The Associate Minister of Education, Tuu’u Anasi’i Leota, has described the former Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, as Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi’s “pet.”
In doing so, the Member of Parliament for Siumu has accused Prime Minister Tuilaepa of giving him “special treatment.”
Tuu’u raised the point when the Samoa Observer sought his opinion over the Prime Minister’s decision to reinstate Faumuina as an Associate Minister.
And having been handed the Associate Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) portfolio, Faumuina was also given a plane ticket to the United States of America.
He left last Thursday night to represent Samoa at a high-level conference that includes participants like the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry.
Tuu’u said this was very disappointing.
“The Prime Minister had just sacked him from our Caucus and now he has just reinstated him (again),” said Tuu’u. “That is what is troubling us. This guy is still getting special treatment; he is some sort of a pet, the Prime Minister’s pet."
“When he first ran (for Parliament) he was appointed a minister, second term a minister, third term a minister. So we wonder what is so special about this guy?”
Tuu’u also questioned the merits behind the decision to send Faumuina to such an important meeting in the United States.
“He has been rewarded with a trip to the States which is where he is currently,” the Associate Minister said. “And he is meeting with John Kerry. A senior minister or Cabinet minster should be in that meeting. We heard that from a very reliable source.”
Asked for the whereabouts of his Associate Minister, the Minister of M.N.R.E, Fa’amoetauloa Dr. Fa’ale Tumaali’i confirmed that Faumuina was indeed in America, attending a summit on the Blue Economy.
“Yes because of his previous experience in terms of the environment as well as other international forums,” he said as way of an explanation as to why Faumuina is representing Samoa.
Asked why a more senior Minister such as himself was not there, he responded that he was needed in Parliament for the Budget debate.
“That is why because of that meeting that is held now during the Parliament session,” he said. “All the Ministers are required to be on board for this session and that is why he was the most appropriate person to represent Samoa.”
And whether the newly appointed Associate Minister would be meeting with Mr. Kerry, Faamoetauloa said: “I don’t know, I cannot confirm or deny that”.
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While the Environment Minister could not provide the exact title for the summit Faumuina is representing Samoa at, an internet search provided some further information.
According to the Global Oceans Action Summit website, Mr. Kerry would be organising a summit in June focussing on Food Security and Blue Growth.
Meanwhile, Tuu’u also questioned the process of the appointment saying that Faumuina was not, as all ministers are, sworn into the portfolio.
“What is the point of that, of having others go through the process and this guy, no,” he said.
Asked about the reaction from the signatories of the letter, which called on the Prime Minister to remove Faumuina as Minister of Finance, Tuu’u said they were not happy.
“And we heard that the Prime Minister… someone asked him when will he be sworn in as Associate Minster and the P.M. said ‘no’."
“So what’s so special with this guy?” he again questioned.
“(It’s) very unusual because there are other ministries where there is only one (Associate Minister), I think he actually picked what he wanted.”
In fact, Tuu’u said the rushed process in regards to this appointment, saw the former Associate Minister to the M.N.R.E portfolio, Fagaaivalu Kenrick Samu’s defection to the Ministry of Police.
“Fagaaivalu has now gone (from M.N.R.E.),” said Tuu’u. “(He) is now with Police as Associate Minister. He went off and asked the Police Minister and he has accepted.”
Fa’amoetauloa confirmed this reshuffle. He said it was up to his two Associate Ministers, Fagaaivalu and Tufuga Gafoaleata Faitua.
“I have said to them that we can continue to work together unless one of them indicates to me that he would like to leave,” the Environment Minister said.
“And apparently he (Fagaaivalu) went and asked the Prime Minister and the Minister of Police that he would like to go there to work in that particular Ministry.”
Fagaivalu could not be contacted immediately for a comment.
Meanwhile, Tuu’u also claims that Faumunia would also be receiving a brand new 'Range Rover' as part of his new Parliamentary package.
Asked if this was true, Minister Fa’amoetauloa said he was unaware of this.
Still, Tuu’u is not happy.
“We were all not happy,” said Tuu’u. “But as (Papali’i) Niko (Lee Hang) said we will pursue this until we are satisfied that this matter is put into the Court.”
He said in spite of Tuilaepa’s wish that the matter should be laid to rest, the 21 will not back down, waiting the requisite 90 day report review period to see of Government follows the recommendations made by the O.P.C. in their report.
“We will not back down we will be waiting for this 90 days because we see that the P.M. still insists that it should stop now,” he said.
“There shouldn’t be any further progress that it shouldn’t be – when he said that any M.P.s speaking again on this are just fools and are stupid."
“We don’t like that, so he cannot stop us, so we are waiting for that time, we will not stop until we get a satisfactory end to this matter.”
Prime Minister Tuilaepa was not immediately available for a comment.
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