The Government will do a public auction of 24 vehicles next week and hopes to raise over $400,000 in revenue from the exercise.

The Ministry of Finance (M.O.F.) will run the auction on an "as is where is" basis for the Government written-off vehicles next Thursday at the Vaimea government depot. Most of the second-hand vehicles to be auctioned belong to the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Police Prisons and Corrections Services, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Health, and the Office of the Attorney General.

The M.O.F. did not say where the proceeds from the auction will go including the ministries that previously used the trucks. Questions sent to the Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Molioo were not responded to at the time of going to press.

The Minister of Police, Faualo Harry Schuster made reference to his Ministry's plans to boost their fleet after some of the vehicles were damaged. The Ministry recently signed an agreement for the Japan Government to fund over 10 vehicles for the Police with the Ministry's initial target to obtain 30 more vehicles by the end of this year before the start of the CHOGM in Apia.

The vehicles are both for Police preparations for next year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as well as the use of the Ministry, as their current fleet of vehicles is either old or in need of major repairs and no longer roadworthy. 

"It's replacing the fleet but also all the new vehicles will be used by the Ministry for the CHOGM conference as they will be greatly needed and so we'll be looking for more," Faualo said.

Before Faualo became the new Police Minister in August 2021, the initiative of getting more vehicles for the Ministry before the CHOGM was already confirmed and on the table following discussions within the Ministry.

A Samoa Audit Office Report 2018-2019 on irregularities reported on vehicle damages and repair costs experienced by more than 10 Government ministries, offices, and sectors.

The Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (M.P.M.C.) was also recorded for the antenna of a vehicle that was damaged but there was insufficient evidence and information to confirm the responsible person to pay for the damaged antenna. 

Meanwhile, the twenty-four vehicles inlude a Toyota Hiace Van 2011 - OCE-02 for $18,000 starting bid, Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2010 - MNRE-18 ($18,000), Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2010 - MNRE-16 ($20,000), Maxus Mini Van 2019 - PG Van-19 ($10,000), Hyundai Tuscon 2000 - MESC-23 ($10,000), Toyota Hiace Van 2008 - MESC-22 ($20,000), Dyna Truck Delta 2009 - MESC-24 ($20,000), Mini Bus Toyota Coaster 2010 - MESC-07 ($60,000), Maxus Mini Van 2019 - SPCS-20 ($8,000), Kinglong PG Bus 2019 - SPCS-19 ($40,000), Dyna Truck Delta 2008 - MOH-56 ($15,000), Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2009 - MOH-63 ($10,000), Maxus Mini Van 2019 - MOH-33 ($8,000), Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2012 - MOH-23 ($10,000), Toyota Hiace Van 2012 - MOH-34 ($14,000), Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2012 - MOH-26 ($18,000), Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2011 - MOH-22 ($7,000), MG6 sedan black 2018 - MJCA-32 ($8,000), Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2012 - POL-45 ($14,000), Hyundai Tuscon 2006 - POL-33 ($6,000), Holden Commodore Sedan 2011 - POL-54 ($3,000),Toyota Hiace Dobule Cab 2011 - AG-02 ($28,000), Toyota Hiace Van 2013 - AG-03 ($20,000), Toyota Hiace Van 2013 - MCIT-03 ($20,000)