Department of Health inspectors yesterday shut down the Tax office, after they uncovered the presence of dead rats in the Executive Office Building (EOB); the Treasurer Dr Falema’o Phil Pili confirmed this.

According to tax employees, the odor of dead rats started on Wednesday and members of the public who had business at the office reported the matter to DoH.

A site inspection yesterday of the Tax office, led to the conclusion by Chief Inspector, Papali’i Marion Fitisemanu to close it down while Administrative Services works on clearing the rats out. An employee of Admin told Samoa News they had the maintenance crew working in the tax office building but in the meantime they are asking for bids from local companies who can clear out the rats and other pests from the EOB, “It’s really bad at this point.”

Samoa News understands that following the closing of the Tax Office, Acting Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga called a meeting with ASG Directors to address the issue, given that the Tax office was not the only office that has rats running around in it.

According to Chief of Staff Fiu Johnny Saelua, the meeting was to remind the directors, they are responsible for their offices and they must keep them clean at all times.

The Treasurer told Samoa News that tax employees were told to go home for the day, and assured members of the public the Tax office will re-open on Monday for normal operations.