The Government says it is awaiting the Pacific Games Office to finalise its accounts before it can decide on the future use of equipment and assets utilised during the July Games. 

The Minister for Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, confirmed the Government was still formulating plans about the reuse of Games assets in an interview with the Samoa Observer this week. 

“We are waiting for the Pacific Games office to finalise the accounts and we want for them to provide us with a list of assets those vehicles – vans and buses – and we’ll decide what to do, including the stuff that were donated for sports,” Sili said. 

“We will probably put some [vehicles] on the market.

“You don’t want them getting locked up somewhere and they rust. But for the Ministry of Prisons they’ve asked for transport, which to me it makes sense as it’s to transport the prisoners and those on remand to await their court cases. 

“So I think more likely we will be disposing some of them and put it on the market, be a tender process.” 

Sili said the Government has compensated all those who were involved in the Games, including paying of the contractors. 

“I am looking forward to the final financials because it has to be audited as well," he said. 

“We’ve just extended the timeframe for the Games people to provide all the necessary requirements by the latest November. Then it will be submitted to Government and Parliament.

“Everybody did enjoy that Games and we ended up with a surplus.”

Last month, Minister for Customs and Revenue Tialavea Tionisio Hunt said the Government had recorded about a $5 million surplus from the Games. 

Tialavea, who is also the Minister for Prisons and Rehabilitation Services, said they had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance to use some Games vehicles to transport prisoners to and from court.