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Governor creates a 2nd new ASG agency by Executive Order

Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through a June 13 executive order, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga established the American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency “responsible for providing search, rescue, fire protection, marine patrol and emergency medical services.”

The order takes effect on July 1 this year but preparations for the establishment of this new agency begins immediately. “The order will remain in effect until the Search and Rescue Department is established by legislation,” the governor says.

The governor established the Territorial Correctional Facility and Juvenile Detention Center also by Executive Order on June 15 and it also takes effect on July 1 and remains in effect until established by legislation. (Read story in Friday, June 17 issue.)

Samoa News notes that the Fono is currently in recess and convenes in July for the 4th Regular Session.

The order’s preamble notes that ASG “desires to consolidate its search and rescue functions” and that it’s “imperative that our government promotes that safety of our society by providing search, rescue, fire protection, marine patrol, and emergency medical services.”

According to the governor, the Search and Rescue Agency, is an independent entity of ASG. And that the governor shall appoint the agency’s director — not subject to Fono confirmation — who is responsible to oversee all operations of this new entity and serves at the pleasure of the governor.

The order provides information on the director’s duties, which include appointing a fire chief to management fire protection functions that are currently assigned to the Department of Public Safety as well as appointing a marine patrol chief to manage marine patrol functions currently assigned to DPS.

Furthermore, it appoints a chief of emergency medical service currently carried out under the control of the American Samoa Medical Center Authority — or LBJ Medical Center.

The director is also to contract with a medical director to provide medical supervision of paramedics and emergency medical technicians. Additionally, it establishes training and policies to provide competent search, rescue, marine patrol, fire protection and emergency medical services.

The governor directs that the agency establish a separate budget and account. And that all funds, personnel, and property that were assigned to the DPS Fire Bureau and Marine Patrol Unit shall be transferred to the new agency.  Also all funds, personnel and property assigned to the LBJ’s Emergency Medical Services will transfer to the new Search and Rescue Agency.

According to the governor, nothing in this order shall limit the authority or responsibility of the firefighting functions of the Port Administration Department.

Under the order’s provision of “Power of Arrest”, it states that at the request of the director, the Police Commissioner shall commission officers of the Search and Rescue Agency as deputy law enforcement officers, pursuant to local law.

Furthermore, no person shall be commissioned under this provision of the executive order, unless they are a graduate of a police academy that was approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety.