Government policy under Good Governance Principles require the Prime Minister and all Ministers of Cabinet for government vehicles to be ordered through their Ministries, and not through Corporations.
In this way, vehicles are standardized and cheaper and their proper usage will be more easily accountable.
Buying second hand vehicles for use by Ministers was never a Government policy, nor was it permitted under donor project assistance.
Public criticisms have been raised on a V8 vehicle bought by the Minister of Works from Australia using public funds, but carrying a private plate number.
Any vehicle with a private plate number means the vehicle is owned by the buyer and a V8 vehicle is extremely expensive, and suitable only for countries with road speed allowing vehicles to drive above 100 kilometers an hour on great highways to ensure smooth movement of traffic.
When government and all car owners struggle with the high cost of fuel, it seems strange that the Minister of Works should be allowed to become extravagant with the use of public funds.
There is of course nothing wrong if the Minister decides to buy the vehicle from an overseas supplier with his own moneys and have the V8 registered as his own private vehicle.
Ministers were not allowed by my Cabinet during our administration to order vehicles through the Corporations because this was a favorite trick to evade Cabinet Policy for the authority on Corporations business is vested in the Board of Directors under the Minister in charge.
Hon Fiame understands this policy well.
Hon Olo has also provided a very weak excuse that the vehicle is funded under a Project.
It is unthinkable and a sure embarrassment for any donor to supply the Independent State of Samoa with second-hand broken-down equipment.
A similar trick by La’auli, when he was Deputy Speaker, to attempt to sell his second-hand vehicle to the Speaker at a price exceeding the price of a brand-new vehicle was stopped by my Cabinet.
This transaction was widely publicized by the Samoa Observer and other media at the time.
I told La’auli then that he can only serve one master and that if he prioritises his business activities more than his duties as an MP for the HRPP, then do the honourable thing – resign.
He agreed to resign but never did.
For Olo, it is not too late to rectify this transaction and save Government the embarrassment.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP