Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Vice Speaker of the House, Fetu Fetui Jr told his fellow faipule to refrain from asking so many questions of the governor’s appointees appearing in the House Chamber for their confirmation hearings because it affects the outcome of the vote.

He said that discussing other issues that do not relate to the nominee’s confirmation also changes the purpose of the whole hearing. He did not elaborate on what he called “other issues” when he made his remarks during last week’s House Session.

Fetu said that he’s not trying to instruct committee chair or faipule how to conduct their job; however, he believes that this is a good time for him to advise faipule on this issue.

He said that if the appointees were selected by the Governor and Lt. Governor based on their credentials, experience and their service with the government, their job is to approve them all.

“Lets make our work much easier by giving them our support and confirm them,” Fetu said, adding that, “Asking too many questions to each governor’s appointee during confirmation hearings will cause other faipule to change their vote.”

Fetu continued, “All of these government appointees are good leaders who are more than qualified and have the experience to lead our government.”

The House vice speaker said that he doesn’t want a repeat of what happened last week to one of the government appointees. He did not elaborate more on his comment.

The faipule from Vaifauatele, Lavea Fatuleagae’e P. Mauga echoed Fetu’s statement and questioned the reason why the confirmation hearing for the Acting Director of the Department of Human Resource (DHR) has not being scheduled.

Lavea said that the resolution for the appointment of the DHR acting director arrived in the House chamber two weeks ago but no confirmation has been scheduled. However, the resolution for the appointment of the acting director for the Office of Protection and Advocacy for the Disable (OPAD) was just introduced and his confirmation hearing is now scheduled for next week by the House Government Operation Committee, chaired by Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e Allen.

Lavea was referring to the acting director of DHR, Lynn Pulou Alaimalo, who was approved by the Senate last month with a vote of 12-6.

Several faipule told Samoa News that the delay on the DHR director confirmation hearing is based on the many complaints of harassment and intimidation against other employees in that department.

A letter circulated in the Fono before Pulou-Alaimalo appeared before the Senate for her confirmation hearing two weeks ago. The letter was anonymous and the group writing only identified themselves by signing it “ASG Career Service affected by the current administration’s political move.”

In the letter, addressed to Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga and copied to Lt. Gov. Talauega Elasalo Ale, Administrative Law Judge Marie Alailima, Senate President Tuaolo M. Fruean, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, senators and faipule, alleged that several employees at the Dept. Human Resources were recently reassigned without following procedures and that the affected employees were not given any explanation.

BACKGROUND

It was Fetu who raised the issue of mistreatment of employees in the House chamber two weeks ago after the same complaints reached his office.

He told the House chamber that it’s his observation that the new leaders of departments and agencies have taken the wrong approach. Fetu said they should have called a meeting, started with a prayer and then informed employees instead of rushing in with their personal changes.

Fetu said the complaints are not from just one department but from several. He advised those affected to be patient and to leave their concerns with the Fono.

Rep. Faimealelei said he has received the same complaints. He, too, has counseled those concerned to exercise patience and has also assured them that their House faipule will address their concerns. He advised the new key appointed directors to proceed slowly and with caution and to not rush their changes.

Also two weeks ago, the Director of Public Works, Faleosina Voigt was rejected by the House by a vote of 9-7 after her confirmation hearing before the House Public Works Committee, but later she was approved by an unanimous vote of 16-0.

Several faipule said during the confirmation hearing that there were questions about some of the projects for their districts including seawall, roads bridges but nothing had been done by Voigt in the last four years.

Before the House session, House members met in the the conference room with House Speaker Savali Talavou. Samoa News understands that the main issue discussed during the meeting was the issue regarding the reconsideration vote for Voigt. There was no further discussion before faipule cast their votes by secret ballot where Voigt was then unanimously approved.

Faipule have also brought up the House rule for “reconsideration”, saying it is suppose to only apply to bills/ legislation, not for confirmation hearings. To date, there has been no further discussion of the issue.