NEWS & EVENTS

SAMOA PUBLIC SERVICE HISTORY: 1962-2012

Susuga i le Tapaau Faasisina ia Malietoa Tanumafili II C.B.E Ao o le Malo & Afioga Mamalu ia Tupua Tamasese C.B.E Ao o le Malo

Laying the Foundation for the Development of Samoa's Public Service
50 Years of Independence! As citizens of this proud nation, we look back and acknowledge, admire, appreciate, respect, celebrate and honor the work of our forefathers and leaders in laying a solid foundation through their hard work for us (current and future generations) to confidently steer our va’a /journey towards the best possible direction. Thus, as the Independent state of Samoa prepares to honor and celebrate its historic achievement of 50 years of Independence this year, the Samoa Public Service (a.k.a Western Samoa Public Service) also rejoices in marking and commemorating its 50th years of existence and service to the people of Samoa.

In April 1950, during the time of the New Zealand administration, the Western Samoa Public Service (WSPS) Commission was established (1a. Davidson 1960: 212). Available records show that the Samoa Public Service was in existence since then and operated under the Samoa Amendment Act 1949. According to the 1956 PSC Annual Report, there existed in the Public Service 16 Departments of which included the Agriculture, Broadcasting, Customs and Harbour, Education, Health, Inland Revenue, Justice and Public Trust, Lands and Survey, Police (Clerical), Post Office, Public Service Commission, Public Works, Land and Titles, Radio, Secretariat, Treasury, Treasury Banana Scheme and the New Zealand Reparation Estates. A total number of 1268 temporary and permanent staff were employed in the Public Service as at the 3st of December of that year.

Upon gaining its Independence on January 1st 1962, Western Samoa became the first independent state in the tropical South Pacific, and also the world’s first independent “microstate.” Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tupua Tamasese Mea’ole were joint Heads of State for life. Mata’afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinuu II was Western Samoa’s first Prime Minister. (1a. Davidson 1967: 408-411). After the swearing in of the joint Heads of State and the official opening of the first parliamentary session for the Independent State of Samoa, it onsequently, placed the Public Service under its Constitutional Mandate as provided for under Part VII Articles 83 – 89 of the Constitution of the Independent State of Western Samoa. It clearly stipulates the interpretation and meaning of Public Service as well as its functions: Thus, “Public Service” means the service of (Western) Samoa but does not include services remunerated by way of fees or commission only, honorary service, or service in any of the following capacities, namely as – Head of State; pr Member of Council of Deputies; or Prime Minister or Ministers; or Speaker or Deputy Speaker; or a judge of the Supreme Court or any other judicial officer; or Attorney General; or Controller and Chief Auditor; or a member of the Public Service Commission…or an Officer of Police or an Officer of Prison; or a member of any uniformed branch of any defense force”. ..

Understandably, by the end of 1962, a number of changes/developments took place within the WSPS as compared to the previous years, particularly 1956 as records for the preceding years were not found. By the 31st December 1962, there were notable changes in terms of Department naming as well as to the number of temporary and permanent staff employed which rose to 1579. Education was recorded with the most employees of 786 (48%) of the whole Public Service workforce. Health was the next department with most employees of 240 with Public Works and Agriculture having 119 and 117 employees respectively. The rest of the departments had less than a 100 employees each.

There were 17 Departments listed and headed by a majority of Europeans. A range of titles were used for those responsible as heads of departments. Provided herein are the names of the first Heads of Departments in 1962: (1.)Director of Agriculture Department was Parham, B. E.V, 2.)Attorney General was Mr R.S. Frapwell, (3.)Controller and Chief Auditor was Campagnolo, R.J. (4.)Broadcasting Director was Moore, J.W. (5.)Director of Justice was Thomesen, F.J. (6.)Collector of Customs was Brebner, V.F. (7.)Education’s Director was Williams, C.J., (8.)Director of Health was Thieme, J.C., while (9.)Inland Revenue’s Director was Meredith R. E. (10.)Director for Lands and Survey was Kearns, F.J, (11.) Clare, B. L. was Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Commissioner of Labour and also the Samoa Public Trustee, (12.)Police & Prison had Immigration as a one of their Section, (13.)Director of Post Office and Radio was Betham, H.E., (14.) Prime Ministers Department was headed by Secretary to Government Levestam, H.A., while the (15.) Public Works Director was Hayman, F.T. (16.)Alailima J. Vaiao was the Chairman of the Public Service Commission with Mrs. Suia Petana as the Secretary and Treasury was headed by the Government Financial Secretary and Economic Advisor Heller P.P.

In the years 1968 - 1971 more noteworthy changes were seen in the leadership of most of the Departments where more Samoans were taking up positions at the helm of each department. Moreover, additional departments were added under the Western Samoa Public Service such as the Economic Development, Marine, and Observatory.