All Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister and Cabinet, will undergo mandatory drug tests next year as concern increases about public servants involvement in the illicit drug trade.
Samoa Observer newspaper reports Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt saying it’s an embarrassment and a major concern as the numbers of public servants involved in selling and using narcotics increases.
“The police are still working on having their raids, and I tell you, all the raids, there is always someone arrested, which shows that this is indeed a critical issue in Samoa,” La’auli said.
He added that this is why the government is planning to have all the MP’s and cabinet ministers tested to make sure there’s transparency in how they lead Samoa.
“No wonder why this problem is skyrocketing. It is because the public servants who are supposed to protect our borders seem involved in bringing in these drugs,” he added.
La’auli was referring to a quarantine officer who was arrested two weeks ago during a police meth bust.
The Prime Minister also shared concern about teachers being involved after a couple of teachers were part of the 20 people arrested last weekend.
La’auli said the government will meet with all the teachers in Samoa to discuss further ways to prevent and make sure the teachers and students are protected from further involvement in such illegal activities.
