Senate: Allegations against several ASG directors need to be addressed
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It was business as usual in the Senate Chamber Tuesday morning, the first working day of the Third Regular Session of the 38th Legislature and many issues and concerns were brought to the fore by Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean who said had been raised by members of the public.
They include allegations that several government directors own businesses that are providing contractual services for the government, the current status of the $4 million that was transferred to the Wells Fargo bank, why there is no more VIP Lounge and restaurant at the airport, what is the latest development on the Kite Runner ‘pleasure craft’ saga and unresolved drugs cases.
Tuaolo stated that there is a lot of discontent among members of the public who brought these issues to his attention and they demand explanations and investigations to prove if they are
If proven true, will the offenders be reprimanded or punished or will the issues be swept under the rug like many instances in the past.
The Senate president stated that if the allegations are true, then the governor should be notified and these directors should be subpoenaed to testify before the SSIC.
"They should decide whether they want to operate private businesses or be members of Cabinet but they can't be both because there is a conflict of interest," he stated.
He pointed out that these issues need to be investigated by the Senate Select Investigative Committee (SSIC) but he noticed that there has been no report on the SSIC's investigations from last year
Tuaolo expressed his disappointment that SSIC Chairman Senator Togiola Tulafono, who had been present in the Senate Lounge yesterday morning, but did not attend the Senate Session.
One of the issues that was investigated by the SSIC last year was the Kite Runner's return trip to Samoa without proper authorization where several government employees were implicated. It was splashed on media outlets in the Territory and Samoa and also on social media with headlines like, "Kite Runner, an embarrassment for ASG."
Towards the end of last year when the SSIC subpoenaed the government employees who allegedly allowed the boat to leave the Territory without proper authorization, the Samoa News and other media reporters were barred from sitting in on the hearings.
Tuaolo said that many people who have been following the story are asking questions on the latest developments and if any of those implicated will be punished accordingly for the blatant abuse of power as government employees. He said that the same people are asking about the drugs that someone tried to smuggle into the Territory.
Senator Soliai Tuipine said perhaps the SSIC chairman had his hands full with court cases and suggested that Senator Satele Lili'o be appointed vice chairman to lead when Togiola is not available.
However Tuaolo pointed out that Senator Magalei Logovi'i was the vice chairman.
Senator Magalei clarified that the vice chairman only takes over in the absence of the chairman but it was unfortunate that Togiola was not present at the session to ask. He said he would consult with the chairman and report back to the Senate.
Tuaolo asked him to remind Togiola that the world does not wait for him, that the globe is spinning and time is important.
President Tuaolo then asked Senator Utu Sila Poasa, Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee to find out the current status of the $4 million that was transferred to the Wells Fargo Bank and to ask for a bank statement to clarify where exactly the funds were.
Tuaolo also revealed that it was when he went to the airport to await guests who were attending the Fono's 75th Anniversary that he discovered that there was no more VIP Lounge and that the airport was without a main restaurant.
"Find out why and how this happened," he instructed. "The government is spending money on other projects and neglecting these important facilities that are needed not only by the public but also visitors who are waiting for their flights. If we fix these things, there will be no complaints."
He said that it was important for the Governor's Office Liaison with the Senate Laolagi Vaeao to hear these issues so he can inform the governor because most of the time, the governor is not aware of what his advisors are doing.
The Senate president stated that he wanted to make himself clear to the Governor's Office Senate Liaison that he is not against the governor. On the contrary he said, we are trying to help him because there things he does not know and secret agendas of some government employees.
Tuaolo then brought up the matter of Asian business people using vans with private licenses for commercial purposes and the government is losing money.
"I have notified police on more than occasion but they still haven't done anything about it," said a frustrated Tuaolo. "No Chinese would buy a van to use as a family vehicle. The reason why he buys a van and registers it as a private vehicle, so that he won't have to pay the 15% duty tax, then he uses it for commercial purposes."
He said that the police should be monitoring these vans and issuing fines to the offenders.
Senator Malaepule Saite Moliga said some of the issues that the president raised could be referred to the appropriate standing committees of the Senate who would discuss the issues with witnesses they subpoena.
He also expressed his reservations about the governor's State of the Territory Address at the Fono opening on Monday regarding the declining population of Swains Island and Manu'a.
The Manu'a senator said he didn’t want Manu'a to be used as an excuse for government spending and recommended that the Senate plan a visit to Manu'a so Senators can see for themselves what Manu'a's needs are.
The Senate reconvenes today and the first business of the day is the confirmation hearings for Aoelua Solomona Aoelua as Director of the Office of Public Information and the two members of the Board of Directors of the Territorial Bank of American Samoa, Leilua Stevenson and Ruth Matagi.