Claims by the Attorney General Talauega Elasalo Ale that the recent “unfortunate” Lady Naomi incident in which there was a heated conversations between “our Immigration officer and someone from Customs, whom I understand is not usually there” is not sitting well with Senior Customs Agent Supervisor Mata’u Meafua Keniseli, the customs agent mentioned by the AG (more details in Tuesday’s edition).

Mata’u told Samoa News yesterday that he has been working at the Customs Division of the Treasury Department for 36 years and has been promoted to supervisor, and has been a part of the clearance process for the MV Lady Naomi for many years.

“It’s not accurate, the comment by the AG that perhaps I was not familiar with the process. No, I have been working for 36 years and for many years I oversaw the operation for Customs agents who clear the Lady Naomi.

“As a matter of fact, I lead two teams of Customs agents, those who clear the passengers and the team who clears the boat on the wharf.”

He pointed out that he’s not new to the clearance process and he understands the policies pertaining to the clearance of boats carrying passengers from Samoa.

Mata’u told Samoa News the law is clear — when the agent informs them the boat is ready for clearance, the delay is only up to 15 minutes. After that, Customs — by law — should carry on with the clearing process, with or without the other parties who are involved in the process.

However, he said, over the years, due to mutual respect, Customs waits for the Immigration officers and other parties involved in the clearance process.

Mata’u said the Supervisor for Immigration Enforcement Division, Maui’a Si’itia— with whom he had the heated discussion— has only been on his job for a year. Efforts to obtain comments from Maui’a yesterday were unsuccessful as of press time.