Gov's COS concerned about inappropriate access to ASG resources

Pago Pago - AMERICAN SAMOA

The Governor’s Chief of Staff Leonard Seumanutafa has issued a general memorandum to the heads of government departments, agencies, offices and Authorities emphasizing that “your time and the information controlled by your departments. agencies, and offices within ASG are valuable and important,” and as such voiced his concern that persons that do not work for the government are gaining inappropriate access due to their “connections or titles”.

The memorandum, dated May 28, 2025, and signed by COS Seumanutafa, noted “that individuals with no formal position within ASG may not be respecting appropriate boundaries and may be misrepresenting their connection to the government, which has led to confusion and the inappropriate use of our resources. 

“Consultants, volunteers, unofficial interns, relatives, and others who do not have an official relationship with your department are to be treated with the same respect and access afforded to any member of the public. 

“However, individuals without a contractual or legally binding relationship with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Office of the Governor, or ASG must have their access limited in accordance with the laws of American Samoa, for the safety and privacy of everyone involved.” 

His memo goes on to explain that “certain individuals have been bypassing leadership and making direct requests of front-line employees.” 

Seumanutafa does not specifically identify who these “certain” people are, but notes that while “it can be difficult for employees to establish appropriate boundaries with people who have connections or titles,” it is essential for all staff “to feel empowered to respectfully request approval from a supervisor when appropriate, prior to taking requested action or disclosing sensitive information.” 

COS Seumanutafa continued that “if you are ever in doubt about the status of someone requesting information or access, please contact me to confirm the person's role with ASG.”

In addition, “if you have questions about what information is appropriate to share, please consult the relevant laws and code, or reach out to the Department of Legal Affairs for additional guidance,” he states.

He concludes, “Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.”