Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Faipule Faimealelei Anthony Allen brought up an issue concerning private schools in American Samoa during the House session, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.
He communicated that the U.S. Department of Education funding that has paid salaries of private school teachers is being discontinued.
The Aua faipule, who also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Marist St. Francis Catholic School in Lepua, said “This will greatly affect private schools who depend on this vital assistance,” and queried why after all these years the funding will be discontinued and asked that the local DOE provide an explanation.
All teachers who are paid by the American Samoa Department Of Education through the Consolidated Grant, go through the ASG/ DOE employment process. before ASDOE hires them. However, teachers at private schools do not and they are there to address remediation, and work as aides to teachers within core subjects, like Math, English and the Arts.
MANU’A ASG WORKERS NOT TREATED EQUALLY
House Vice Speaker Faipule Fetui Fetu, Jr. has called out the American Samoa Government departments that are not giving equal treatment to employees in Manu'a that come to Tutuila for work purposes.
“When ASG employees on Tutuila travel to Manu’a, they receive their per diems and their airfares are paid for.”
According to Fetu, several ASG employees in Manu’a have reported to him that their departments expect them to pay their airfares and accommodation when they come to Tutuila and then be reimbursed later.
“This is not fair to the employees who work in Manu’a, by right, they should be treated the same way as employees on Tutuila are treated when they travel to Manu’a for work.
“Their departments should hand them a plane ticket and per diem before they leave Manu’a,” said the Vice Speaker.
In addition, Fetu said some employees ask for his help because they don’t have money when they are here for work purposes, and that this happens a lot with the Department of Public Works and the Department of Education.
CONCERN OVER AS-DHS REPORT OF KITE RUNNER — WRONG NAMES
On their fifteenth day of House business on Friday, questions were raised about the investigation report by the local Department of Homeland Security (AS-DHS) concerning the vessel Kite Runner’s cross-border trip to Samoa in April, this year.
The vessel is owned by local businessman, Papali’i Laulii Alofa and caused a stir in Samoa when it was briefly detained for not having the proper clearance paperwork for entry and then released, allegedly due to ‘connections’ and not corrected paperwork.
The Samoa Observer newspaper reported last week that it was able to obtain a copy of the ASDHS report that recommends “two ASG employees who signed after the fact clearances for the vessel be charged.
“It also recommends that the individual who requested the late clearance for the vessel be prosecuted.”
During the House session last Friday, Faipule Tapai Alailepule Ben Vaivao, a former Customs agent, stated that names mentioned in the ASDHS report — of individuals who signed the clearance documents — are not correct.
“The individuals named [in the report] are not the actual people who signed the documents … and that the naming of these individuals has attracted accusations about stealing and forgery which has tarnished their reputation,” said Tapai.
He did not give any names but asked the House that those responsible for the report be called in to be questioned.
According to the Samoa Observer, the 45-page report authored by the ASDHS contains interviews with multiple officials in the territory, including the captain and crew member of the Kite Runner.
HOUSE CONFIRMS SAVE AS DIRECTOR OF ASSRA
Save Liuato Afa Tuitele was confirmed by the House to serve as the Director of the American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency last Friday, in an unanimous vote of 12-0.
This follows Save’s unanimous Senate confirmation vote of 14-0, on Wednesday.
Save Liuato Afa Tuitele received unanimous votes in both chambers confirming him as the Director of ASSRA. His family gathered during both confirmation hearings in support of his appointment. [photo: AT]
FINAL READING OF APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR LAWSUITS APPROVED
The House approved in final reading on Friday, an appropriations bill totaling $278,000 to pay out of court settlements for lawsuits against the government.
The vote was 11-1 with Rep Titialii Kitara Vaiau casting the one dissenting vote.
They are as follows: $100,000 in the case of Simeonica Tuiteleleapaga and Department of Labor vs. ASG and Department of Human and Social Services; $90,000 in the case of Mona and Nicholas King vs. ASG; $20,000 in the case of Howard Dunham vs. ASG; and, $17,000 each for fishing boat owners Lolesio Smith, Maatulimanu Maea, Simi Paepae and Togotogo Sotoa vs. ASG.
Treasurer Malemo Tausaga testified that funding for the settlements will come from the surplus of Fiscal Year 2021, the bill itself, as submitted by the administration, identifies the funding source as unexpended and unobligated revenues for Fiscal Year 2023.
OTHER BUSINESS
The House approved in final reading, a bill making American Samoa a ratifying member of the Western Regional Higher Education Compact and a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
One of the benefits of this membership is that students from American Samoa would not have to pay out-of-state tuition rates when attending colleges and universities in member institutions of higher learning.
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