The inability of the government to hold people accountable for acts which exploit taxpayers’ funds and show abuse of office needs to be dealt with immediately. The lack of laws and policies in this regard shows continuous abuse of process.

In particular, there is a need for a whistleblower’s act and an anti-corruption law giving powers to an independent body void of government influence to act upon complaints regarding corruption and abuse of government office.

Last week two such acts were highlighted. There is a need for an investigation into the single-source tender awarded to a company to provide reliable and fast internet to schools, a project under the current government paid for by taxpayers' money, valued at $2 million.

Several schools have expressed frustration with the ongoing issues in maintaining a stable connection.

Despite assurances that the satellite connections would be fixed and made operational, the situation remains unresolved.

Despite these concerns, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), Lefaoali’i Unutoa Auelua-Fonoti, stated that the initial phase of the project had been completed. If it has been completed then why are there schools without internet? The use of satellite internet means connectivity should not be an issue since the company was supposed to have been using Starlink.

She confirmed that the project was officially transferred to the Ministry of Education in July 2024.

The Samoa Observer also reached out to the Chief Operating Officer of BlueWave Wireless Ltd, the local company that was awarded the $2 million contract to provide Wi-Fi services to schools across Samoa.

However, the COO, Togisala Tony Leota, declined to comment at this stage, stating they would respond at a later time.

The former Minister of MCIT, Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo said the allocated funding for the project was $2 million.  However, they had asked BlueWave Wireless for a discounted price, which was reduced to around $1.8 million.

He also explained why it was single-sourced as the contract was not tendered.

“It is clear under procurement policy when such a type of procurement arises it can be a single source,” Toelupe said at the time. In this situation, it's an offer from the company [to use satellite dishes] and they had a partnership and that is where we allowed a contract for a single source.”

An investigation is warranted to explain how some schools cannot access the internet and explain how the public funds have been used. There should also be an investigation or a commission of inquiry to justify if the tender should have been single-sourced as there are other telecommunication providers with the ability to provide this service.

Another incident that needs an investigation is the tent that was removed from the VIP Terminal at the Faleolo International Airport. It was allegedly rented to the Airport Authority and then dismantled and taken to the residence of the Airport Authority boss. Some questions need to be answered.

The procurement procedure needs to be explained along with the reason why a truck belonging to the Airport Authority was used to transport the tent to the CEO’s house.

A whistleblower’s act will protect people who raise issues regarding corruption, abuse of office and abuse of power. Without such a law people who raise such issues have often fallen victim to those who they have raised an issue against.

Anti-corruption laws and an anti-corruption agency will clearly define the boundaries and ultimately forbid those in power to profit from their positions. Giving teeth to an agency like the Office of the Ombudsman to do more than just give recommendations. From what has been seen, the recommendations sometimes fall to those who have been accused of corrupt practices.

Such laws will ensure that contracts and tenders are awarded fairly and there is no one profiting from the deal. There will be accountability and transparency.

“Corruption is paid by the poor” — Pope Francis.