Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During his confirmation hearing yesterday as director of the local Homeland Security Department (ASDHS), Samana Semo Ve’ave’a informed senators that the outdoor siren warning system is currently not working and they are waiting for an off island assessment team to travel here, once air service is re-opened.

This was one of the issues raised by senators when Samana appeared yesterday morning for his confirmation hearing before the Senate Public Safety/Homeland Security Committee chaired by Sen. Fai’ivae Iuli Godinet. He was later confirmed by the Senate in an unanimous vote of 16-0. He is now waiting for the confirmation process at the House of Representatives.

During the 35-minute hearing, Sen. Satele Ali’itai Lili’o said that he has not heard any tests conducted by ASDHS for the siren system, saying that this is very important in alerting the public in times of disasters. He said the siren helps save people’s lives.

(It should be noted that the system is tested the first Friday of every month and it’s been more than three months now since tests have been conducted.)

Samana responded that the siren system was working when he left the department last year but it’s currently not working and apologized to the committee.

He explained that the reason for the system not operating, is that there is an off island contractor with ASDHS that travels here to conduct maintenance of the system. However he said that with the suspension of flights (closing of border) — due to COVID-19 restrictions in American Samoa — the contractor’s team has been unable to travel here to conduct an “assessment” to get the siren system back on.

He also informed senators that the siren system is expensive and American Samoa pays fees for the use of the satellite for the system. Furthermore, ASDHS’s plan is to look for a less expensive siren system.

He said that there are times when the sirens are not working because “we don’t pay our bill” for the satellite.

According to the director-nominee ASDHS has a plan in the event of a disaster that involves village majors, police, American Samoa Telecommunications Authority, Bluesky Communications and first responders. He didn’t elaborate further on how this plan operates.

Samana hopes that when air service resumes to and from Pago Pago, the off island assessment team will travel here to conduct an assessment of the siren system.

He told Samoa News after the hearing that some of the sirens located next to the ocean are corroding and need repair or replacement.

Sen. Fonoti Tafa’ifa Aufata asked the nominee why he left the ASDHS directorship post last year. Samana responded that he looked at things that occurred then and believes that the law was not followed and he submitted his resignation to then-Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga.

He said an incident with an employee was his reason for leaving the post. Samana said someone else made the final decision to fire an ASDHS employee and that would have been fine if “procedures” were followed.

As previously reported by Samoa News, Samana handed in his resignation on Apr. 21, 2019 and days later it was accepted by Lolo, who when appointed a new boss for the department with no explanation behind the resignation.

Two ASG officials later said that the resignation involved a decision made by the Human Resources director without consulting Samana over an employee, who allegedly used an ASDHS computer for campaign work.

During the confirmation hearing, some senators informed Samana that the campaign is done and over with and it’s time to serve the people and the government. Additionally, he was reminded to treat all employees equally.

Senators praised Samana’s service in ASG, the military as well as in his village and family.

In his nomination letter to the Fono, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga said Samana has “years of experience dealing with emergency management” including serving as director for ASDHS.