15 Nov 2010

Samoa umbrella for non-governmental organisations under close government scrutiny

6:31 am on 15 November 2010

An umbrella group for Non-governmental Organisations in Samoa has been ordered by the prime minister to vacate government buildings following comments by its Chief Executive Officer on a New Zealand current affairs programme.

The CEO of the group known as SUNGO, Roina Vavatau, says the threat followed her comments on the spending of tsunami aid funds.

Reports on the use of aid money on TV3's Campbell Live programme have angered Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, who has claimed they were ill informed.

The board of SUNGO met the CEO and the president at the week-end to discuss the concerns raised by the prime minister and his orders to vacate the land by the end of this month.