Faipule pushes back over Retirement Board confirmations

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Vaifanua Representative Lavea Fatulegaee Palepoi Mauga believes that the governor’s chief of staff should not serve as a member of the Retirement Fund Board of Trustees. This was Lavea’s statement during the House Retirement Committee discussion last week before the committee taking up the Tuimavave Tauapa’i Laupola confirmation as a member of the American Samoa Retirement Fund Board of Trustees.

The committee took over ten minutes to discuss Lavea’s statement without the witness’s being present. The hearing was chaired by Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi.

Before Tuimavave was called before the committee to testify, a motion was raised and seconded by members of the committee to allow only Tuimavave to testify while the other two nominees would have their hearings on another date once they return from off island. They were Treasurer Malemo Tausaga and Lisa Peau.

Lavea disagreed to the motion. He asked to cancel Tuimavave’s hearing also because from his understanding, a person holding the position of chief of staff in the Governor’s Office should not be nominated as a member of the Retirement Board of Trustees.

He further stated that none of the chiefs of staff from previous Administrations have been appointed to the Retirement Board of Trustees.

Rep. Vailoata E. Amituana’i quickly interrupted while Lavea spoke and requested the committee chair to respectfully ask the faipule to withdraw his statement. Vailoata pointed out that the governor has the discretion to appoint whomever he feels is suitable for the post.

He said that all past Administrations had different policies and for the current Administration, it’s Gov. Lemanu who makes the call.

Lavea was not satisfied with Vailoata’s statement and told the committee chair that he maintains his statement and moved to cancel the hearing. He said that he doesn’t want the chief of staff to take on other responsibilities while leaving behind his duties as the “Man of the whole Administration operation”.

Chair Vailiuama said that during Gov. Coleman’s terms, the chief of staff at that time also served as a member of the Retirement Fund Board of Trustees. Also during Gov. Lutali’s term in office, chief of staff at the time, the late Galea’i Moaliitele Tuufuli also served as a member of the Retirement Fund Board of Trustees.

Other committee members supported the motion to let the hearing start and call in the witness to testify.

During the hearing, which lasted only five minutes, Vailoata moved to excuse the witness and let the committee deal with the vote. The motion was seconded and supported by committee members and Tuimavave was excused from the chamber.

During the House Session, faipule confirmed both Tuimavave and Malemo as new members of the Retirement Funds Board of Trustees. The vote was 11-0 for each of the two new members.

Malemo was confirmed even though he off island; while, the House held off a vote on nominee Peau until she returns from off island.