Outgoing Minister for Women, Community and Social Development, Leota Laki Sio says internal issues concerning the district council committees are handled by the ministry. 

Leota was asked by the Samoa Observer to comment on calls by the Sagaga No. 2 M.P. Maulolo Tavita Amosa for an investigation of allegations that accused him of alleged misuse of district grants. 

In response, the Minister said anything to do with the district council committees and complaints from the constituency residents is handled by the ministry and is regarded as internal issues. 

“The ministry basically looks into it and the ministry gives advice to the district and they can review this with the belief that the district is independent,” said Leota. “Also the ministry doesn’t have that authority, they can only give advice based on guidelines that formulate the agreement which is the same for other districts.” 

In a recent interview with Maulolo, he said he has already provided a response to Leota's ministry in relation to the allegation and suggested that the ministry which oversees the SAT$1 million District Development Project grant carry out an investigation to verify the claims. 

The claim was highlighted in a letter penned by one of the Sagaga No. 2 Committee Members, Fata Ryan Schuster. It was addressed to Cabinet Ministers in the steering committee of the project.

"It's a nice letter I'm happy that they have brought this up," said Maulolo. 

The M.P. then went on to flatly refute all the allegations that were made against him in the letter. 

"I deny the accusations and I have asked the ministry to do an investigation into these allegations to clear the air,” he said.

The correspondence authored by Fata was dated 17 August 2023 and was also copied to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Communication and Information Technology.

Maulalo is accused of allegedly using SAT$3,000 from funds allocated to a project for the village of Afega without informing members of the district committee. 

Fata claimed that the matai who were with Maulolo at Lava Hotel were unaware that the money he used to pay for their lunch was from the project’s funds. 

He also accused Maulolo of allegedly breaching the guidelines and frameworks already agreed upon by members of the district council.