Fono Briefs

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Last week Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the House Public Works committee, headed by faipule Ape Mike Asifoa, held a hearing with the Department of Public Works to receive an update on issues concerning American Samoa’s roads.

Called as witnesses were DPW Director Faleosina Voigt and DPW Deputy Director Faalavai Ta’ase.

Vaifanua faipule Shawn Onosa’i Va’a started off the hearing when he asked Faleosina for updates regarding trimming the trees on the roads from Afono to Vatia, which presented an obstacle for the school buses transporting students.

ASPA Chief Executive Officer Wallon Young “communicated that they did not have enough bucket trucks to carry out the tree trimming project, so we’re reaching out to ASTCA and other private companies with bucket trucks to assist with the tree trimming since ASPA is not able to accommodate this project,” said Director Faleosina.

Luaitaua Gene Pan of the Su’a #1 district added on by asking Director Faleosina about construction work being done on the highway. He specifically brought up reports that there was damage sustained from these construction projects, and wanted to know what was being done about the post construction damages.

“Any work that these private companies conduct on behalf of the American Samoa government, whether it's locally or federally funded, these companies are responsible for any inflicted damages during their projects,” said Director Faleosina.

Faleosina added that “whatever was damaged during these construction projects, the private companies carrying out this work are responsible for repairing those damages as well.”

Fa’auifono Vaitautolu of the Manu’a district participated when she asked Director Faleosina who was overseeing all the contract companies employed in carrying out road construction projects.

Director Faleosina replied that it was the DPW, and added that “after a project, the contact companies would bring their invoice in, and someone from their office that is assigned in Manu’a, would have to sign off on it therefore letting them know that the project was complete.”

Faipule Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava of the Su’a #2 district chimed in as well, reminding Director Faleosina on the project upcoming on a road in Masausi, specifically the road starting from the bus stop leading to the church in Masausi. Avagafono then suggested that the work for this specific road should be a priority since the budget that was recently passed was allocated for the improvement of the roads of American Samoa.

Vailoata Eteuati Amituana’i chimed in and asked DPW director Faleosina if they had any plans on bringing back the tramway in Utulei.

Deputy Director Ta’ase interjected saying “that the DPW does have plans for the tramway such as maintenance of the land where the tramway was and cleaning up the road to address the flash floods that affect the area and residents living there.”

Faipule Vailoata then asked who was “responsible for the [tramway] cable wires that are still in the tramway area.” Ta’ase said that “they had objections from the office of Historical Preservation but that they will determine whether the cables were of any historical value before continuing with the removal of those cables.”

OTHER HOUSE BUSINESS

The Fono has now wrapped up its second regular session and unless the Governor calls a special session this is their last session for the year.

The Senate Concurrent Resolution calling on the Attorney General to apply to the High Court to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate the spending of $36 million in surplus funds without Fono approval was introduced in the House on Friday morning October 6, 2023.

Speaker Savali Talavou Ale assigned the measure to the Chairman of the House Budget and Appropriations Committee Rep Vailoata Amituanai and the Legal Affairs/Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep Tapai Alailepule Tapai.

With the end of the 2nd regular session the resolution is pending and will be taken up when the Fono returns in January next year for the 3rd regular session of the 38th Legislature.