Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo has told parliament there is no proof that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) gave a direct warning that the government’s proposed national airline jet operations project would be financially devastating.
However, documents obtained and verified by the Samoa Observer show the warning was recorded in a document titled “Asian Development Bank (ADB) Private Sector Operations (PSOD),” which included meeting objectives, key discussion points, key outcomes and the way forward.
Mulipola, in parliament on Thursday, was responding to comments made last week by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Lauofo Fonotoe Pierre, who had raised concerns that the airline plan could pose a "financial risk" to Samoa, a risk the Samoa Observer had earlier revealed.
“There is no evidence for this statement,” said Mulipola.
However, documents show Mulipola was part of the Samoan Government delegation involved in discussions as part of a fact-finding mission in Australia in March, during which a fundamental market feasibility question was raised: "Can Samoa sustain two airlines on its key routes?"
