The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) will crack down on staff who abuse government assets and the public has been asked to report reckless officers. 

The Ministry becomes the second public entity after the Electric Power Corporation (EPC), who made a public appeal last month to assist in identifying EPC officers who abused official vehicles. 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, MNRE Chief Executive Officer Ulu Bismark Crawley said monitoring the use of government assets is a work in progress and the public should assist. 

“However there is always room for improvement and the public is asked to report in any of the MNRE vehicles that is considered to be abusing the government assets.

“We have policies in place for such issues, such as monitoring and it a continuous effort to assure the vehicles are well kept by the staff and is not being abused for personal use," he said.  

Last month EPC general manager, Tologata Tile Tuimaleali'ifano, urged the public to report any EPC-owned vehicle seen speeding and driven by irresponsible drivers.  

Like Samoa's state-owned electricity company, the MNRE can have vehicles on the road after-hours due to the nature of their work – especially in times of natural disasters and emergencies.

 Ulu said there are divisions within his Ministry that have access to vehicles 24/7 but everyone should be mindful that they are using government assets. 

“During hurricane season, the Meteorology Division work around the clock to ascertain the information required from them, and this is from time to time depending on the circumstances.  

“This is applicable to our Water Resource Manager Division, they have to be working as well during the hurricane seasons and their job requires them to be on the road 24-7,” he added

To report the abuse of MNRE assets, members of the public can call telephone 67200 or email [email protected]