By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The Ministry of Finance CEO Leasiosio Oscar Malielegaoi is ready for whatever comes but until that happens his priority is his work.
His open comments are at the threat of losing his CEO job after his new Minister of Finance declared publicly a conflict of interest that will not make it possible for them to work together.
The Minister’s threatening remarks caught Leasiosio by surprise at a time when all his attention is on working to put a new national budget together.
The Ministry of Finance traditionally plays a central role in putting together the annual estimates but political uncertainties after the general elections has made it a trying time with the disruptions.
Leasiosio and his staff are chasing after a budget presentation deadline for Cabinet around the end of August despite conflict of interest claims.
What was surprising for the CEO is that the statement came out while they were all in a good workflow with his new political boss and did not suspect anything amiss.
“I think what is happening here is a perceived conflict of interest that is more to do with insecurities than proven facts,” Leasiosio wanted to clarify from his side.
“Our relationship at the outset was good. They wanted at first to understand the mandates for all ministries and we advised and talked about it.
“We sat down one by one with all my key staff of ACEOs and others in the management to explain and answer all the questions they raised.
“So I was surprised with what the Minister publicly stated and what we were doing workwise.”
Leasiosio accepts that the Minister’s insecurities is of him as the son of the former Prime Minister and now leader of the Human Rights Protection Party leader.
His distress is that his integrity is being questioned, obviously by fears that he will leak confidential information or not give the best budgetary advice.
For the sake of balance and fairness he felt it is timely and important that his side of this conflict of interest issue be heard.
“I’m doing my job to the best of my abilities with a serious professional commitment to my duties even if it’s not easy for me at times.
“When I first started working with the Ministry of Finance I never thought about who I am related to or who I know.
“This is the line of work I learned in school and developed a passion for…finance, accounting, economics,…”
Leasiosio started his working career with the Ministry in 2003 and worked his way up from the bottom to where he is now as CEO.
His hopes that he will on day go all the way to the top were achieved on his own merits and it just so happens that his dad was the Prime Minister at the time that he did.
“There have been many accusations that I was appointed because of who I am related to but to me personally I am grateful that I am able to serve Samoa.
“Yes the politics we’re going through do affect the work. Your obligation is to be professional about your work commitments but all the bad things being said about you will always take a bite.
“To me personally when I enter the doors of the Ministry I am a public servant and that is the hat I wear in the service I do.
“Whatever Government is in place the advice I give is to the best of what I am capable of.
“When it is time to go home after work I leave my public servant hat in the office and take on my role in the family as a father or son.
“I love my father and that remains in my family relationship.”
The CEO clean out sweep the new FAST Government is seen to be carrying out as part of an election promise is painfully obvious to all the heads of Government Ministries and State Owned Enterprises.
Several have resigned reportedly to avoid the falling axe while others are suspended with more reportedly targeted either for suspension or dismissal.
The conflict of interest claims by the Minister of Finance sets up Leasiosio as one of the CEOs whose job is on the line.
“It is a Cabinet decision and personally I am ready to accept whatever comes.
“Whatever their decision at least I know in my heart there has be no wrong done in the work of the Ministry and I have also done no wrong in the service I carried out.”
Since the new Government took over, one CEO is out of a job, two have resigned and two more are under two weeks work suspensions.