2 Nov 2009

Former government minister in Samoa calls for transparency on tsunami aid funds

5:56 am on 2 November 2009

A former government minister in Samoa, Palusalue Faapo II, is criticising the government for not making public the total amount of monetary funds donated from overseas and locally following the tsunami.

The former minister of Broadcasting and Telecommunication has urged the government to reveal the total amount donated especially for the disaster to ensure transparency and accountability.

The former ruling party MP, who joined the Tautua Samoa party in protest at the controversial road switch, says monetary donations must go directly to improve the lives of the affected people and not other projects.

The MP has also questioned the fairness of assistance provided by the government in the form of heavy machinery to clean up debris and rubbish.

He says villages in the prime minister's constituency are getting the most help along with the villages of the minister of agriculture but not badly affected areas such as Poutasi in Falealili district