Committee attacks Faumuina's reply

Members of the Officers of Parliament Committee (O.P.C) are not happy.

So much so they have issued a statement outlining their concerns about the former Minister of Finance’s response to their report to Parliament.

The report in question supports findings from the Controller and Chief Auditor about incidents of “corrupt practises” within the Samoa Land Corporation (S.L.C).

The alleged corruption is among a number of allegations levelled at the former Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, who resigned from Cabinet two weeks ago But the Committee is not impressed.

“Having considered the ministerial speech, the Officer’s of Parliament Committee (OPC) feels that the former Minister of Finance failed to address a lot of the pertinent issues and concerns on the mismanagement of the Samoa Land Corporation as raised in the Committee report,” the statement from the Committee reads.

“The Committee believes that some of his statements were misleading and are inaccurate according to the evidence provided by the numerous witnesses (government officials, private sector, and concerned public as written in the report) called by the committee, as well as documents collected during the investigation.

Other major concerns were also not covered in the Minister’s Statement, which need to be satisfactorily addressed.” Chaired by Associate Minister, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, other committee members include Taefu Lemi Taefu (HRPP), Agafili Eteuati Tolova’a (HRPP), Aeau Dr. Peniamina Levaiseeta (Tautua), Papali’itele Niko Lee Hang (HRPP), Motuoopua’a Dr. Aisoli Vaai (Tautua) and Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster (Tautua).

According to the statement from the Committee, they acknowledge with gratitude the full approval by Parliament of the O.P.C report including its recommendations on the Auditor’s report.

“The Officers of Parliament Committee is currently compiling its answer to the ministerial statement and will await Government response to the report for Parliament.”

The government has 90 days to respond. Here are the recommendations from the Committee about the Samoa Land Corporation:

• 8.1 On the examination of the overall evidence, it is reasonable to state that due to the seriousness of discrepancies and corrupt practices reported in the Chief Auditor’s Report, and that the Committee has confirmed these matters from its findings, Government is therefore recommended that these Committee findings as mentioned in the report be noted, and appropriate legal actions be implemented and applied to all those who are involved in this investigation to ensure corrupt practice and that relevant provisions of the law.

• 8.2 That a special performance audit be carried out in the provision of services rendered by Management of the Corporation as soon as practicable.

• 8.3 That Government take seriously, the usage by the Samoa Land Corporation (SLC), or any other Government Ministry or Corporation, of the so called “intermediary company” (Middleman), for any services or the procurement of goods or fixed assets, and to strengthen the adherence to Government procurement policies under the terms and conditions for the purchase of fixed assets, including bids in the tender process.

• 8.4 That the Samoa Land Corporation be ordered to submit their Annual Reports for years commencing in the year ended June 2006 up to June 2012. All these Annual Reports fall within the last Parliamentary term, in the year 2006 to 2011 and continue up to 2012.

• 8.5 That Government take note seriously with regards to the payment system used in paying contracts or consultants in order to comply, and to enforce the deduction of withholding taxes and remit those to the Ministry for Revenue within the specified times provided by law. • 8.6 That Government takes note of employment policies in the recruitment of employees, particularly in Government Corporations, so that direct appointments be ceased forthwith, and that vacant positions be advertised, in order to give equal opportunities to those who wish to apply.

• 8.7 That Government takes note of the compliance of all Government Ministries and Corporations, in respect of tax legislation applied to salary or wages of any employee, so that all taxes that Government must receive are assured.

• 8.8 In accordance with the motive that established a Corporation, the funding of the Office of the Minister was given to the main Ministry under which the Minister is responsible for. Such arrangement is still being monitored and continued, by the Ministry of Finance and the Audit Office, on a daily basis. This will help ease the constraints on the Corporation’s budget, due to services rendered for the Minister’s Office.

• 8.9 That Government takes note of an efficient organisational structure and the administration of the Samoa Land Corporation, and in particular, its responsibilities and objectives that constituted its establishment. The Committee notes that a Sports Authority has been established to be responsible for grounds and sports facilities of Government. The responsibilities of taking care of all grounds and sporting facilities that are located at Tuanaimato Sports Complex, including the Golf Course and the general maintenance of the whole grounds, must now be given to the Sports Authority. Such an arrangement will allow the Samoa Land Corporation to seriously review its mandatory responsibilities and functions and direct its effort to its priority areas.

• 8.10 That Government take note seriously of the Tender System using design and build concept, which allows corrupt practice or prejudice, especially in the interpretation and reading of design plans. The Committee believes, that the provision of an actual plan at the beginning of the Tender process, gives the notion that this is the same job that will be done, with all the contractors witnessing, and in that respect, all the contractors will have equal opportunities at the tender that will be made. With this in mind, that will make things easier and the final decision of the Tender will be very transparent.