Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The call to action for a “peaceful protest” this morning in Utulei against the ASG’s TALOFAPASS websystem, followed many public complaints to lawmakers and on social media as well as the “financial hardships” people have encountered due to the system, which screens entry into the territory, says one of the protest organizers.

And two separate online petitions calling for the elimination and dismantling of TALOFAPASS, have garnered more signatures, as travelers and others continue to share complaints and concerns not only on social media but within in the community.

A “Protest the TALOFAPASS” graphic began making its rounds on social media the last few days, with the message, “Please join us in a peaceful protest & let our leaders know to eliminate TALOFAPASS”.

The poster, with a screen shot of TALOFAPASS website, and the “Thumbs down sign” embedded within it, shared two reasons for the protest:

• TALOFAPASS literally serves no purpose whatsoever and is a waste of resources and money; and

• Passengers unable to board flights home at the very last minute with no way to contact a customer service representative.

The protest — organized by Feo Lagafuaina of Nuuuli and Tanya Ma’o-Aab of Aoloau — is set for 6a.m. to 9a.m today, Aug. 18 along the main road, next to the Fale Samoa at the Suigaula o le Atuvasa in Utulei.

“Many of our people have been complaining about this TALOFAPASS. People have called their faipules and senators to voice their complaints. People have continuously posted their complaints on Facebook,” said Lagafuaina responding yesterday to Samoa News inquiries as to what prompted the protest call.

“Our people have been bumped off the flights last minute because of Talofa Pass. This has caused financial hardship and emotional distress on our people,” she said, adding that she and Ma’o-Aab are “two concerned mothers and citizens.”

Lagafuaina said “Talofa Pass was put in place so that the government can track and have access to our medical information — COVID-19 vaccine status/ testing — which is none of their business or anyone else’s business… PERIOD! Our medical information should be private and remain private between the doctor and their patient.”

She cited some of the new COVID-19 guidelines issued by U.S Centers for Disease Control of Prevention (CDC):

• Those exposed to the virus are no longer required to quarantine.

• Unvaccinated people now have the same guidance as vaccinated people. 

• It is no longer recommended to screen those without symptoms. 

The CDC announced Aug. 11 that the federal agency is streamlining its COVID-19 guidance to help people better understand their risk, how to protect themselves and others, what actions to take if exposed to COVID-19, and what actions to take if they are sick or test positive for the virus.

“COVID-19 continues to circulate globally, however, with so many tools available to us for reducing COVID-19 severity, there is significantly less risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death compared to earlier in the pandemic,” said CDC in a national statement (see www.cdc.gov for details).

Lagafuaina told Samoa News that, “with some of these latest guidelines by CDC, what purpose does TALOFAPASS truly serve? I heard this TALOFAPASS cost about $6 million to $7 million — that’s a lot of money for a failed system.”

(Samoa News notes that government documents shows the TALOFAPASS cost nearing $8 million — according to the performance report issued by the ASG Oversight Office for American Rescue Plan as of July 30.)

“Look, let’s call it what it really is: a failed system and a total waste of money and resources,” Lagafuaina declared. “That money should’ve been used to properly staff our hospital with U.S certified doctors and specialists, properly equip our hospital and properly pay our heroes working long hours and being underpaid.”

Asked what the organizers hope to achieve from the protest, she responded that “our hope” is that Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, the COVID-19 Task Force, Health Department and every single person that is involved in making this decision hear from “We The People” and that they please make the decision to put an end to TALOFAPASS.”

For more information on the protest contact Feo Lagafuaina at 256-2596 or Tanya Ma’o-Aab at 770-9851 — and this is public information printed on the “Protest the TALOFAPASS” poster shared on social media.

While protests against TALOFAPASS materialized on island today, the two online petitions to “Eliminate TALOFAPASS” and “DISMANTLE the TALOFAPASS” have garnered more signatures from people in the territory and off-island. (See Samoa News edition online Aug. 16, 2022 for details.)

Many comments posted on both petitions claim that the TALOFAPASS system has failed, is a waste of government resources and causes more frustrations to travelers as well as their families.

“This is a waste of time! The stress of having everything just to go and get declined because something is wrong with Talofa pass!” was a remark by one commenter, a statement that continues to be echoed by others.

Despite the planned protest as well as online petitions and complaints, the government appears firm on keeping TALOFAPASS in place and Samoa News had received emails and comments from some who support keeping TALOFAPASS in place.

Responding to a media question, during a news conference in June, task force chairman Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR), said there’s continued good use for the TALOFAPASS, noting — for example — that if there is a new virus outbreak and vaccinations are required — this system is needed to monitor this process for travelers to the territory.

Also, there is still the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for travelers — 5 years and older — and that information is uploaded to TALOFAPASS, which also “tracks” illnesses of travelers entering the territory, and handles requests for transport of human remains, said Talauega, noting that these are just a few quick reasons — but there are a lot more reasons behind the usefulness of TALOFAPASS.