By Tina Mata’afa-Tufele Elise
The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (M.C.I.T.) Lefaoali’i Unutoa A. Fonoti looks forward to serving the people of Samoa in her new role.
The former head of The Office of the Regulator made the comments on Thursday in response to questions from Newsline Samoa.
“I am looking forward to serving our people especially at the community level through effective policies, clear legislations and proper actions,” Lefaoali’i said.
The Minister of M.C.I.T., Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo has set out to the incoming C.E.O. his plans and priorities for the next three years.
A major priority is secure internet access for all government schools, Mission schools, private schools, the National University of Samoa and all health centres.
The incoming C.E.O. notes that M.C.I.T.’s plans are achievable by using existing government assets and infrastructure like the Tui Samoa Cable and the Samoa National Broadband Highway (S.N.B.H.).
“The Honourable Minister has already shared with me his plans for the next three years. The job of the Ministry is to implement it. This plan is in line with my priorities. One of those priorities is to get accessible, secure internet to all our government schools, Mission schools, private schools but also for the N.U.S. and all health centres,” Lefaoali’i said.
“This will be possible when utilising our already existing government assets and infrastructure such as the Tui Samoa Cable and the S.N.B.H. This will complement the current Vsat Satellite Project implemented by Bluewave.”
Her endorsement by Cabinet was announced by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on Tuesday.
In 2020, Lefaoali’i was hired as Internet Service Provider Consultant for Samoa Digital Communications Limited (S.D.C.L.) or Digital TV.
Before the consultancy stint at Digital TV, Lefaoali’i was the nation’s Regulator, in charge of the telecommunications, broadcasting, postal and electricity sectors.
She joined the Office of the Regulator in 2009 as the Manager for Spectrum Management and Technical Services before her appointment as the Regulator in October of 2015.
Lefaoali’i was the first Samoan to be appointed as Regulator succeeding two overseas based Regulators.
She resigned as Regulator following a Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) investigation into allegations that she misused her authority.
Lefaoali’i is currently in the process of resigning from her current job.
She said: “I am in the process of resigning from my current job and then starting at my new role.”
Lefaoali’i was one of four applicants for the lead post as C.E.O. of Communications.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering from the University of Southern Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Her Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics) and Advanced Diploma in Engineering (Electronics) were earned from RMIT University in Australia.
The Prime Minister also announced on Tuesday the appointment of Pativaine Petaia-Tevita as C.E.O. for the Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A.).
The two new women C.E.O.s are cousins.