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Taking a page from Trump's playbook, Samoa PM disses media

Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi boards Samoa Airway's inaugural flight to Brisbane

Apia, SAMOA — Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, says reporters “don’t understand” financial records and therefore there is no need for Samoa Airways to reveal the state of its financial performance a year after it was launched.

This is what Tuilaepa told the Samoa Observer at the Faleolo International Airport yesterday evening as he was about to board Samoa Airways inaugural flight to Brisbane, celebrating the Airline’s first birthday.

He was joined by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Fio Purcell, Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti and the Chief Executive Officer, Seiuli Alvin Tuala, among other senior Government officials.

“It’s not a public company,” Tuilaepa said when he was asked about the accounts. “If it’s a public company, it is available to the public – that is my answer.”

Besides, the Prime Minister said there is “no need” for reporters to read financial reports and audits.

“There is no need to look at the record, because you don’t understand even if you look at the record,” he said.

Tuilaepa said the full financial records would not be ready for scrutiny for several months.

Read more at Samoa Observer