Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At Thursday’s Senate session, the issue of the new Fono building was raised by Sen. Utu Sila Poasa, who noted that the Senate Government Operations Committee, chaired by Sen. Togiola T.A. Tulafono had recently sent a request for information to Department of Public Works regarding this project.  And he asked if there has been any reply so far.

Togiola replied that there hasn’t been any official written response yet, but perhaps official correspondence will be received by next week — once DPW’s director is officially confirmed by the Fono, as that would come from the confirmed director.

(Samoa News points out that as of Thursday, both the Senate and House have already confirmed Faleosina Voigt as DPW director.)

Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean informed senators that he along with House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale met Wednesday with the governor, who agreed with the Fono’s request to also start construction of offices for lawmakers at the current site of the project.

He said the goal is to officially open the Fono building along with offices of lawmakers at the same time.

According to the Tuaolo, both the Senate and House are meeting this coming week on Monday for the FY 2021 budget hearing and suggested to use this time to also identify possible funding for these offices.