By Jasmine Netzler-Iose. Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt has dismissed claims made by the leader of the Human Rights Protection Party, Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, that Cabinet footed the bill for his medical travel to New Zealand.
Tuilaepa alleged on social media and in a Letter to the Editor that Cabinet had approved for Government to pay for the Prime Ministers medical expenses.
The Prime Minister has dismissed this claim as a lie and called on media to follow-up with the Opposition Leader for evidence of his allegations.
In an earlier Letter to the Editor, Tuilaepa had also speculated that a “third party” may have paid for the Prime Ministers medical expenses.
The Prime Minister said his family paid close to $200,000 to cover his medical treatment while in New Zealand for eight weeks.
As already clarified in an earlier statement, the Prime Ministers family had to step up and pay because Government operations were limited to basic services due to constraints with the annual budget not yet passed by Parliament at the time of Laaulialemalietoa’s departure.
“Due to government’s current financial position with 25% of the budget from last year financing operations – the Prime Minister’s family is funding all his expenses including airfares, treatment and accommodation in New Zealand..”
The Prime Minister says whats done is done and he does not expect to be reimbursed.
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