Deputy Prime Minister Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo is concerned about a lack of respect within Samoa's public service. He claimed that he overheard a ministry chief executive officer say that he was just sitting there and did not know what he was doing.

Toelupe said the comments were targeted at him.

Toelupe said he had been scheduled to deliver an address at the event, but upon arrival, discovered there was no official programme available.

"There was a meeting we attended this week. I went knowing I was to give the address, but there was no programme," he said. "So I waited to see what the programme was, and then an officer whispered to me about it and explained. I overheard the CEO of one ministry say, 'He is just sitting there and does not know what he is doing.'"

The deputy prime minister said the incident reflected a wider issue within the public sector, a growing lack of respect toward Samoa's elected leaders.

"That is the issue now with our government workforce. There is no longer respect for the elected leaders of Samoa. We were chosen through the election process to lead. Heads of ministries must do their part and carry out their duties properly," he said.

Toelupe made the comments while addressing another matter, a communication lapse that resulted in the New Zealand government being unaware that Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt was in New Zealand for medical treatment.

He said the oversight occurred because one of Samoa's ministries failed to follow standard administrative procedures for official travel.

"There was a lapse by the Ministry because they should have informed the New Zealand government that the Prime Minister was travelling to their country," Toelupe said. "That notification would also make clear whether official visits or diplomatic meetings were required. That is what was missed."

According to Toelupe, whenever a cabinet member travels overseas, a warrant of absence is prepared, a formal document that carries the cabinet's advice to the Head of State and is circulated across all ministries for awareness and coordination.

"So the Ministry that failed to carry out the appropriate administrative work, that is where the lapse occurred," he said. "We are not pointing fingers, but the intention is that lessons are learned for the future."

"Public servants are there to support the government of the day," Toelupe added. "When we were elected, it was to serve the people of Samoa and to lead. The role of ministry heads is to carry out the policies and directions of their ministers."