The Chairman of the Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F.), Papalii Panoa Moala has confirmed that the Fund's Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.), Lemalu Selesitina Pulega was advised by the board to answer the public's queries through the media.

Papalii was queried last week and reminded that he did not respond to some queries by some media stations which he responded, is supposed to be done through the C.E.O.

"If you call, it would be nice to refer you to the C.E.O. but it would also be nice to send through your written questions and the board has also advised the C.E.O. to answer all the questions from people," he said.

"If we do, please preach our answers correctly because there are times when we worry if you ask us verbally because there will be a chance where what we say does not mean exactly what we mean then the report will be wrong.

"But we have a policy where the C.E.O will respond to your queries."

Last month, the Minister, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai was queried by this newspaper regarding newly imposed service fees on loan applications in light of clarifications as the C.E.O. was not responsive as well as Papalii who said he did not want to speak to the Samoa Observer again.

"I will never speak or answer to the Samoa Observer ever again," he said.

Lautimuia referred this newspaper to the C.E.O. and said to inform her that he was instructing her to respond to this newspaper's queries.

Samoa Observer then made attempts to speak to the C.E.O. but she responded through her secretary that she was busy that week and the week after but asked that queries be sent via email which this newspaper did but she never responded.

Samoa Observer's queries focused on the Christmas lights, new service fees imposed for loan applications, and a dividend payout at the end of the year.

These queries were answered weeks later via a press conference held last week by Papalii and the Minister.