The Honourable Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Afioga Sala Sili Epa in his opening speech encouraged public servants to be the solution in improving service delivery.
The 5th Annual Public Service Day was held on 30 September 2016 to celebrate and recognize the public sector’s contribution to the national development of Samoa. The theme for this year’s Public Service Day was “Celebrating the Public Service of Samoa”.
The Acting Prime Minister acknowledged the service and efforts of all public servants against the number of limitations and criticisms they face each day. He urged the public servants to serve the public with high diligence and the best of their abilities and with compassion. “I also strongly encourage you to serve our country with professionalism, 
administering well managed processes in a truly coordinated manner, ensuring cost-effectiveness, efficiency and transparency and that you as individuals be held accountable for your actions and performances. Needless to say, I advise you to become the solution and not the problem, to be facilitators rather than encumbrances.”
Archbishop Lauano Falaniko Matulino of the Immaculate Catholic Church blessed the day with a prayer and a word of encouragement. Archbishop Matulino reiterated that the work of public servants go unnoticed and unacknowledged most of the time but this should not be a discouragement as the work we do is for the glory of God and not man.
Close to 40 government Ministries and Public Bodies marched along the Beach Road from the Samoa Fire Service Headquarters to the front of the Government Building to commemorate this special occasion.
There were no special awards presented for this year’s Public Service Day as it is only done in every two years as per usual practice. Therefore, these special awards will be held next year at the 6th Annual Public Service Day.
The Minister’s speech is available here for more information.
