Ulugia Dr. Tito Kamu gave an honest opinion when he said that he believes that universities and colleges should reopen. As an expert, his opinion was based on the number of cases coming through. As a government employee, he was also transparent as he chose to speak to the media during the outbreak.

If anything, Ulugia should be commended for holding the post for four weeks at a time when the health system was in a critical state; it still is with the dengue outbreak. All staff of the Ministry of Health need to be commended for how they have held the fort without overtime pay.

Indeed, the Acting Deputy Director General for Hospital and Clinical Services positions rotates every two weeks among the senior Assistant Chief Executive Officers of the Ministry of Health. This was proved by the Public Service Commission correspondence with the health bosses. Caretaker Health Minister Valasi Tafito Selesele was gracious enough to provide this evidence; however, this does not explain why Ulugia stayed on for the two extra weeks. Ulugia claims that he was only asked to step down after making the comments about the school. He also said on record that none of the senior doctors wanted the post because of the immense pressure that came with it.

Ulugia believes the decision is tied to his professional and expert advice on the ongoing dengue outbreak. This claim has been strongly rejected by the cabinet spokesperson and caretaker Minister for Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo, and Valasi.

He told the Samoa Observer that his advice to the government earlier this week was for universities and colleges to reopen while keeping primary schools closed, because children under 15 are most vulnerable to the dengue virus. He said that the advice caused friction with the government.

Ulugia has stated that the government was not happy with his advice because it seemed they wanted a State of Emergency. He said that this decision appears to have political implications. This is a serious claim. Did Ulugia’s action thwart any plans of calling for a State of Emergency? How could a State of Emergency benefit the nation? It would get the attention of our development partners. Could the elections be postponed if the spread is too great to contain? Would the SOE allow the release of funds from the Treasury to beef up the budget?

Valasi, in his response, has come out denying the cabinet’s involvement in asking the doctor to step down. He has said this was a procedural matter and the rotation of the role was expected. Valasi has to consider that Ulugia was at the helm during the toughest times, and he continued when no one wanted the role. The timing does not bode well.

Ulugia has also denied that his speaking to the media had anything to do with overtime pay. “The reason given was that my overtime was not being paid, but I am not interested in money or overtime. My life is dedicated to serving my country. What matters to me are the lives of all Samoans,” he said.

Ulugia’s updating of the media shows transparency and accountability, something that is needed in such situations because information needs to reach everyone in the country.

There is an important lesson here. In the fable, where the boy cried wolf, his false cries led people to be so tired of him that when the wolf came, no one bothered to show up. We ask again, do we really need to call a state of emergency?