Minister accused of covering up Captain and Co-Captain failure

Staff Reporters/

Apia, Samoa – 29 January 2025 – The Minister of the Samoa Shipping Corporation, Olo Afoa Fiti Vaai has been accused in parliament of covering up an incident where a captain and co-captain were penalized for not obtaining the necessary authority for the co-captain to sail the Lady Samoa ship in a recent trip from Salelologa to Mulifanua.

The issue was first raised by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Lauofo Fonotoe Lauofo while speaking on a Shipping Corporation report debated in parliament. Lauofo raised the safety issue of the passengers on the high seas as it was reported the sailing was under the command of the co-captain and they were both investigated and penalized over the incident.

In response to the issue raised, the Minister of Shipping, Olo Afoa Fiti Vaai said there is established process where the authority must be obtained from the Marine Division of the Ministry of Works. But he emphasized that the co-captain was just as qualified as the captain who, for some reason, was not in charge of that sailing.

Pressed for details as to why the captain co-captain were then penalized, Olo said the authority was not given.

Lauofo pressed further that it means what was done was illegal, Olo tried to duck the question by thanking the Parliamentary Committee and the MPs who spoke on the report.

The Falealili.1. MP, a former CEO of the Ministry of Works, Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo raised his concern that the Minister was treating the matter in a lighthearted manner and accused him of lying when the law should be upheld.

“Answer directly to parliament,” Toelupe insisted, “as it appears it is a cover up.”

Olo responded that he has already answered the issues about local shipping and transportation and not about overseas ships.

Lauofo further asked why the co-captain didn’t call to obtain the necessary authority to sail the vessel.

Then the chairman of the parliamentary committee, Fepuleai Faimata Sua came to the rescue and explained that he was on that 6.00am trip and there was a patient onboard being transferred to Apia that needed the vessel to sail as scheduled.

Olo then told parliament that it is hard to delay when the public are already seated onboard for a scheduled trip.

The Speaker then ended the discussion on the issue, saying the views expressed in the debate should be heeded by the Shipping Corporation going forward, especially the safety of the travelling public.