Governor continues to support ASG workers participating in Flag Day sports & wellness activities

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through a Mar. 03 memorandum, Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga has continued the government policy authorizing two-hours of paid time off for ASG employees participating in Flag Day league sports, if the games are held during the employees work hours.

The governor first initiated this policy last year for Flag Day league sports but all such events and other gatherings were canceled — including Flag Day celebrations — following the community spread of COVID-19 in late February 2022.

Early last month, Human Resources Department re-posted on its Facebook page the governor’s memo from last year, allowing the two-hours paid time off for Flag Day sports saying that it remains valid unless it’s repealed by the governor.

The governor was recently off-island for more than a month and has just returned to the territory.

Flag Day league sports — such as the annual cricket tournament, for both men and women’s divisions — is organized by the Office of Samoan Affairs, which also oversees the Flag Day Fautasi Race.

“To promote healthy living and wellness activities in our Territory,” the governor announced in his Mar. 03 memorandum that he is authorizing ASG employees participating in Flag Day sports sponsored by Samoan Affairs to be allowed two hours of paid time if the games are scheduled during the employees’ shift.

According to the governor’s memo, addressed to cabinet members, all employees planning to take advantage of this opportunity should make arrangements with their immediate supervisor as soon as possible. And team rosters will be verified through the Office of Samoan Affairs.

All other ASG employees, according to the governor, “are highly encouraged to continue with the ASG Wellness Hour” initiative that was implemented through a memo two years ago.

In that memo, issued in January 2021 — days after the Lemanu-Talauega Administration took office — the governor announced the initiative, saying that a “healthy workforce is a productive workforce.”

The governor also authorized all ASG employees to implement a “Wellness Hour” every Tuesday and Thursday. Cabinet members were to develop an in-house schedule to avoid disruption of government services.

In the Governor’s State of the Territory Comprehensive Report — distributed to lawmakers in January this year — the Department and Youth and Women’s Affairs (DYWA) reported that its “Health & Wellness” programs have tremendously improved with the rising number of participants.

DYWA has drawn the community in with the different ongoing sports that are taking place at both facilities in Pago Pago and Tafuna. Extended office hours have allowed working individuals time to commit to their professional goals and still be able to gain the opportunity to improve their healthy lifestyle.

Ongoing DYWA wellness programs include the following: Mental Health Partnership Summit, Governor’s Initiative, Taebo Defense, Ola Malosi, Power Up, Weight Training, Boxing Class, Youth Athletic Development Program, Amanaki Fo’ou Diabetes Prevention Program, Open Gym: Pickleball, Badminton, Volleyball, and Basketball, according to the report.