The disposal by public tender of public goods no longer needed by the Government is the most transparent way of ensuring that the State gets the best return for such goods and that every member of the public, especially those who are not well-off, is given the opportunity to tender. 

This is also the requirement of the law as set out in the regulations. 

Only several weeks ago, one such public tender for Government vehicles was conducted at Government storage at Vaimea. The media also carried public notices of this tender by the Treasury. 

Senior public servants have been sacked in the past for breaching Treasury tender regulations.

The Government had 17 buses from a donor partner, which were used recently for COVID-19 programs, but have now been taken over by the tourism business of one of the Cabinet Ministers.

Many village schools were interested in acquiring these buses for the transportation of their school children to and from Schools. It would have been a bonus for the donor to also know its "aid in kind" was used for the benefit of our young school children in the rural communities.

But 17 buses to enrich a Minister of Cabinet and his family is incredible in modern-day Samoa! 

Whether the buses were paid for or not, the decision was morally not right, and against the regulations.

 This is mindboggling!

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Leader of HRPP