The former Commissioner for the Ministry of Customs and Revenue, Matafeo Avalisa Viali-Fautualii is questioning the Public Service Commission on the status of the lead post for the MCR.
In an email to the Chair of the PSC, Lauano Vaosa Epa obtained by Radio Polynesia, Matafeo enquired about the progress of the PSC’s process with the post of the CEO of the MCR that was closed on the 19th of November 2021.
Matafeo also cited many other Ministries including the MCR which have been operating under acting CEOs are surely bearing the burden of this long “unnecessary wait when the PSC has the authority to enforce its legislated requirements and make things move for our public services.”
Matafeo who applied for her old position stated that her application was acknowledged twice by email and also by telephone by the PSC.
“I am hearing too many rumors about its cancellation or re-advertisement but I still have not seen a formal notification or advice from your office and thought it best to seek clarifications from your prestige Office.
“I know I had discussed with you on the telephone way back in early March 2022 that I will withdraw my application but thought twice about that when the PSC investigation on Alvin Onesemo’s case came out and thought to attend the interview if I am shortlisted, for obvious reasons.
“Therefore, please kindly advise on your progress on this matter so that we get to move forward with other more important matters in all our lives,” asked Matafeo.
The email to Lauano says the Ministry and others like MCR which have been operating under acting CEOs are surely bearing the burden of this long “unnecessary wait when the PSC has the authority to enforce its legislated requirements and make things move for our public services.”
Adding this “very long wait is so unprecedented like so many things under our new government but I believed our PSC legislation, requirements, and Recruitment and selection policies are still the same, transparent, and accountable hence not sure of the reason for the long wait.”
Efforts to get comments from Lauano have been unsucessful as of press time.
Matafeo was one of the CEO’s whose contract wasn’t extended pending the PSC normal process of hiring a CEO.
In February, Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio confirmed in earlier interviews with Radio Polynesia, that Matafeo’s extension of contracts ended.
The Deputy Minister said after Cabinet’s decision earlier this week, the Ministers whose CEO’s affected, should inform them of the directive from Cabinet.
Tuala said that Matafeo was informed about the decision on Wednesday evening and that it was her last day in office.
Cabinet has opted to end the extension of the contracts for the Chief Executive Officers, at the same time allowing the Public Service Commission to complete the normal hiring process for the positions.