21 May 2013

Two associate finance ministers in Samoa dumped

4:45 am on 21 May 2013

Samoa's Finance minister, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, who last week won a caucus vote to remain in cabinet despite a letter from 19 government MPs calling for him to be removed, has had his two associate ministers dumped.

Associate ministers, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga and Tialavea Seinafolava Hunt, who were appointed after the general election in 2011, reportedly because of caucus concerns they had conflicts of interest during the tendering process for publicly funded projects.

Both men have construction businesses.

Finance minister Faumuina Tiatia Liuga says it's a good decision to reshuffle his associate ministers to allow them to get experience in other ministries.

But he did not say why his associates have been removed.