Better handling of the taxpayers’ money is why Ministry of Finance (M.O.F.) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Saoleititi Maeva Betham Vaai was in Fiji.

Nadi was the centre for the regional discussions pertaining to Public Finance Management Reforms in the Pacific hosted by the IMF's Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC).

According to a statement, discussions included the implementation and lessons learnt from the past three phases of Samoa's PFM reforms spanning 2008 to 2019, with the fourth phase to be launched under the Samoa Government's Finance Sector Plan 2022/23-2026/27 tentatively scheduled for this week.

“The main objective of Samoa's PFM reforms is to build on past policies targeting improved systems and processes as well as developing capacities to help raise transparency and accountability," reads the statement. 

"Key policy reforms included improvements in Samoa's procurement processes, cash flow management, debt management, asset management, budget processes and policy development frameworks.

“Successes in these areas have helped the M.O.F. to continuously and consistently secure budget support from the country's key development partners over the past decade - an endeavour to continue in the future medium term in collaboration with PFTAC and other partners.”

Afioga Saoleititi is accompanied by the M.OF. Acting C.E.O. Saoleititi as well as the P.F.M. and Finance Sector Coordinator, Feagaimaleata Tafunai-Maafi and the A.C.E.O. (Budget and Fiscal Policy), Abigail Lee Hang. Joining them from Tokelau is Director of Finance, Rosita Mauai-Matalavea, who is the former Assistant C.E.O. (Accounts) at the M.O.F.

The PFTAC team also included the former M.O.F. C.E.O. Lavea Iulai Lavea who is now one of the Centre's P.F.M. Advisors.