Local DOE TA’s now subject to approval by the Governor’s Office

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Travel Authorizations issued by the local Education Department (ASDOE) will now be subject to review for approval by the Governor’s Office, according to Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga’s June 7 memorandum.

In August of last year, the governor issued a memo saying that effective October 1, 2022 directors shall be the approval authority for travel of ASG employees within their departments and agencies. Directors may also approve travel of dependents of contract employees that is mandated by contract.

In his June 7, 2023 memo pertaining to Travel Authorizations issued by ASDOE, the governor noted that proper stewardship of the resources of ASG “should be of utmost importance to everyone in ASG. It is our duty to see that expenditures are made and monitored appropriately.

“To that end, effective immediately, all Travel Authorizations to be issued by the American Samoa Department of Education will be reviewed by the Governor's Office for approval until further notice,” the governor said.

According to the governor, all other provisions of his memo issued last August remain in effect.

No explanation was provided as to why ASDOE is targeted under the new travel authorization change.

Asked why travel authorizations issued by ASDOE now requires review for approval by the Governor’s Office, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Loa Tuimavave Tauapa’i Laupola responded that: “It's difficult for the Governor to make decisions on various DOE issues when he can't find leaders who can answer questions and make decisions.”

“Especially now with the end of the fiscal year [2023] and setting plans for the next FY,” Loa said yesterday morning responding to Samoa News queries.

On background information, Lemanu’s August 2022 travel authorization memo, states in part that, the Governor shall continue to be the approval authority only for travel of Directors and those persons who are not employees or dependents of contract employees but who are authorized to travel at government expense — such as scholarship recipients.