Senate responds to governor on plans for a new hospital

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean has called upon Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga to allow the people of American Samoa to decide whether a new specialty hospital should be built in the territory or not.

This follows the governor’s recent public statement of his adamant decision to build the specialty hospital, citing his love for the people of American Samoa — especially those unable to afford traveling off-island to get the specialized help needed for their illnesses, and the need to improve the healthcare for all island residents.

Lemanu noted that the availability of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding is a once-in-a-life time opportunity and he is “resolute in his decision to build a new hospital…”

The governor’s statement emphasized that his administration’s decision is “about investing in the health and well-being of our people” — that it is not “just about infrastructure.”

In Tuaolo’s letter, dated Sept. 8, 2023, to the Governor, responding to the governor’s public statement, the Senate president said, “Allow the people of American Samoa to make the decision.”

He writes, “It is the people who put you in office and the Senate Resolution represents the will of the people.”

Tuaolo suggested holding a town hall meeting style forum and “allow our residents to attend and listen to your Steering and Construction Management Committee and your Medical Subcommittee.

“Allow our residents to hear the LBJ Board of Directors present their plans for LBJ improvements.

“Allow our people to ask questions about both plans. Let them decide.

“You owe it to them to have their voices heard.”

Senate president Tuaolo also pointed out that “it is disappointing that you have allowed private interest to drive your decision making. 

“Private interests are only interested in one thing: money.

“Private interests do not care about what’s best for our people.

“Moving forward with your decision, without consideration of the Fono is equivalent to a slap in the face.

“Ua e tali tualimaina le finagalo o tupu ma ee ole atunuu.”

Tuaolo said that he and the Senators agree with all the governor’s statements regarding the need to improve American Samoa’s healthcare system — “I absolutely agree with you that our people deserve better.”

However, he vehemently disagrees with the governor that the only way to improve the territory’s medical healthcare system is to build another hospital.

In his 3-page letter, Tuaolo invites the Governor to sit down with the Fono to discuss his decision to build a new specialized hospital.

“I invite you to consider our advice. As our Samoan saying goes, ‘ele tu faamauga se isi. ‘Consensus and compromise are the guiding principles of our democracy’.”

Writing on behalf of the Senate, Tuaolo reminds the governor to reconsider the following:

“The modernization of the current LBJ medical center, as presented by LBJ board to the Senate, will include specialized clinics and specialists — oncologist, cardiologist and dermatologist, and orthopeadics.

“It will also include modern diagnostics, equipment.

“LBJ has the infrastructure in place, to house and service these new clinics.”

Tuaolo notes that “the $100million currently assessed to help with improvement to LBJ is not enough to make all of the improvements needed, and points out that “the US Army Corps of Engineers, in their 2019 report to congress, has estimated a cost of $161.4 m to make necessary repairs to the LBJ infrastructure.”

He continued, “More importantly should you move forward with your decision to build a new hospital, have you given any consideration to the staffing of the new hospital?

“Not only will you be looking to hire new specialists and nurses, but you will also need to hire all of the other professionals needed to run a successful hospital.

“Administration and support staff, the pharmacy, food services, sanitation, laundry services, janitorial to name a few.”

The Senate president states that “ASG cannot even hire attorneys, [and] it is naive to think ASG can find qualified doctors and nurses, who are willing to take a cut in salaries, and benefits, and the quality of life to move here to the territory.”

During a Senate session on Tuesday, Senator Tuiasina Dr. Salamo Laumoli acknowledged the President's letter to the Governor, and was in support of its entire content. 

The letter was also copied to Lt Governor Talauega E. V. Ale; Malouamua Tuiolosega, LBJ hospital Board Chair; and Secretary of the Samoan Affairs, Mauga Tasi Asuega.