Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele, has defended the hiring of four expatriate employees at SamoaTel.
The Chairman of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi had earlier said he believed these jobs shold be held by locals.
But Tuilaepa says the foreigners working in SamoaTel were recruited because they were well qualified.
Tuilaepa says there are certain jobs which the government has to hire well qualified people from overseas to fill.
He says fields such as telecommunications are not like growing a plantation.
The Prime Minister also says that Cabinet is looking into whether or not landlines should be privatized.
He says a full report is being prepared on the issue.
