21 Oct 2003

Samoa's Prime Minister tells departmental heads to push harder for funds

5:14 pm on 21 October 2003

Samoa's prime minister says the heads of government bodies need to speak up for funds, otherwise they will be ignored by Treasury.

Tuilaepa Sailele says if the head of a ministry is a coward in arguing for money, it will be easy for Treasury to only give to those whose voices are the loudest.

The prime minister was speaking after renovations to the Lands and Titles court which has given the court president, judges and juries, new surroundings.

The work cost 29 thousand U.S. dollars.

Tuilaepa challenged the chief executive of Justice and Courts Administration, Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe, to have a new court house built by the end of this parliamentary term.

Tuilaepa says the work of some departments goes ahead while other departments sit still as funds are limited.

He's advised department heads not to sit still but make an effort to ensure things happen by arguing strongly for funds.