Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Toesulusulu Cedric Schuster has finally confirmed sole sourcing a “short term contract” with Riamoana Pasifika Limited Consultancy, owned by Tulatoa Tracy Nelson-Sauvao.
Initially, the Minister denied it, but today he said “it is a short-term consultancy” contract.
Adding that the appointment does not fall “under the [Public Service Commission] process, but in the same way all Minister’s staff are recruited,” he said in an email.
Radio Polynesia reached out to the Minister last month after receiving complaints from his staff about sole sourcing a contract with Riamoana Pasifika Limited Consultancy, a newly established media consultancy company.
Furthermore, the Minister said it has “come to my attention that you continue to make some outlandish assumptions and try to make a mountain out of a mole regarding my recruitment of Tracy Nelson as my personal communications consultant for a short term.”
However, our article on this issue did not in any way state that Riamoana Pasifika Limited Consultancy was the Minister’s personal communications consultant.
“If as you say that it is the staff that are complaining, I am copying both my CEO’s for MNRE and STA to find out why their staff are complaining, as both of them have been advised.
“The post is with the Minister and as such, they are appointments not under the PSC process, but in the same way all Minister’s staff are recruited,” explained Toesulusulu.
The Minister said it is a short-term consultancy. “As Minister [I] am navigating the social media and communications front, as both MNRE and STA have different mandates, but are both under my portfolio.
“Additionally, I do have to deliver speeches that need additional vetting outside of the respective ministries and myself for the general public.”
The Minister concluded, that he hopes his clarification will “stop anymore probing” and furthermore accused Radio Polynesia of trying to make the Minister and the Government look bad”.
Last week, Tulatoa confirmed an existing “short-term” contract with MNRE, with the Office of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.
“This is to assist with communicating via social media and newspapers about the work that the Ministry is constantly and consistently doing for Samoa.”
A business owner in Australia, Tulatoa recently moved to Samoa.
“ I’m very excited to have started my Company. “The services that Riamoana offers are in marketing, freelance article writing, public relations, social media content writing, video production (a little later on) and ‘live’ business promotions to name a few of the services,” she said.
Minister’s response is printed in full below.
Talofa Joyetter,
It’s come to my attention that you continue to make some outlandish assumptions and try to make a mountain out of a mole regarding my recruitment of Tracy Nelson as my personal communications consultant for a short term.
If as you say that it is staff that are complaining, I am copying both my CEO’s for MNRE and STA to find out why their staff are complaining, as both of them have been advised.
The post is with the Minister and as such, they are appointments not under the PSC process, but in the same way all Minister’s staff are recruited.
Furthermore, it is a short term consultancy as I as Minister am navigating the social media and communications front, as both MNRE and STA have different mandates, but are both under my portfolio. Additionally, I do have to deliver speeches that need additional vetting outside of the respective ministries and myself for the general public.
I hope this clarifies your inquisitiveness, and that stops anymore probing to try and make myself and the government look bad.
Ma le Faaaloalo lava
