House holds hearing on two new ASG agencies

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The establishment of two new ASG agencies by Executive Order of the Governor does not sit well with some of the members of the House of Representatives.

A hearing was called by the House Government Operations committee under the leadership of Chair Faipule Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e Allen to discuss the two issues — the establishment of the American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency, responsible for providing search, rescue, fire protection, marine patrol and emergency services, and also the establishment of the Territorial Correctional and Juvenile Detention Agency.

Two witnesses were called to testify during last Thursday’s hearing. They were Tuimamave Tauapa’i Laupola, the Governor’s Chief of Staff and the acting director of the new search and rescue agency, Faamasino Upuese Galoia.

In opening, Faimealelei informed the two government witnesses that the committee has received a lot of questions and concern from members of the public and also employees from the various agencies affected wanting to know the reason behind the changes.

Faimealelei said there’s also a lot of questions on why the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is not part of the transition.

Faimealelei pointed out that police officers are the first responders in almost all of the cases happening in the community, and yet, they are not included in the changes initiated by the administration.

According to Faimealelei, the three areas that people are most concerned with are: 1) who has the authority to do these changes, 2) who are the main people in the new management, and, 3) how are the new agencies funded.

Faimealelei pointed out that once a person is appointed to a new position, “not everything automatically is under your control because these people don’t know you — who you are — and you need to do your part to get the trust and the confidence of these people.”

In response to the chair’s question, Tumamave explained that when the new administration came into office, this was one of the issues they were looking at — to separate these services out, which were under other government departments.

He said that it’s taken two years for the new administration to figure out the plan and how to establish these agencies.

Tuimamave said that before these two agencies were established, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasao Ale had a discussion with the LBJ CEO and the Police Commissioner.

The CEO and the Police Commissioner supported the idea and were willing to work together with the administration to make sure the transition would not only be smooth but also up and running.

Faamasino added that the mission for first responders has not changed because of this transition. Even the Fire, EMS and Marine Patrol, their missions still remain the same.

“It’s just the matter of who they get their orders from and for this new change, instead of getting their orders from DPS, [the orders] now come from the new agency,” Faamasino told the committee.

As far as DPS is concerned and why DPS is not part of this transition, Faamasino said that the governor’s intent is that DPS focus on their discipline, which is law enforcement. In many states, this is the way it’s set up. EMS has its own department, as does the Fire and the Marine Patrol.

Talking about the finance issue for EMS, Faamasino explained that they’re still in talks with the LBJ CEO and he’s very supportive of the idea and the transition. LBJ will continue to carry out the EMS payroll for the remainder of FY 2022.

Once the agency is fully established, the payroll will fall under the new agency and its new management at the start of the new fiscal year 2023, which is October 1, 2022.

Fofo Faipule Andra Tereise Samoa questioned the sudden transition. “What is the intent of changing? Was there an urgency or emergency? I consider this move a sudden transition because everyone including the Fono is in the dark about these changes by the administration,” Samoa said.

Tuimamave said there were no sudden changes. These changes were discussed in many talks over the last two years between the administration and leaders of each department and agency involved.

Vice Speaker of the House, Fetu Fetui Jr said each of the three branches of the government has their own responsibility and job to do.

As a former cop, Fetu said he supports the move to separate the TCF and Juvenile Detention Center from DPS.

(Read details of separation of TCF and Juvie Center in June 17 issue of Samoa News.)

Galoaia, who is the IT Manager for the Governor’s Office has been appointed Acting Director of the AS Search and Rescue Agency. He’s a US Army veteran and was the Command Post for the search for 22-year-old Niutea Jr. Laulu at Leala Beach in June.

In June of this year, Governor Lemanu issued an executive order, which established the American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency — an independent agency within the Executive Branch of the American Samoa Government.

It will be responsible for providing search, rescue, fire protection, marine patrol, and emergency medical services.

Governor Lemanu noted in the executive order that search, rescue, fire protection, marine patrol, and emergency medical services are specialized functions that are distinct from those typically associated with law enforcement.

He believes by establishing the stand alone agency responsible for these tasks, the safety of our community will be improved.

The American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency will combine the fire and marine patrol division, currently under the Department of Public Safety and the EMS, under the LBJ Hospital. All funds now assigned to those divisions, under DPS and LBJ, are transferred to the new agency.

(Read details of establishment of the Search and Rescue Agency in June 21 issue of Samoa News.)