By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) caretaker government finds it shocking and shameful that rubbish bags of ‘confidential waste documents’ were dug up and exposed from the Tafaigata Landfill where it was buried.
Piles of paper work of various ‘taxpayers’ information and internal memorandums’ among others were from the Ministry of Customs and Revenue.
The rubbish bags content were photographed and displayed widely on social media a week ago since last Saturday 12th June and Sunday 13th of June 2021.
The covert action and public exposure from the HRPP perspective is a desperate attempt to incriminate the caretaker Government in acts of wrongdoing.
“ So what shocking corruption or shady dealings did they find from papers they uncovered from the rubbish bags.” HRPP caucus secretary MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi challenged.
“Why not bring them out so we can all have a good look.”
Police investigation of everyone involved in the disposal of the rubbish bags and how it ended up on social media is underway, an undertaking the HRPP welcomes fully.
Lealailepule assured Newsline Samoa in a video interview that the party is not worried except saddened by the motivation behind what happened.
“ It’s obvious that the other side is desperately reaching for whatever they can to scandalize our good work and leadership for political purposes.
“Look at how they have stooped into digging up rubbish already buried in the ground instead of looking for more worthy issues with enough bite to come at us.
“If you’re going to sneak off to bury incriminating evidence against you then it should be done in the dark by yourself not in broad daylight with all those people involved.”
The HRPP spokesman blames the current climate of political insecurities for the misinformation and spread of made up stories and rumours right now in the country.
Lealailepule felt for the government workers like those with the Ministry of Customs and Revenues, who were dragged into this sensitive state of political affairs.
“ It doesn’t matter if the governing party is the HRPP these government officials are sworn to do their duties independent of any political bias or affiliation.
“They work under public service rules and directions as the case with the Ministry of Customs and Revenue.
“The CEO was doing her work honestly and within her own legal discretion as head of the Ministry to have those office papers disposed.”
Lealailepule strongly asserted as well that the HRPP did not tell the Ministry management to take the bags of papers and bury them.
“If the HRPP leader had instructed them to carry out any wrong doing then that is wrong but everything is going to be revealed from the police investigation.”
The CEO decision to bring in the police to investigate and determine if any laws were broken was applauded by Lealailepule. (see other story.)
