalls in revenue, he said this was normal because budgeted revenue can never be the same as actuals.

Losing money during the Siva Afi Court case was not the Corporation’s fault, the Minister said. He blamed the Court saying the “judge was slack.”

A water drilling truck, which cost the Corporation millions, was also defended by the Minister, who said the purchase of it saved the government millions more.

He said the purchase was necessary because the Samoa Water Authority’s truck was not going to be available for at least five years.

As a result, it would have cost the government nearly $10million to transport water to Falelauniu over that period of time. From 1990 to 2006, Faumuina said government only received $2million from S.L.C with a debt of $21million. During his tenure, the $2million ballooned to $15.9million and the debt has since been fully paid.

As for the $340,000 Lexus, Faumuina apologised for violating Cabinet’s procurement policies saying he was merely keen on saving the environment.

He, however, strongly rejected claims that his wife was a shareholder in a landscaping company involved with the Faleata Golf Course.

Faumuina’s Ministerial statement was also the subject of a heated debate among Members of Parliament. Whereas Opposition leader, Palusalue Fa’apo II rejected it arguing that a Ministerial statement cannot be challenged, the Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, said Faumuina should use Parliamentary privileges to respond.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa disagreed with Fiame but then the Speaker eventually that Faumuina could deliver his Ministerial address. Prior to the Minister’s Ministerial statement last night, Prime Minister Tuilaepa moved a motion for Parliament to adopt 38 reports without debate so “that we can get on to the Officers of Parliament committee report.”

But Palusalue objected.

“Mr. Speaker all these reports are very important and all the Members of the House want to speak about them, especially this side,” he said.

“There are a lot of serious matters that we should be looking at into these reports.” Palusalue said such a motion is “usually moved towards the end of a Parliamentary sitting. “But we’ve still got a long way to go before the end of this sitting.”

Palusalue urged Parliament to discuss each report. But Tuilaepa disagreed. “Mr. Speaker, the final word about these reports is the response from the government,” he said.

“What’s the point when a lot of these reports are dated? The reports we need are reports about today, what’s happening now, current reports. “I also spoke with the leader of the Opposition and he advised me to complete our work tonight and we agreed.” Palusalue denied this.

“We did not agree on passing 38 reports without debate, I want to make sure of that. Speaker Laauli supported Tuilaepa. “If we leave these 30 plus reports, it will lapse in May.

We will no longer be able to discuss it. “It’s much better to move a motion now that the government has officially accepted all these reports, then the government will respond to the concerns raised by the Committees and the Chairs. “It’s much better than when all these reports become pointless in May.”

Palusalue insisted that their objection to the motion to put on the record.

“Mr. Speaker, perhaps the leader of the Opposition doesn't understand that we can remove the motion and then all these reports will become useless and the government wouldn't have to respond. Tuilaepa said the government C.E.O’s have complained that when they turn up to Committee meetings, there is no quorum, which in return delays the reports.

“So I can remove the motion and then all these reports will lapse and become useless.”

To Palusalue, Tuilaepa said: “Stop playing politics, you are coming with such bad politics, you are looking to score some points. Parliament continued into the early hours of this morning.

It decided to pass the O.P.C report, after Palusalue moved a motion to end the discussion. Parliament has been adjourned until next month.