Minister declines questions on COVID-19 situation

By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 27 January 2022, 6:43PM

The Minister of Health has declined to comment on the COVID-19 situation in the country or respond to concerns raised by the public following the recording of 27 positive cases as of Thursday. 

When approached by the Samoa Observer to comment on the latest pandemic developments, Minister Valasi Tafito Selesele said there are protocols that prevent him from responding to media queries. 

“I cannot discuss matters because that is our policy,” Valasi said on Thursday after a special Cabinet meeting at the Government Building. 

“I do apologise but our leader, the Prime Minister will make the announcements and release the information.” 

A press conference called by the National Emergency Operations Centre scheduled for 3pm Thursday was cancelled following the Cabinet meeting. 

The media representatives who had waited for the press conference on Thursday were later advised that it had been cancelled.

The last press conference called by N.E.O.C. was on Monday this week after the first extension of the nationwide lockdown announced by the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. 

Since then the Government's Press Secretariat has circulated press releases on the latest number of cases in quarantine.

The President of the Journalists Association [Western] Samoa (J.A.W.S.), Lagi Keresoma has also written to the Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri expressing the local media's concerns at the delay in releasing information to the public. 

Ms. Keresoma noted while the media and members of the public were waiting for information on the COVID-19 situation in the country, the information was firstly shared with a New Zealand-based online media service.

It wasn’t until five hours later that the official information was released by the Press Secretariat to the media for distribution to the public. 

Earlier this week, the Deputy Leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) Lauofo Fonotoe Lauofo questioned the delays by the Government in the dissemination of vital information. 

The deputy party leader criticised the delay, saying it created confusion and uncertainty amongst the publics and was particularly critical of the Prime Minister’s special announcement on Monday that extended the nationwide lockdown. 

He said in order for the public to support the Government at this critical time, the nation needs up to date information on the developments relating to the spread of the COVID-19 in Samoa.

In addition he said press releases and official information from the Government should be released immediately once it becomes available so that the people do not panic. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Police Prisons and Corrections has advised a total of 12 tickets and 272 warnings have been issued since the lockdown went into effect from 6pm last Saturday. 

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (F.E.S.A.) has also recorded 105 ambulance requests to date with 92 in Upolu and 13 in Savai'i.

The statistics were released in a situational report issued by the N.E.O.C. on Thursday evening.

Tags

Health
By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 27 January 2022, 6:43PM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>