20 Dec 2005

Samoa PM's chief executive says stop orders apply to anyone who owes govt money

7:26 pm on 20 December 2005

The chief executive of Samoa's Prime Minister's Office, has defended the Government's actions in stopping some of the doctors involved in a recent protracted strike from leaving the country.

23 public doctors resigned after the Government refused to meet their demands.

Some, who remain under bond, have been stopped from leaving the country.

The Prime Minister's Office CEO, Auseuga Poloma Komiti, says the government will bar anyone owing it money from leaving the country.

"Not just doctors who owe money to government or who haven't served out their bonds, but for any other Samoan resident who owes money, whether it's to the Samoan government or any other financial institution here and against whom the proper orders have been issued."

Auseuga Poloma Komiti.