Lawyer awaits official PSC decision four months after client's sacking

By Joyetter Feagaimaali'i 25 March 2019, 12:00AM

A lawyer representing former Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Afamasaga Pou Onesemo, continues to await answers from the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.).

Senior lawyer, Fepulea’i Patrick Fepulea’i, has again asked the P.S.C. for its full decision from an investigation which led to the termination of Afamasaga’s services by Cabinet last November.

The request is made in a letter dated 27 February 2019 from Fepulea’i to P.S.C. Chairman, Aiono Mose Su’a, where he reminds him that it has been “nearly four months” since they have been chasing a copy of the official decision.

“I was referred to the Attorney General’s Office and so far, we have not been given a copy of the decision,” the letter reads.

“I have written a number of letters and emails without any success. Mr. Onesemo has traveled back from Australia to follow up on the matter and we may have be forced to seek judicial intervention for something that we are entitled to as of right.

“I would ask for your intervention in this matter to avoid this matter getting out of hand.”

Attempts to get a comment from Aiono and the P.S.C. have been unsuccessful. Emails to P.S.C. Chairman for comments have not been responded to as of press time.

In November 2018, Cabinet endorsed the decision to terminate Afamasaga’s services.

The decision was announced by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi.

“We have validated the recommendation submitted by the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) after their lengthy and thorough investigation into allegations leveled against the C.E.O,” Tuilaepa said then.

“We decided to terminate his employment contract following the recommendation.”

Last year, Afamasaga was placed on suspension to allow the Police and the P.S.C. to investigate allegations of impropriety levelled against him by a former Member of Parliament of the Government of India, Sh.P.K. Bansal and his company Ascent Navals.

Afamasaga strongly rejected the allegations.





By Joyetter Feagaimaali'i 25 March 2019, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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