Prime Ministers CEO denies phantom meeting Samoa Observer reported

Apia, Samoa – 31 October 2025 – The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (MPMC) has denied that he and the CEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade ever met the Deputy Prime Minister as the Samoa Observer reported in its front-page article “Toelupe meets officials over PM’s NZ Meeting”.

The article alleges a meeting took place at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister on Thursday 30, October 2025 between Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo, CEO Agafili Tomaimanō Shem Leo and the CEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peseta Noumea Simi to discuss several matters of concerns surrounding the Prime Minister’s medical leave and foreign engagements.

The MPMC CEO however refutes such claims referring to the article as distorted given he was not at any point approached or contacted out of courtesy for confirmation regarding whether or not this meeting transpired.

He confirms no such meeting happened and Peseta and he were not together in the office of the Deputy Prime Minister yesterday as the article speculates.

“I can confirm that no such meeting happened,” says CEO Agafili in a statement.

“Peseta and I were never contacted on this matter for alleged confirmation of the ‘phantom’ meeting and the photos with the article were not taken yesterday,” according to Agafili.