samoaobserver YOUR AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER www.samoaobserver.ws EDITORIAL THURSDAY 05 FEBRUARY 2015 LET’S THINK ABOUT HOPE •P12 SAMOA TO USE CRITICISMS AS MOTIVATION •P2 $2.50 SAFETY FIRST, MINISTRY TO SCHOOLS Justice investigates letter of complaint Lanuola Tupufia T he Ministry of Justice, Courts and Administration is investigating a complaint where a Departure Prohibited Order issued by the Court was breached. Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Chief Executive Officer, Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe, said his Office is investigating how the Order was breached. Masinalupe explained that any persons implicated by a Stop Order can only leave the country if they make an application and is approved by the Court. “I will have to check if there was any approval,” said Masinalupe. “We were copied in the letter but we need to look into it.” The letter that the C.E.O is referring to is one written by complainant Afu Faumuina Tutuila. The letter is addressed to the Minister of Immigration and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi. The Ministry of Justice, the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of the Prime Minister’s Office were also copied in. Ms. Tutuila won close a million tala in compensation against the village Council of Tanugamanono after a long standing dispute where her home and other properties were damaged. One of the matai also a businessman name Tupuola Afa Lesa is accused of breaching the D.P.O. In the letter dated 13th January 2015, Ms. Tutuila had asked the Minister of Immigration to investigate how a D.P.O issued by the Supreme Court has been openly violated. “I have obtained judgment in my favour against them for the burning of our home and properties at Tanugamanono. “The Departure Prohibition Orders included Tupuola Afa Lesa who is also known as Afa Samau. “The Order was recorded with the Immigration Office and was valid for a period of six months. It expired on the 6 January 2015.” According to Ms Tutuila, to her dismay, “I have found out that the said Tupuola Afa Lesa was prevented by the Immigration Officers on duty on the 24th December 2014 from travelling to New Zealand because of the Order being in place. CONTINUED PAGE 4 •P5 M.P. aims to set minimum reporting standards Sophie Budvietas PROUD MOMENT FOR FATHER, DAUGHTER WELL DONE: Lawyer, Elizabeth Chan Tung-Peters and her father, Tavita Chang Tung at the Supreme Court yesterday where Elizabeth was admitted to the bar. The occasion was a proud moment for the hardworking business woman and mum. Details on page 4. Photo / Sarai Ripine. The Associate Minister of Public Enterprises, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, believes the Public Finance Management Act (P.F.M.A.) is weak, especially the conditions concerning the filing of annual reports. The Associate Minister was responding to an article that appeared last week, on the front page of this newspaper titled Finance Act a toothless tiger. “Like you said it is a toothless tiger and I agree with that,” he said. “All the conditions of the P.F.M.A. especially regarding annual reports – some corporations they don't care they don't bother.” He said though in his new role with the Ministry he would sit down with the Minister Lautafi Selafi Purcell to set minimum standards of reporting for all State Owned Enterprises (S.O.E.'s) to follow and to ensure that the P.F.M.A. is followed. “If they don't (follow it) sack them, if they don't perform, sack them. Easy.” he said. “I think what we have done is given a warning to all public servants to ensure that they are honest and to ensure that they do the work that they are supposed to do. If they don't perform then don't give them any second chances. “Just sack them if they are breaking the law. When they don't follow the law it is like any other law, if they break it, then take them to court.” Papali’i said that anyone who is involved in mismanagement or not doing what they should be doing as C.E.O.'s or in any role in the Public Service, then they must be brought before what ever authority is in charge to decide on their fate. “They must be brought before the higher authority to make a decision, like (at) the Samoa Land Corporation (S.L.C.), if they are not doing their job,” he said. “Maybe they are lazy or they don’t know how to do the job." “Let them explain why they cannot perform their duties, and then let the authority make a decision if that is a reasonable excuse for not doing what they should be doing.” www.samoaobserver.ws