Parliament’s Committee for Revenue and Expenditure has urged the government to stop senior public servants from wasting public funds in pimping their taxpayer-funded vehicles.
In fact, the Committee wants public servants to pay for any expensive decorations they have added to public vehicles, which they have charged on taxpayers.
The recommendation is made in the Report by the Revenue and Expenditure Committee to Parliament, in response to the tabling of the Supplementary Budget, last year.
Although the report does not identify how much public funds have been wasted by public servants on kitting their vehicles with the latest accessories, the recommendation is in line with criticism of such spending on things like expensive mag wheels, tinted windows, pull bars and other elaborate decorations.
“The Committee recommends the said Committee as appointed by Cabinet to decide on some Chief Executive Officers of government Ministries and Corporations in regard to the numerous unnecessary decorations that have wasted substantial amounts of government monies,” the report reads.
“The Committee is of the opinion that all C.E.Os should be required to repay the monies spent on the additional parts attached to their vehicles resulting from their failure to adhere to the policies of Government.”
A copy of the report has been obtained by the Samoa Observer.
Chaired by Papali’itele Niko Lee Hang, other members of the Public Accounts Committee include vice Chairman, Tafua Maluelue Tafua (H.R.P.P), Palusalue Fa’apo II (Tautua), Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi (Tautua), Tialavea Tionisio Seigafolava (H.R.P.P), Afualo Dr. Wood Salele (Tautua) and Taefu Lemi Taefu (H.R.P.P).
According to the Committee, in the course of its investigation, they “noted a lot of unnecessary expenses on items that were not required for activities and services.”
As a result, the Committee is “of the view that normal procedures and policies laid down should have been adhered so to be consistent with the decisions of Cabinet (F.K) 13(17) with regard to the use of all Government vehicles.”
The Cabinet order in question strictly forbids public servants from attaching “expensive decorations or additions that are not needed to any government vehicle inclusive.”
The conditions for the use of all Government Vehicles are as follows:
i) Registers should be kept listing all Government assets within all Ministries and Corporations.
ii) All Government licenses are to be attached to all vehicles inclusive of the vehicles on rental basis and those from Project Partners. No vehicle may access refuelling from Government’s pump without a government license attached to it.
iii) It is strictly forbidden to attach expensive decorations or additions that are not needed to any government vehicle inclusive of all vehicles allocated to the Government Ministries and Corporations as referred to below:-
• Tinted windows • Replacement of original tyres bought with the vehicle with stylish mag wheels);
• Change of stereo;
• Attachment of (tow bars and back fenders)
• Unnecessary attachment of decorative expensive side steps
• Replacement of original head lights with decorative lights.
The following is a translation of the Committee’s report, in particular its recommendation of how the Government could save money:
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SAVINGS ON EXPENDITURE
The Committee in the course of its investigations has noted a lot of unnecessary expenses on items that were not required for activities and services. The Committee is of the view that normal procedures and policies laid down should have been adhered so to be consistent with the decisions of Cabinet (F.K) 13(17) with regard to the use of all Government vehicles and to comply with all conditions as detailed in the following Cabinet Decisions:-
Cabinet Decision -13(17)”
Use of Government vehicles.
“One (1) vehicle to be used by the Member of the Council of Deputies, Minister of Cabinet, Chief Justice and Members of the Court, President of the Land and Titles Court, Mr. Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Associate Ministers, Leader of the Opposition Party, Chief Executive Officers of Government Ministries/ Corporations for the execution of their respective duties and functions.
Special Posts
These vehicles are not for the use of children or by any of the family members except those listed above. May be used by Faletua/Alii with driving licenses for the following:
(i) Member of the Council of Deputies
(ii) Ministers of Cabinet
(iii) Chief Justice (iv) President of the Land and Titles Court
(v) Mr. Speaker
(vi) Leader of the Opposition Associate Ministers
i) Only the double cab type of pickup may be used by an Associate Minister and is fully funded through the Estimates of the Ministry, and not by the Corporation/Authority”
ii) That only the spouses of the Associate Ministers are allowed to drive the vehicles provided they possess driving licenses but children are strictly prohibited. Other Office Holders
i) For the Chief Executive Officers of the Government Ministries and Corporations, they are only entitled to use the double cab pickups
ii) The C.E.Os of the Government’s Ministries and Corporations neither their spouses nor their children are allowed to use the vehicles allocated to them at any time.
iii) For Assistant Executive Officers, their transport allowance is being attached to their salaries, which means they are not entitled to vehicles. Purchase of vehicles when term expires
i) A Minister may purchase for himself a vehicle that he once used when leaving the post of Minister and is no longer a Member of Parliament. Conditions for the use of all Government Vehicles i) Registers should be kept listing all Government assets within all Ministries and Corporations.
ii) All Government licenses are to be attached to all vehicles inclusive of the vehicles on rental basis and those from Project Partners. No vehicle may access refuelling from Government’s pump without a government license attached to it.
iii) It is strictly forbidden to attach expensive decorations or additions that are not needed to any government vehicle inclusive of all vehicles allocated to the Government Ministries and Corporations as referred to below:-
• Tinted windows
• Replacement of original tyres bought with the vehicle with stylish mag wheels);
• Change of stereo;
• Attachment of (tow bars and back fenders)
• Unnecessary attachment of decorative expensive side steps
• Replacement of original head lights with decorative lights.
The Committee has also noted that Cabinet through this FK (13) 17 had also approved the appointment of a Committee to cater for surveillance and compliance of this policy. The said Committee to comprise of the Ministry of Finance, Public Service Commission, Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Police. The Ministry of Finance is to be Chairman of the Committee.
The Committee recommends the said Committee as appointed by Cabinet to decide on some Chief Executive Officers of Government Ministries and Corporations in regard to the numerous unnecessary decorations that have wasted substantial amounts of government monies.
The Committee is of the opinion that all C.E.Os should be required to repay the monies spent on the additional parts attached to their vehicles resulting from their failure to adhere to the policies of Government.
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