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THE WAIT IS OVER TO LEARN SAMOA’S NEW FINANCE MINISTER, IT’S TUILAEPA

Samoa’s new Finance minister is Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and a new cabinet member has been appointed.

 

This was confirmed by the prime minister himself during the swearing-in ceremony yesterday of the new cabinet member to replace former Finance minister Faumuina Tiatia Liuga who resigned last week amid much discontent over his handling of affairs of government ministries under his jurisdiction before and after he became Finance minister.

 

The prime minister's revelation that the Finance Ministry portfolio was to come back under his jurisdiction ended much speculation by members of the public over who would replace Faumuina.

 

It also dashed the hopes of some members of Parliament whose constituencies had never been represented in cabinet.

 

In his keynote speech, Prime Minister announced the creation of a new government ministry which will oversee the administration of state-owned enterprises.

 

The new ministry has been named the Ministry of Public Enterprises and the government offices and bodies under its jurisdiction include the Public Service Commission, Statistics Division, Samoa Land Corporation, Samoa Sports Facilities Administration and the Samoa Housing Administration.

 

The new minister appointed to head the new ministry is the Member of Parliament from the constituency of Satupaitea, Hon. Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell.

 

Before announcing the new minister, Tuilaepa stated that the cabinet comprises 10 MP's from Upolu and just three from Savaii.

 

"It is therefore fitting that the new minister should be from Savaii to replace outgoing minister Faumuina who is also from the big island," said the prime minister.

 

The new minister Hon. Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell was then in front of the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Chief Justice Patu Tiavaasu'e Falefatu Sapolu.

 

Also re-instated in yesterday's ceremony was former Associate Minister of Police and Prisons Lafaitele Patrick Leiataualesa who was suspended from the Human Right Protection Party (HRRP) and his associate minister position and privileges were stripped by the prime minister last year, after he swore at organizers of an ava ceremony at the opening of a new Fire Station at Maota, Salelologa last year.

 

There were grins and chuckles from members of Parliament when Tuilaepa announcement that Lafaitele was to be re-instated as associate minister of Finance and was sworn in during yesterday's ceremony at Mulinuu.