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House Health committee hearing illustrates how rumors get started

Fetu Fetui Jr
You take a chance when you get your news from social media comments
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Vice Speaker of the House Fetu Fetui Jr called the idea that people from Manu’a have to register with the TALOFAPASS system in order to fly to Manu’a “stupid and terrible”.

He also called the Department of Health director, Motusa Tuileama Nua “disrespectful” for not answering his phone when he (Fetu) called him about this issue.

“I’m very disappointed about this issue and I want to know whose idea it was to make my people register through the TALOFAPASS before traveling to Manu’a.”

This was the statement by Fetu during a House Health committee hearing last week with members of the Task Force, who were called to testify on the TALOFAPASS and also to explain why residents of Manu’a are required to register for a flight to Manu’a.

Appearing before the House committee was the Department of Health director, Motusa Tuileama Nua, the director of the local Medicaid office, Sandra King Young and Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao, acting director of DoH Clinical Services. All three are members of the COVID Task Force.

During the hearing, which was chaired by the committee vice chairman, Rep. Logoituau Mark Atafua, Fetu told members of the Task Force that he had received a lot of complaints from Manu’a over this issue.

In response, King Young explained that the Task Force is not requiring people from Manu’a to register with TALOFAPASS in order to fly to Manu’a — the  idea was only discussed by the Task Force.

This happened when the numbers of positive cases continued to climb every day and the Task Force chair, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale approached her and asked for her thoughts about registering Manu’a people on the TALOFAPASS in an effort to make sure the virus does not get to Manu’a.

“The whole idea is the Task Force wants to protect Manu’a and to make sure the virus will not get to Manu’a; however, if a case goes there, what do we think about letting people in Manu’a register so that we can track the positive cases and that was the whole idea,” King Young stated.

She further explained that the Task Force decided that they’re not going to do it at this time, instead, it was deferred to the DoH to come up with a plan to protect Manu’a.

King Young apologized to Fetu and the people of Manu’a if they received the wrong information.

However, Fetu still wasn’t satisfied. He said he contacted the office of Samoa Airways and a woman who answered the phone confirmed to him that it was a person from the Governor’s office who called and cancelled the flight to Manu’a that week.

Fetu said there were two flights scheduled for Manu’a last week. It was for Monday and Friday and residents of Manu’a who have been stuck here in Tutuila since the lockdown in Feb. 22 were all excited that they were going home. However, it didn’t happen.

“Why are you doing this to my people? I’m so upset,” Fetu said while raising his voice.

“This is not the first time this government has treated my people like this. My people are dear to my heart and they voted for me and my other colleagues to come here and fight for them,” Fetu said in a loud voice.

He then turned to the DoH director and voiced his disappointment again over the cell phone incident, where he pressed his answer button, but continued speaking with someone else and not talking to the faipule.

“Its up to you how to answer your cell phone, but when you do that to us, I call it disrespectful,” Fetu said, slamming his hand on to the desk.

Motusa humbly apologized to Fetu and the committee about the situation. He pointed out that he’s also from Manu’a and he has a lot of respect for faipule from Manu’a.

According to the DoH director, he and his medical team are working very hard to make sure the virus does not get to Manu’a.

“Manu’a is our home and we’re all proud of Manu’a. I’m not trying to put the lives of our people from Manu’a at risk. My priority is not only to stop the community spread of the virus here in Tutuila and Aunu’u, but to make sure Manu’a is COVID free,” Motusa said.

He assured the committee especially the Manu’a faipule that when it comes to sensitive issues like this, they must communicate so that they get the accurate information. He said people nowdays are so quick to spread rumors and attack other people’s characters.

Fetu in turn apologized to Motusa and King Young for his strong voice and his actions. He said he, too, also loves the people of Manu’a very dearly and when something comes up that risks the lives of his people, his duty is to stand up for his people and fight for their good.

During Monday’s virtual news conference updating COVID developments, Talauega, who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR), announced that commercial flights to Manu’a are now on lockdown and only critical services to Manu’a are allowed at this time. Read story elsewhere in this issue.