Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Government Ethical Climate Survey, conducted by the Territorial Audit Office, found a “Medium” score, highlighting a potential issue where certain elected officials are extending their policy and oversight roles into the day-to-day operations of government departments and agencies in 2024.

This score is detailed in the Audit Office's annual report for the fiscal year 2024- 2025, issued in August 2024. The report discusses the ASG’s first Ethical Climate Survey, which assessed how ethical standards influence organizational and individual decision-making while identifying ethical blind spots.

The survey was created by the Institute of Local Government and distributed to all ASG employees in February 2024.

Each employee answered 20 questions, with the first ten focusing on individual ethics and the remaining ten focusing on the ethics of their supervisors and managers.

A total of 1,022 responses were collected regarding individual ethics, and 347 responses assessed the ethics of supervisors and managers.

According to the report, auditors calculated an ethical climate score of 168 out of 200, classified as “High.” Respondents rated their own ethics at 85 and their managers’ ethics at 83.

However, some survey questions received lower scores, particularly those regarding employees' feelings about speaking up or reporting questionable practices and their sense of safety and support from coworkers and trusted confidantes.

Additionally, a “Medium” score was noted in the supervisory survey, indicating potential issues with seven elected officials overstepping their policy and oversight roles into the daily operations of government departments and agencies.

While some questions received high scores, they were still lower than others, specifically those asking if supervisors reward employees for performance and if they refuse gifts or special treatment from business partners.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The audit report also noted that improved coordination is needed between the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Department of Property Management (DPM) to ensure better accountability for DPS’ vehicles. 

In August 2024, the TAO issued an audit report on the DPS, aimed to determine whether their purchases were properly authorized in accordance with ASG laws and regulations, necessary, and consistent with best practices. Additionally, the auditors assessed whether these purchases were properly received, paid, and recorded.

The auditors also examined whether DPS’ capital purchases were recorded in fixed asset accounts, entered in a fixed asset register, and periodically inventoried; and, they verified that the vehicles in DPS’ possession matched Property Management’s records.

In addition, the audit examined whether DPS maintains adequate control over cash received at its offices.

Key findings from the report included the necessity for improved coordination between the DPS and the DPM, and the need to ensure accountability for DPS’ vehicles. 

Additionally, a limited review of DPS payments identified several irregularities.

DPS also needs to establish written criteria to ensure the equitable distribution of car seats provided under the Occupant Protection Program to low-income households.

Furthermore, controls over cash handling at the Office of Motor Vehicles and its Records Office could be improved.

The audit report included 20 recommendations to address the findings, and the involved departments agreed to implement all of them.

Additionally, the TAO’s work on DPS’ fleet led to an audit of ASG’s overall fleet.

According to the report, auditor staff coordinated with the DPM to conduct vehicle inventories of the departments with the most vehicles, including Education, Port Administration, Public Works, Health, the Governor’s Office, and the Office of Samoan Affairs.

This audit was temporarily put on hold while the TAO completed the Budget Audit report, as previously reported by Samoa News.

The fieldwork is complete, and the TAO is finalizing the draft report, with plans to issue a final report before the end of 2025.