Faipule air gripes with progress on govt projects in their districts

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On the third day of business for the House of Representatives, two new House Resolutions were introduced for the first reading, which was the confirmation of Falenaoti Loi-On Fruean and Terry Van Eaton as members of the Board of Directors of the American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA) and a Senate Concurrent Resolution relaying condolences to the family of former Senator Gaea Perefoti Failautusi.

After passing the motion for the first reading of both resolutions, the Faipule discussed unfinished business still plaguing the territory.

For example, Faipule Larry Sanitoa of the Tualauta district addressed the dilapidated conditions of the roads in Malaeimi near ASCC leading up to Faleniu and Pava’ia’i, although Sanitoa acknowledged the work that has begun there.

Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase of Tualatai district addressed the multiple escapes by inmate Joeita Fa’aliga and how much of a threat that it poses to the community, while also citing that the Department of Public Safety and the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) should work more closely to prevent prisoners from slipping through the cracks at TCF. Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui Jr. then recommended bringing in the warden and the Attorney General to discuss the problems at the TCF.

Manuma Wayne C. Wilson of the Ituau district brought up the lack of progress by Public Works (DPW) on the painting of crosswalks and boundary lines throughout the island, especially the crosswalk in front of Laufou shopping center and CBT, where a majority of the traffic flows. Manuma also pointed out that with schools resuming soon, the DPW should have been getting a head start on this after 4 years of constantly urging them to renew the cross walks and boundary lines.

Faipule Fiu John Saelua of the Fofo district backed Faipule Wilson’s concerns and added onto Wilson’s sentiments by bringing up the company currently painting boundary lines in his district — it would seem they have only painted half of a quarter mile, which has taken a long time and also recommended that the current company be replaced with a new one if current one is not up to par, given their current progress on the road.

Faipule Tapai Alaipule Benjamin Vaivao of Maoputasi 4 addressed the progress of the seawall from Aunu’u to Leloaloa, or lack thereof, and how it is causing a safety hazard for everyone using these roads, especially his constituents.

Luaitaua Gene Pan concluded the discussion of unfinished business in the House by requesting a hearing for ASPA to question them on several tasks completed around the island, mainly the newly installed streetlights in his district that are no longer operating and the status of the tree trimming project due to trees becoming entangled with power lines on his side of the island.

The conclusion of their business day also included planning a calendar for the upcoming weeks with the House aiming to start their business day at 8 a.m.