Three top jobs in Government have been advertised with the tenure of two current senior bureaucrats closer to the end of their three-year contracts.

The three C.E.O. positions are for the Samoa Trust Estate Corporation (S.T.E.C.) and Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (S.R.O.S.) which were advertised on the Ministry of Public Enterprises website, as well as the Samoa Law Reform Commission (S.L.R.C.) on the Public Service Commission's website. 

The S.L.R.C. C.E.O. became vacant after the former Commissioner resigned from her post in September. 

Telei'ai Dr. Lalotoa Mulitalo Seumanutafa, whose contract expires next year, was re-appointed by the former Administration in 2020 for a second term as Executive Director of the Samoa Law Reform Commission. However, she submitted her resignation letter to the P.S.C. in September without an explanation. 

Responding to questions from this newspaper, the Minister for Justice and Courts Administration, Matamua Vasati Pulufana said Telei'ai was taking on a new venture. 

This newspaper reached out to the current C.E.O. for S.R.O.S. Seuseu Dr. Edward Tauati on whether he is reapplying for the position. However, he has not responded to emails sent to him. Seuseu was re-appointed to a second term in 2020 by the previous Administration. 

He did his tertiary education in Samoa studying agriculture at the U.S.P. Alafua campus, where he graduated with the diploma in tropical agriculture and bachelor in agriculture degree.  

Seuseu is an alumnus of Kochi University in Japan where he graduated with the Master’s Degree in Bio – Resources Science; and the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom where he was accorded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.  

He has been a public servant for 15 years, usually in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and SROS, before he assumed the responsibility of leading SROS.

As for S.T.E.C. Patea Loli Malo Setefano has been at the helm of the Corporation for quite some time. It was also not possible to get a comment from Patea on whether he will be reapplying for his positions. 

Interested candidates for the S.L.R.C. C.E.O. position have until December 21, 2022 to submit their applications. However, the deadline for applications for the top positions at S.T.E.C. and S.R.O.S. is on Friday.

The Acting Prime Minister, Leatinuu Wayne So’oialo confirmed that the P.S.C. had already conducted interviews for five vacant Government executive positions last week. Those positions does not include the three that have been advertised.