The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Tomaimanō Shem Leo, has denied reports of an alleged meeting, stating that no such discussion took place. Photo: Government
31 October 2025 – The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (MPMC) is setting the record straight in response to a front-page article of the Samoa Observer of Friday, 31 October 2025 titled “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 concern surrounding the Prime Minister’s medical leave and foreign engagements.
The MPMC CEO, however, refutes such claims made by the newspaper, 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 that 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.
“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 CEO Agafili.
