Miss Samoa rejects claims

By Deidre Fanene 25 January 2017, 12:00AM

Miss Samoa, Priscilla Olano, has rejected reports that she is contemplating relenting the crown over an alleged dispute about her salary.

Ms. Olano was contacted for a comment after a source inside Samoa Events Inc told the Samoa Observer the reigning Miss Samoa is threatening to cut her term short due to a disagreement over her salary. 

Having worked at S.P.R.E.P as a Pacific Climate Change Portal Technical Assistant for over four years, the source said the Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A) could not match her salary from her previous employer.

But Ms. Olano downplayed the reports yesterday, saying she doesn’t know where they come from. As far as she knows she is still the Miss Samoa.

“I was shocked when I heard of the news because I would’ve known myself if I was resigning,” she said.

“It’s never about the money when I became the Miss Samoa. There was a contract signed between S.T.A and S.P.R.E.P."

“That contract states that I can still work at S.P.R.E.P but whenever I am needed by the Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A) to carry out my role as the Miss Samoa I can still come."

“So I am basically working for S.P.R.E.P as well as the Samoa Tourism Authority.”

She went on to say that money is not the problem.

“It was never about the money,” she said.

“I have been with S.P.R.E.P since 2012 and I loved it there and because S.P.R.E.P is a regional organisation and I have enjoyed my time working in the regional organisation so I have never thought of resigning."

“When you approached me I was in shock because if I was to resign, I think I would’ve come out and publicly say I was going to resigned."

“It’s also funny because at the Miss Pacific Island Pageant, there were also rumours that I have a baby but I just brushed it off because I know it’s not true."

“I don’t know what else to say because this is just too funny for my ears.”

Attempts by the Samoa Observer to get a comment from the Samoa Events Inc Chairperson Laeimau Oketevi Tanuvasa were unsuccessful.

Contacted for a comment, Samoa Tourism Authority Events Coordinator Kristian Scanlan also rejected the claim saying that Ms.Olano is still the Miss Samoa.

“It’s just a rumour,” he said. “Priscilla is definitely still the Miss Samoa."

“She is still working at S.P.R.E.P and she is still carrying out her role as Miss Samoa so whenever she is needed as Miss Samoa she’ll come and do her things."

“She’s got a programme from S.T.A, S.P.R.E.P and S.E.I.".

“S.E.I. are the pageant organisers so they also have a programme with the Miss Samoa throughout the year so we work with them and SPREP."

“But there is no such thing that she is resigning because she still carrying out her role as the Miss Samoa 2016-2017.”

By Deidre Fanene 25 January 2017, 12:00AM

Trending Stories

Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>