Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has raised a number of concerns about the response from Samoa's medical fraternity to the changes put forward by the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) to complete a merger that was approved in 2018. 

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday night, Fiame who is also the Minister for the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) alleged that the opposition from members of the Samoa Medical Association (S.M.A.) is not new.

"The requests to increase salaries for public servants is not new," said Fiame. 

"It has happened so many times in previous years, so we should not be surprised about this. Especially for this sector and this ministry. 

"Thinking back to the previous years, this has happened so many times with the doctors and staff employed by the ministry asking for more from the government."

Fiame then clarified that the policies and mandates are in place to steer the work of the Government.

She added that the government can not succeed in implementing its policies if the public servants are against it. She is of the view that the services cannot improve if the people that are expected to implement them are in opposition to the government. 

She also explained that the issue is one of the obstacles currently faced by the government in pushing their agenda forward. 

"There's a lot of conflict within this sector," Fiame said. 

"They don't get along and they do not work as a unit. The Minister has already spoken about this. 

"They seem to have different opinions on things and want to compare who is superior to the other. This poses a question of whether they are working for the people or themselves. 

"Are they really in it to serve the people or for their personal gains? Over the years, they are always complaining about the benefits they get from the government. 

"They always ask for more from the government and despite efforts from the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) to try and lean towards what they are asking for, it is still not enough for them. 

"It's really sad because what do the people say about this kind of behaviour?"

Fiame then made an impassioned plea to the members of the Legislative Assembly as well as all the public servants in Samoa. 

"It's good to deliver nice speeches in the House, but if our people are sick, and the services are bad? Then what's the point of what we are here to do? 

"What's the use of initiating policies and legislations when the people who are expected to implement them don't want to work? What do we say to the people who appointed us and whom we serve? 

"So if the doctors are listening to this, please I beg of you. Are the benefits we are now offering not enough for you? Isn't that enough? 

"We do not have a lot of money. We are also trying our best to divide whatever money we have for the development of the country. But if we look at the salary packages we are offering, we are second to Fiji in terms of how much we pay our medical doctors in this region."

Fiame also expressed her disappointment that public servants are appearing to be "cocky" yet they provide poor services for the people of Samoa. 

"We need to honour our calling and do it for our people," Fiame said. 

"That is the message for all of us. Let's not do it for personal gains but accord our priorities to the needs and wants of our people."