Samoa’s finance minister resigns

Samoa’s Minister of Finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, has resigned from cabinet in response to allegations against him and also the findings of a chief auditor’s report.

Faumuina has received criticism for months from the opposition and also some members of the ruling HRPP party caucus over allegations of abuse in the performance of his ministerial duties.

He was also implicated in the chief auditor’s report on the Samoa Land Corporation where he was the minister of the corporation during a previous HRPP government.

The report revealed in parliament mismanagement and abuse of power in the administration of the Samoa Land Corporation.

In a ministerial speech in parliament Wednesday night, he announced his resignation responding to the allegations and apologised for any wrongdoing.

The prime minister, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, accepted the resignation and announced in parliament that a new finance minister will be sworn in next Friday.

He also thanked Faumuina for his good work in the 15 years he was in cabinet. Faumuina will remain as an MP of the ruling party.