Member of Parliament, Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa, has accused the Cabinet of interfering with the Public Service Commission’s recruitment process for Chief Executive Officers. 

But the charge was strongly rejected by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi. 

The M.P. made the comments in Parliament last week, when the leaders discussed a bill to amend the Ministry of Health Act 2006 and repeal the National Health Services Act 2014. 

He noted that under the proposed legislation, functions overseeing human resources management and development, will come under the umbrella of the Public Service Commission. 

“It’s also good to hear that Public Service Commission will soon focus on the training aspect of the Government workforce. One of their mandates is the interview process for Chief Executive Officers – and in completion of the interview process – the Public Service Commission has finalise their decision and they are ready to appoint their recommended candidate. 

“However, Cabinet turns around and change the recommended candidate and so it is a total waste of time. May as well just announce the vacancy and the candidates appear before Cabinet and let them decide,” he said during the debate. 

But the Prime Minister, in response, said he had to correct the M.P. 

“This must be corrected as it is wrong. There is a panel of three that conducts the interview and the process is not always perfect and waiting for the decisions are 13 Cabinet Ministers.” 

According to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers have experience in hiring people. 

“Some have been C.E.O.’s themselves while others use to own businesses and they have hiring experiences.” 

Tuilaepa said that 95 per cent of the decisions by the Public Service Commission are honored by the Cabinet. 

“The five per cent are decisions the Cabinet knows is not quite right – and also the 13 Ministers know much more than the three panelists – conducting the interview process. 

“Also the proverb we hear, the older you become the wiser you are and all the Cabinet Ministers as you can see are very wise,” the Prime Minister added.