Govt. asked not to short change Ministry of Women

The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.) has not had the money to do its job, a Parliamentary select committee has found.

According to the Health and Social Services, Internal Affairs, Community and Social Development Committee (H.S.S.I.A.C.S.D.) Committee’s report on the Ministry’s Annual Reports for the Financial Year’s ending June 30 2011 and 2012, the M.W.S.C.D. carry out work that is of value to the Samoan community.

Gatoloaifaana Amataga Gidlow serves as the Committee’s Chairperson. “Based on its findings the Committee recommends to the Government to advise the Ministry of Finance in assigning appropriate sums in the Main Budget to the Ministry,” the Committee Reports.

“As it is noted the wide-ranging and important plans of the Ministry in ensuring the welfare of the country that cannot be reached due to monetary constraints."

The H.S.S.I.A.C.S.D. Committee also noted the importance of the Faleula Committee Division in sustaining traditions, customs and cultural values.

“The Ministry stated that it has achieved one of its activities from the corporate plan in completing the Tusi Faalupega 2012 edition and it is an accomplishment in updating salutations between villages and villagers,” the report reads.

“There is a new program under the control of the Committee that is broadcasted on TV called O le Toe Sasaa le Fafao."

“This Program serves to inform customs and traditions and is an advisory Committee by providing perspectives on reducing poverty.”

For these resons the Ministry recommened to the Legislative Assembly that the M.W.C.S.D. to consider in continuing O le Toe Sasaa le Fafao Program due to its importance to future generations.

Further more the Committee noted the Ministry was looking at making its Printing Division independent, “The Ministry of Women and Ministry of Finance has completed deliberation on the Ministry’s Printing Services debt,” the Committee reports.

“As the Ministry of Finance has recommended that an Inter-transaction Department be established within the Ministry to monitor transactions with other Ministries and to seek ways in directly paying loans from its set budget."

“The Ministry stated that there are plans in making this Division independent.”

As such the Committee recommended to the Legislative Assembly “to implement an examination to making the Printing Division into a State Owned Enterprise.”

In addition to Gatoloaifaana, the board compised of Aeau Peniamina Leavaiseeta as Deputy Chairman, Motuopuaa Aisoli Vaai, Ifopo Matia Filisi, Aveau Nikotemo Palamo, Tofa Sooalo Mene and Alo Fulifuli Taveuveu.

The report is republished in full below:

1. RECOMMENDATION:- The Health and Social Services, Internal Affairs, Community and Social Development Committee recommends that the Assembly takes note of its Report.

2. PREAMBLE:- The Health and Social Services, Internal Affairs, Community and Social Development Committee is constituted pursuant to the provisions of Standing Orders 171.

3. STANDING ORDERS 171:- Pursuant to Standing Orders 173, it shall be the duty of the Health and Social Services, Internal Affairs, Community and Social Development Committee:

(a) To consider any bill, petition or other matter referred by the Assembly or pursuant to these Standing Orders; and such Estimates or review of ministerial performance as maybe referred by the Finance & Expenditure Committee;

(b) To examine the policy, administration and expenditure of ministries and associated government organizations related to health, housing and social services, internal affairs, community and development.

4. PAPER CONSIDERED:- P.P 2012/2013 No.

16, Annual Report of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development for the Period ended 30th June 2011. P.P 2012/2013 No.1, Annual Report of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development for the Period ended 30th June 2012.

5. WITNESSES:- During the course of the Committee’s review of the Annual Report of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development For the period ended 30th June 2011 and 30th June 2012, it was able to hear oral evidence submitted by the following:

Ministry of Women Community and Social Development Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago - Chief Executive Officer. Faaiuga Mulitalo - Assistant Chief Executive Officer. (Corporate Services Division)

Tifitifi Uitime e Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Printing Division) Louisa Apelu - Assistant Chief Executive Officer.

(Women Division)

Faafetai Koria - Assistant Chief Executive Officer. (Research Division) Ana Leau Vaasa Teo - Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Youth Division) Kamu Luagalau - Principal Officer (Internal Affairs)

6. FINDINGS The Ministry of Women Affairs was established in 1990. It was merged with the Ministry of Internal Affairs along with the Youth Division under the Ministerial and Departmental Arrangement Act 2003 and was made as a single Ministerial Department known as the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development.

It has presented its Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly according to provisions in Section 18 (2) of the Ministry of Women Affairs Act l990, Section 17 (2) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Act l995, and Section 17(2) of the Ministry of Youth Sports and Cultural Affairs Act 1993/1994. The Committee has noted during its findings, the attainment of other objectives approved by the Cabinet on important policies in moving forward and improving the services of the Ministry in future. l. Policy For Women and Plan of Action 20l0/2015 2.

Community Sector Plan 2010/2015 The Committed observed the yearly work outputs that were measured against the work performance indicators as set out in the Ministry’s Corporate Plan. The Ministry continues to prioritize programs in developing the Community especially Youths, Women and Children and persons with disabilities to seek the Village Representatives and Village Women Representatives in order for the Ministry to govern its implementation.

6.1 Internal Affairs Division This division of the Ministry strives to sustain its services and programs in upholding Communities as well as strengthening social and economic as well as, to preserve customs and traditions in keeping a secure community. One other responsibility of this Division is in ensuring that the Agricultural Development continues to yield crops in maintaining the Country’s food Supply.

The program’s outline and public broadcast were through the collaboration of mayors, government representatives and mayor’s committee. One of the works that was achieved by this Division was in preparing the Performance Framework Matrix-Details 2011- 2012, which serves to guide the Corporate Plan on Social Development.

The Ministry attempted to merge within the Performance Framework a program that involves Social Development and Private Corporation vocations. This is an opportunity in building relations between the Government and Private Corporation to assist in areas that the Government has not fulfilled.

6.2 Youth Division: The Youth Division is involved in Programs that seek to develop youths and determine its responsibilities and services by developing its Social, Economic and Lifeskills Services as well as Administering Pursuing and investigating these Programs.

It prepared two (2) Youth policies in continuing work that culminated by 2001-2010.

The Ministry has implemented a Program in continuing the Youth Program by utilizing the Community Plan, and it is one of the objectives in the Youth Development Program.

6.3 Women Division:

The Women Division is responsible in implementing the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Ministry has executed its program in strengthening the duty and responsibility undertaken by the Village Representatives and Village Women Representatives and responsible liaison officers. According to the Ministry, the Village Representatives and Village Women Representatives have carried out their responsibilities well. The Committee noted a total of forty two (42) monthly meetings inclusive of seminars and workshops of Village Representatives (VRs) that were coordinated and conducted. This program also served as orientation sessions for newly recruited VRs as well as capacity building on mediation at village level.

6.4 Faleula Committee Division:

The Committee observed the importance of this program in sustaining traditions, customs and cultural values. The Ministry stated that it has achieved one of its activities from the corporate plan in completing the Tusi Faalupega 2012 edition and it is an accomplishment in updating salutations between villages and villagers. There is a new program under the control of the Committee that is broadcasted on TV. called “O le Toe Sasaa le Fafao”. This Program serves to inform customs and traditions and is an advisory Committee by providing perspectives on reducing poverty.

6.5 Printing Division: The Ministry of Women and Ministry of Finance has completed deliberation on the Ministry’s Printing Services debt as the Ministry of Finance has recommended that an Inter-transaction Department be established within the Ministry to monitor transactions with other Ministries and to seek ways in directly paying loans from its set budget. The Ministry stated that there are plans in making this Division independent.

7. RECOMMENDATIONS: Based on its Findings the Committee recommends to the Government:

l. To advise the Ministry of Finance in assigning appropriate sums in the Main Budget to the Ministry as it is noted the wide-ranging and important plans of the Ministry in ensuring the welfare of the country that cannot be reached due to monetary constraints.

2. For the Ministry to consider in continuing "o le Sasaa le Fafao” Program due to its importance to future generations.

3. To implement an examination to making the Printing Division into a State Owned Enterprise

8. RESOLUTION At the conclusion of its consideration, the Committee resolved to recommend the Assembly: That the P.P 2012/2013 No.16, Annual Report of the Ministry of Women. Community and the Social Development for the Period ended 30th June 2011, and the P.P 2012/2013 No.1, Annual Report of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development for the Period ended 30th June 2012 be approved.

Hon. GATOLOAIFAANA Amataga A. Gidlow CHAIRPERSON