Gov appoints leaders for the two new agencies created by Executive Order

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through separate memorandums, issued this week, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga appointed Leone Faiai as the acting Warden of the American Samoa Corrections Agency and F. Upuese Galoia, as acting director of the American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency.

The appointments came days after the governor established the two new independent agencies of ASG, through separate executive orders, which take effect on July 1 this year but preparations for the establishment of the agencies begin immediately.

And the executive orders remain in effect until the two new agencies are established by legislation — which will be submitted to the Fono for approval.

According to the orders, the Search and Rescue Agency is “responsible for providing search, rescue, fire protection, marine patrol and emergency medical services” while the Corrections Agency is responsible for the safety and security of persons who are lawfully detained or committed to its care.

The move to establish an independent Corrections Agency has been applauded by some lawmakers, who said that this is a “excellent” move by the governor, especially with the Territorial Correctional Facility — which has faced many problems in the past — and the Juvenile Detention Center to be separated from Department of Public Safety.

The lawmakers, who spoke briefly with Samoa News who sought their reactions, said that they look forward to getting more specific details in the proposed legislation for the Corrections Agency when the Fono returns next month for the 4th Regular Session.

At this point, the lawmakers Samoa News contacted didn’t have any comments on the Search and Rescue Agency, but some members of the community hope for improvements in service under the proposed change — especially from the fire bureau, which is currently overseen by DPS.

See Samoa News edition, June 17 for details on the Corrections Agency and yesterday’s edition for the Search and Rescue Agency.