Corrected story on certain admin directors who were ‘no-shows’

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senator Satele Aliitasi Lili’o has called on Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean to cite the directors for Public Works and Commerce with “contempt” for neglecting the call to attend the hearings of the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

Satele expressed disappointment on the “no show” of directors that were subpoenaed to attend a hearing.

He urged the Senate to act — as the witnesses should be cited for contempt of the Senate for neglecting the call to attend the hearing.

The witnesses informed two weeks ago of the hearing were Director of Public Works Faleosina Voigt, and Director of Commerce Petti Matila not the Commissioner of Police and Paramount Chief Lefiti Aitulagi Pese and Attorney General Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima Utu, as reported earlier in the print edition of Samoa News.

 “With respect, we have the authority to hold them accountable and they should be held in contempt.

 “They were informed two weeks ago,” said Satele during Thursday’s session.

Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean acknowledged the concerns raised by Satele, but said it’s a matter to be discussed with Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga for an explanation.

 “It’s apparent the Government is going backwards and not forward, but we will leave this matter until the Legislature convenes in September and we will revisit this matter,” said Tuaolo.

Satele told Samoa News over the phone, the cancelled hearing “was to seek an update from the Public Works on the statuses of the sea walls, road work by the Department, among other issues. 

 “For Commerce, the Senate wanted to know the status of the funding from the Department on the flooded mitigating for the Fagaima road,” he said.

The call for a hearing follows the aftermath of the King tides earlier this month, leaving families residing in low coastal areas in a vulnerable position.

Senator Soliai Tuipine said the Governor had promised to “fix” the seawall in Nu’uuli yet nothing has been done over the years.

 “I’m told it’s this week (July 25-29), they will start on this project, but then I’m beginning to doubt the Governor’s broken promises,” said the Senator.

Regarding the roadwork across the Island, Senator Satele Aliitasi Lili’o has commended the Government for clearing the debris on the main highway to allow the public access on the road.

He said this was evident in his site assessment of villages that were badly damaged from the waves.

At the same time, it calls for more seawalsl as that is the only barrier that will limit the stretch of the waves to ensure last week’s king tides will not leave a similar aftermath in the future.

The Senator said some villages suffered water loss as a result but it was restored not long afterward.

According to the Senator, Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga conducted a site visit the day after the king tides and slipped as a result, but reports are that he was not injured.

Adding that the Governor’s visit is what expedited the cleanup across the island.

Senator Satele also warned the eastern side residents that roadwork in Aua is continuing and therefore they should drive with caution.

Senator Fa’aivae Iuli Godinet, said the events call for a better communication strategy by the relevant authorities.

 “There was a lack of communication to the public and the Department of Homeland Security should have a better system in place.

 “The waves didn’t start hitting the roadsides on Friday morning it started the day before and these type of announcements should have been aired the day before and on the day in question, yet the public were caught off guard when they were on the road and waves were coming onto the road,” said the Senator.

This story has been edited to reflect the accurate references made by the Senator. Samoa News regrets the inadvertent error and apologizes to Commissioner of Police and Paramount Chief Lefiti Aitulagi Pese and Attorney General Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima Utu as well as the Senator.