Fono Briefs
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
SENATE CONFIRMS
TUFELE LI'AMATUA AS LBJ BOARD MEMBER
Tufele Li'amatua
is the newest members of the LBJ Medical Center Authority board
after he was confirmed yesterday by the Senate in a 14-2 vote.
Under local law,
only the Senate confirms LBJ board members.
A confirmation
hearing took place prior to the vote. At the hearing, Senate
President Lolo M. Moliga said Tufele's appointment comes at a
time when there are so many challenges and problems faced by
the hospital and its board of directors.
He cited the
licensing of physicians and the $9 million repayment to the Medicare
program as examples.
He said the Togiola
administration plans to submit legislation to pay the $9 million
during the special session, but there is not enough time to fully
review the measure during the less than 10-day session.
Lolo believes
the best time to submit this legislation is in July when the
Fono convenes for the 4th regular session.
The Senate President
said he believes that many of these problems would have been
resolved a long time ago if Tufele had been appointed earlier
by the governor.
Sen. Fiatauiaulava
I. Sauni asked Tufele to look into reports that only certain
patients are being sent off-island under the off-island medical
referral program.
Tufele said he
takes this issue very seriously because the referral program
is of great importance to local residents who may need treatment
off island.
Regarding the
board, Tufele said he believes the board's sole responsibility
is to set policies and regulations for management to follow.
Senators agreed to this view and called on Tufele to do all possible
to assist the general public during his tenure on the board.
GOVERNOR SIGNS
ANTI UNDER AGE DRINKING LEGISLATION
Gov. Togiola
Tulafono signed into law recently a bill that makes it a crime
for people under 21 to consume or possess alcohol or beer.
The bill, which
fulfills a long expressed wish by the courts to make it illegal
for minors to drink or possess beer, goes into effect immediately.
In his letter
to the Fono about the bill's approval, Togiola said alcoholic
consumption has become a problem with many residents which sadly
includes those under 21.
He said domestic
violence, driving under the influence and public peace disturbances
are just some of the crimes that result when alcohol is consumed
without responsibility.
The governor
said the bill is a step towards reducing social problems.
The bill was
the result of a draft submitted last year by District Court Judge
John Ward II to Sen. Tuaolo M. Fruean chairman of the Senate
Judiciary Committee and Rep. Vaitoa Hans Langkilde, chairman
of the House Judiciary Committee.
Assistant Attorney
General Moi Masaniai testified before the Fono last year that
more than 90% of crimes involving young people were committed
while they were under the influence.
SEN. TULIFUA
THANKS LOLO FOR JOINING GUBERNATORIAL RACE
Sen. Tulifua
Tini Lam Yuen yesterday publicly thanked Senate President Lolo
M. Moliga for taking the challenge to join the race for governor.
Lolo announced
last Thursday his intentions to run for the governor's post with
an official announcement - including his running mate - to be
made after the current special session.
Tulifua points
out that four years ago, another team from the Senate was in
the gubernatorial race. The Tualatai senator was referring to
the team of then Sen. Te'o J. Fuavai for governor and his running
mate Sen. Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson.
The late Senate
President Lutu Tenari Fuimaono was the last Senate leader to
be a candidate for governor. His running mate at the time was
a former senior Fono official Joe Masei.
Reach the
reporter at fili@samoanews.com.
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