As of May 22, 2013 the remainder of the $1million for the Manu’a District is $27,246.29, according to the ledger obtained by Samoa News. The ledger, holds no surprises, as similar to the Western and Eastern District ledgers, with no indication of reason for payouts, a lot of checks were issued to Manu’a leaders, House Representatives and individuals, while the Samoa Heritage Committee and the local Arts Council also received funding.

The three districts, Eastern, Western and Manu’a, each received in 2009, $1million to carry out capital improvement projects from a $20 Million loan the government made with the ASG Employees Retirement Fund.

(Samoa News has noted that the districts actually received only $900,000, as 10% of the money ($100K) was ‘used’ for administrative costs. To date, there is no public record as to what exactly these administrative costs entailed.)

Samoa News has previously reported that Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has transferred all monies remaining of the three districts $1million each to an emergency reserve account.

Samoa News notes that the Western and Eastern District ledger lists, which Samoa News obtained, had dates of every transaction, however with the Manu’a District ledger the source that supplied the document said, this ledger did not have dates for the transactions in the system.

The first check from the Manu’a account was issued to Collins travel in the amount of $2,524.40 (ch#1215). The second check issued was in the name of Henry Ledoux in the amount of $432, which was the same amount as checks received by Faamolemole Soli and Misaalefua Hudson, who is the Manu’a District Governor.

These three each received additional checks for $2,464 with checks numbers 1218/1219/1220. The ledger indicates that Misaalefua received a total of six checks totaling $9,996.

Another check for $8,000 (ch#1280) was issued to Misaalefua’s company, according to the ledger. Calls to Misaalefua for clarification were not returned as of press time.

According to the ledger, CCCAS Choirs in Ta’u, Faleasao, Olosega, Fitiuta and Ofu each received $300.

Other checks of interest were issued to Michelle T Peko, who in the previous administration worked in the Governor’s Office. They were for $4,000 (ch# 1232), $9,500 (ch#1233), $2,000 (ch#1234) $160 (ch#1249) for a total of $15,660. Samoa News sent questions regarding the payments to Peko via facebook, and attempted to contact her by phone, however at press time she had yet to respond.

Manu’a leaders that Samoa News contacted were surprised and wanted to find out why $15,000+ had been issued to Peko.

Former Budget Director Malemo Tausaga is also on the ledger receiving $3,500 along with Tufele Li’a, Representative Faafetai Iaulualo, Alalamua Filioali’i and Misaalefua. According to the ledger Le’i Sonny Thompson also received three checks that totaled $11,600.

Le’i who is currently the Human Resources Director told Samoa News the first check for $10,000 issued in his name was for villages in Manu’a, with each village receiving $2,000. He noted that Malemo Tausaga should have all of the checks documented because the money was handed over to the villages. “Any money given to me was for the district or village, it was never for any personal payment or gift, or stolen, or kickbacks or just for the hell of it,” said Le’i. Calls to Malemo were not answered, as Samoa News understands that he’s currently off island.

A check for $25,000 was issued to the Samoa Heritage Committee, according to the Manu’a District ledger, which is similar to the checks issued from the Western and Eastern Districts — for the same amount, and with the same check number: $25,000 (Ch#1272).

According to the Manu’a District ledger, Worldwide Travel received a check for $1,206.20 (Ch#1267), while the second check in the Eastern ledger list was also issued to Worldwide Travel on July 23, 2009 in the amount of $1,206.20 (Ch#1267). And again, there is a similar transaction in the Western District Ledger — only for two checks, both issued to Worldwide Travel for the same amount, on the same date.

Another check that stood out in the Manu’a ledger is a $10,000 check issued to the Arts Council. The Arts Council received $35,000 from the Eastern District on June 30, 2012, and $40,000 from the Western District ledger on the same day. All three checks, while for different amounts, use the same check number — #1905.

Of interest also are checks issued to the Pago Airport Inn for $1,200.50, and another to Stars Apartments for $4, 950.00; while Friendly Car Rental was issued a check for of $8,460, and there are multiple checks issued to Inter Island Airways for $5,540 too.

Samoa News will report later in the week on other businesses listed in the Manu’a ledger, along with funding spent on the Fo’isia and the Matasaua fautasi and what appear to be payroll checks for several individuals.