By Staff Writer
The former CEO of the Ministry of Customs and Revenue has trashed the findings and recommendations of a recent Public Service Commission (PSC) inquiry into a container shipment by the Minister of Communications,
Matafeo Ms Avalisa Viali-Fautua’alii, is calling for a ‘Fair and Lawful Investigation’ into condemning allegations against herself, senior staff and the Ministry, from the inquiry into Assistant CEO Alvin Onesemo, who processed the container shipment.
The ACEO is a cousin of Communication Minister TOELUPE Poumulinuku Onesemo and was fined one thousand tala and re-instated to his job from suspension after the inquiry.
The former CEO felt the inquiry touched on an incriminating nerve by alleging that charges of favourable treatment against ACEO Onesemo in processing the Minister’s container, was politically motivated.
Matafeo is protesting the handling of the inquiry by the PSC Investigation Officer, solicitor Maiava Timothy Fesili.
Among her strong criticisms of the inquiry, is the failure by the Investigating Officer to hear her side of the issue, along with her senior staff, by not calling them in to be interviewed as promised.
Matafeo has written to the Samoa Law Society to complain at what she believed “…are unethical ways in which” Maiava “… conducted a very biased one-sided investigation.”
Matafeo wrote that she and her Customs team “…were on standby since day one when the matter was handled by Mr. Fesili, for him to interview us or to obtain our respective statements as expected in any investigation process.”
She had also offered to “be available anytime, any day, to meet with Mr. Fesili, but the offer“… was never taken.”
The Samoa Law Society is expected to look into the complaint and decide accordingly based on what they uncover from concerns raised by the former CEO against one of their members.
Matafeo, meanwhile, is still waiting on her request to the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa for approval to officially release a copy of the report.
Her concern is to clear the smear the inquiry has left on her good name, senior staff and the Ministry.
No word or response has been received from the Prime Minister since the letter was sent more than 2 weeks ago, dated 6 April 2022.
Newsline Samoa has contacted the PSC lady Chairman for comment and is still awaiting a response.
Copies of the letter sent to the Offices of the Ombudsman, Audit and others have all acknowledged delivery.
Matafeo in her letter is hopeful the PM will agree to a ‘fair and lawful investigation’ that will allow for the ‘relevant officers and relevant documents and evidence applied as per Commission of Inquiry Act 1964.’
“An investigation that follows the law is the only way to arrive to a fully well-informed Report and Recommendations,” Matafeo wrote.
“ It is my plea that a “proper Investigation’ be carried out for the integrity of the Ministry, given its prominent role in our country as the government’s main revenue collector, border security and trade facilitator.
“Needless to say, it is very important to uphold the integrity of the Ministry in the eyes of Samoans and Samoa’s trading and donor partners so as to encourage mutual trust in the Ministry and its operations.
“To allow anyone to tarnish its image through insinuations and misconceptions, only waters the seeds of corrupted practices where no one suffers but our own people.”
Matafeo prayed that the Audit Office “ be authorized or directed to review this case and carry out a proper and full investigation on all those issues as alleged in the report, and in full consideration of the above matters and that we are called in to make an input.”
Whether or not the former CEO will be granted approval of a copy of the PSC report, she has already responded extensively to sections of the findings and recommendations of the same report published by the Samoa Observer.