CPO and DOA directors confirmed in Senate

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During its session yesterday, the Senate confirm two more cabinet nominees — both of whom will be going through their confirmation process in the House of Representatives in the coming days.

In a unanimous 18-0 vote, senators confirmed Ti’alemasunu Dr. Mikaele Etuale as chief procurement officer, who is also in charge of the Office of Procurement while Solialealofiotagaloa Iosua Tasi Mutini as director of the Agriculture Department was endorsed in a 16-2 vote.

Both appeared earlier yesterday in separate confirmation hearings.

CHIEF  PROCUREMENT OFFICER

In his nomination letter to Fono leaders, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga said that Ti’alemasunu has years of experience in administration in the public sector including acting as vice president of Administration and Finance at the American Samoa Community College.

Sen. Satele Galu Satele said that in the past — years ago — it’s the Procurement Office which orders and stock supplies at their warehouse for all government agencies. And anytime, departments needed supplies, they ordered them directly to Procurement Office.

But the policy has changed Satele said and now ASG agencies are ordering supplies directly from the private sector and the main purpose for the government in doing this is to help the private sector.

If confirmed to the post, Satele recommended that Ti’alemasunu revisit this policy and return all ordering of supplies back to the Procurement Office — which has this responsibility.

The nominee was also reminded to be fair in carrying out his work and duties as well as being good to the workforce.

Ti’alemasunu is an educator, who started in 1983 in classroom teaching, has been with the Governor’s Office for seven years during the Lolo Administration and has served the government for 38-years. Among his colleges degrees, is Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership for Change in 2016 from Fielding Graduate School.

Sen. Magalei Logovi’i asked if the nominee brought in his own deputy director to which Ti’alemasunu responded that the agency already has a deputy director who remains in that post.

AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR

In his nomination letter to Fono leaders, Lemanu said Solialealofiotagaloa has years of leadership experience in the military and agriculture. Additionally, he holds a bachelor degree in Agriculture Chemistry.

The nominee was asked by Sen. Fonoti Tafa’ifa Aufata if there is enough medication for the Veterinarian Clinic, to which he said there is no budget allocation for the clinic to purchase medication and the department is depending on donations from off-island physicians.

Fonoti also asked as to how many veterinarian doctors are working at DoA, to which the nominee responded that there is one for livestock such as pigs and cattle. (Samoa News understands that some senators plan to request a future hearing for an update on the Veterinarian clinic.)

Another issue raised during the hearing was stray dogs roaming the main malae at Vailoatai, and Solialealofiotagaloa noted that ASG had a Stray Dog Task Force in the past and will look at restarting the task force work in the near future.

This task force includes DoA and other ASG departments.

In his opening remarks at the start of the hearing, Solialealofiotagaloa shared with the committee data from the department such as budget and number of employees in FY 2020 and FY 2021; number of farmers and those selling at the market.

Sen. Magalei Logovi’i interjected telling the nominee such data through a DoA report can be saved for another time or provided copies to the Senate upon full confirmation by the Fono. But to save time for the committee and the nominee to move forward with questions.

Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said the Senate already has this data report, which is through the government’s quarterly performance report send to the Fono.

Prior to his appointment to the DoA, Solialealofiotagaloa served for 8 years at the Governor’s Office during the Lolo Administration.