The Council of Deputies Office at the Government building will be moved to the Head of State’s compound in Vailele for the convenience of  the members. 

The office of the sole remaining member of the Council of Deputies, Tuiletufuga Le Mamea Ropati, was previously located on the fifth floor of the Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinuu II building in Matafele. 

Last week he vacated the Government building and did his work from his residence temporarily while his new office was relocated to the State-own land in Vailele. 

In response to queries from the Samoa Observer, the Secretary for Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo said the relocation of the office will free up the space to be occupied by the Cabinet Ministers. 

Agafili, who is also the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, said this will be convenient not only for the Council of Deputies members but Ministers as well. 

“The future plans for the Council of Deputies is to work from the compound in Vailele,” said Agafili. 

Tuiletufuga was informed by Agafili on Tuesday last week about the move and vacated the office the following day.  

“The whole idea is to work cooperatively with the Head of State that you may be aware the official residence [of the H.O.S.] is in Vailele and his office is on that Government land. 

“It’s a really big land that also has security for the Head of State and his duties that is protected by the executive. 

“It is only when the Head of State is away and his responsibilities is assumed by the Council of Deputies which means their obligations in accordance with the Constitution is similar…” 

When the Samoa Observer visited the previous office of the Council of Deputy on Monday it was empty with workers changing the locks to the office. 

The former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi had lashed out at the new Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) administration for disrespecting the high office holder by moving them out of the office. 

He said there are reports from inside Government that the Council of Deputies' office will be used by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio. 

“I am afraid .F.A.S.T. won’t last at this rate,” said Tuilaepa. “This is the same disrespect and disregard this party has shown towards our Ao Mamalu o le Malo [Head of State]. 

“This blatant disrespect has rubbed off on our Chief Justice and his cohorts in the judiciary and Samoans are not blind to their antics.” 

However, Agafili offered an explanation as to why the sole member of the Council of Deputies had to vacate office. 

He said the new administration and Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa wanted to have her Cabinet Ministers centralised in one building. 

“It’s important to be in close proximity in the seat of Government for the convenience of their work and interconnect in the Cabinet system to avoid ministers turning up and not receiving documents…” 

Agafili made reference to an electronic documents management systems used by Cabinet Ministers to view paperwork to reduce the use of paper. 

In addition, he said the idea is to free up the space previously occupied by the Council of Deputies to make room for a Cabinet Minister whose offices were previously located in other buildings.

For an example, the Minister of Finance and Minister of Works are tenants in other Government buildings away from the rest of the Cabinet Ministers offices. 

“Ideally the Prime Minister wants her Ministers near,” he said. 

“The fourth and fifth floor its where Cabinet Ministers [are] and if you count there are actually 12 rooms and 13 room is opposite the Cabinet Chamber which is the Prime Minister’s office. 

“The whole idea is designed to work closely and we have two Cabinet Ministers who don’t have access to the main Government building.”