Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Top leaders of SUNGO in Samoa said not to be supporting members

Posted at 23:58 on 08 November, 2009 UTC

Samoa’s prime minister has told the President and CEO of the Samoa Umbrella for Non governmental organizations, or SUNGO, they are not following the organisation’s main objective of helping their members.

Prime Minister, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, says the two are just promoting themselves.

Tuilaepa, who is Minister for NGOS, called in a letter for SUNGO to refresh their attitude and behaviour towards the government if they want a better relationship.

Tuilaepa’s letter was circulated to other non governmental organizations but was then leaked to the media.

The prime minister is concerned that NGOs who are members of SUNGO are not getting the assistance they requested.

He says the NGOs should seek assistance for themselves by directly approaching donor organisations.

Efforts to get comments from the CEO of SUNGO, Roina Vavatau, and the president, Vaasilifiti Moelagi Jackson, were unsuccessful.