By Staff Writer
The Deputy Head of State, Le Mamea Ropati, is now working from home after he was chucked out of his office at the Government Building for the Deputy Prime Minister to move in.
The Ministry of the Prime Minister CEO Agafili Shem Leo confirmed the new office arrangement on the 5th floor of the Eleele Fou multi-storey building.
“The move is to try and place all members of Cabinet closer in one location to make it easier to work together and be more efficient,” CEO Agafili explained.
Cabinet Ministers will also be able to link up easily through an electronic communication system without having to rely on normal written paper work, according to Agafili.
The Deputy Head of State is working from home for now but may be re-located to the Vailele Residential Compound of the Head of State to set up his office.
“Having them closer to each other will also make their work more efficient,” Agafili added but is unsure when that will happen.
The former Prime Minister and leader of the HRPP opposition party, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has denounced as disrespectful the removal of the Deputy Head of State from his Government Building office.
Tuilaepa said in a statement he is saddened by the news that the FAST Government led by Fiame Naomi Mataafa has kicked the Deputy Head of State out to make room for the Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Ponifasio.
“There has never been an official office for the deputy Prime Minister, they have usually used the allocated ministerial offices for their allotted portfolio,” Tuilaepa said.
He went on to say that Tuala is the Minister for Customs and Revenue and has an official office allocated to that portfolio.
“I am afraid FAST won’t last at this rate. This is the same disrespect and disregard this party has shown towards our Ao Mamalu o le Mālō,” Tuilaepa added.
“This blatant disrespect has rubbed off on our Chief Justice and his cohorts in the Judiciary, and Samoans are not blind to their antics.”
The former Prime Minister for more than 20 years says he is afraid the FAST party has started a witch-hunt that will eventually end up with the Public Service rebelling against them.
“I just heard yesterday that the Attorney General has been suspended, and I’m not surprised as she was one of those on top of their list of “heads that will roll” according to party founder La’auli.”
Savalenoa Mareva Betham-Annandale was notified by letter of her suspension yesterday. (see other story)
“I am afraid many more top officials will be sent packing for not towing the FAST line and I predict that will be the beginning of the end for them.”
Fiame told media earlier this week that her Minister of Finance is finding it hard to work with the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance, Leasiosio Oscar Malielegaoi, because he is Tuilaepa’s son.
Tuilaepa has advised the Fiame government that if Leasiosio is not cooperating with the Minister, they should sack him.
“But they better have strong reasons for doing it because they may find themselves lumbered with a lawsuit”.
Good job. Since when has Samoa ever decided to have a deputy head of state? O mea faaopopo gei a Kuilaepa i le lokoleaga ia Efi oga e le sao aga mea valea ia Efi. Kai le agoago ma le mafaufau. Ouke ofo foi i gei kagaka a faaoso aku lava e Kuilaepa ma feoso ae le sei fefaliuai le kofa pe o fekaui ma le faavae ma gofo filemu o Samoa. Makuia oka ofo oga o gei kagaka fai mai e akamamai. 😫😫😫😫
E leai se kulaga aloaia e ka’u o se deputy Head of State. Ole igoa aloaia ole
‘ Sui ole Fono o Sui Tofia’. A fa’aperetania o le ‘Member of the Council of Deputies’