SAMOA – Samoa’s prime minister has reacted to criticism of his interview with 60 Minutes, which he says was “was skewed to fit in with the 60 Minutes Television Show’s angle of diminishing Samoa’s efforts at improving its prison systems – and in painting Samoa as a dangerous tourist destination.”

The interview and the report on the young Australian couple who ere attacked and the woman raped by escaped prisoner Lauititi Tualima has created a negative image of Samoa and the safety of a tourists, a Prime Minister’s Office statement says.

The statement says:“On Monday Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi granted an interview with the 60 Minutes television crew from Australia who had requested comment from government on the Lauititi Tualima case, which was before the court – and on security concerns and services at Tafaigata Prison.

“Last night the 60 Minutes segment aired in Australia and of the 13 minutes of story, less than two minutes were given to the prime minister’s responses.

“The Prime Minister, whose office is always open to the media, interviewed for more than half an hour with the team from 60 Minutes.

“The prime minister wishes to clarify issues that have been raised by the TV programme, especially by members of the public via social media.

“Government has allocated funding in the current budget, for the new prison, and work has already started to clear the land and begin the project.

“The prisoner Lauititi Tualima has pleaded guilty to all charges, and is due for sentencing this week. He is kept in maximum security at Tafaigata.

“There are no prisoners currently unaccounted for and despite misinformation perpetuated by false reports, this is not a regular occurrence for Samoa. “

“Tafaigata Prison has successfully kept almost all prisoners within the boundaries of the prison wall, with the exception of a few unrepentant criminals.

“Despite the actions of a few rogue individuals, the majority of the prison population are peaceful.

“Samoa’s Prisons and Correction Services has already begun implementing a programme of rehabilitation for prisoners in the form of vocational training, counseling, educational, health and spiritual programmes.

“These have been introduced to provide a positive pathway for prisoners so they can better reintegrate back in to their families and communities without resorting to a life of crime.

“Tourism is an economic mainstay for Samoa, and for the most part every Samoan is protective and respectful of all visitors and holidaymakers who spend time in our country.

“But as in any other society, there are always going to be good and bad people.

“In an unfortunate and very sad turn of events for the Australian couple who were holidaying in Samoa, they were attacked by a convict and subjected to a harrowing experience that has been utilised to maximum effect by the 60 Minutes television show.

“This is the first time a case like this has happened in Samoa, and the outrage felt by viewers of the 60 Minutes show is the same outrage and anger felt by the people of Samoa. This is an isolated incident, caused by a career-criminal, and from which many lessons for the future have been learned.

“As a country that has recently graduated from Least Developing Country status, Samoa is working hard towards improving state services so they are befitting of a Lower to Middle Income Status country.

“Samoa’s development agenda has been set out, and ensuring attention is given to hundreds of priority areas can be a challenge when faced with a tight budget.

“As the Prime Minister made clear in his interview with 60 Minutes, Samoa is not the same as Australia, and to compare the two governments in size, systems and budget is simplistic and naive.

“Samoa remains a peaceful and safe destination for visitors and tourists. Government agencies will work together with village councils to provide safe and secure communities for the public and our visitors and tourists.

“Government intends to work hard over the next twelve months to ensure that there is no more delay with construction of the new prison, and in light of this, an invitation was extended to the 60 Minutes team to visit Samoa in June 2017 for a follow-up story on the new prison, and to update on Samoa’s development efforts.”

- PNC sources