Old ASTCA building to be demolished making room for new court house

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The old communication building in Fagatogo where the American Samoa TeleCommunication Authority’s main office was housed for many years will be taken down to make room for the construction of a new court building, said Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga at last Friday’s cabinet meeting.

A government report more than three years ago had recommended renovation and upgrading of the building across from the Malaeoletalu at Fagatogo — and to be converted for use by the District Court, which was facing increasing cases and needed additional space.

Speaking at last Friday’s cabinet meeting regarding ongoing and future Public Works Department projects, director Faleosina Voigt said the governor and other officials had conducted a site visit and inspection of the former ASTCA building in Fagatogo.

She said this building will be taken down and the government plans to construct a new court building at this location and the project should start within the last five months of the current Administration.

Lolo elaborated further on the project saying that research and review was conducted as to whether the former ASTCA building is safe for occupancy. There was also a site visit to the building.

And a decision has been made, following a recommendation from DPW, that it appears the building is not safe for people to work inside, he said, and noted that an official with the Historical Preservation Office was also involved in the process.

Lolo said the decision was made Thursday to take down this building while a new court building will be constructed on the site.

The governor directed the American Samoa Power Authority acting executive director, Wallon Young to disconnect electricity to the building by today, Monday, and the contractors — about two or three companies — will move in later to start taking down the structure to make way for a new court building.

Lolo said DPW is working on the blueprint for the new court building but didn’t provide any other details about the structure.

Once this is completed, there will be a meeting with the judicial branch to discuss the project before construction begins the latter part of August, he pointed out.

He estimates that the project will be completed, six months after the administration leaves office on January 3, 2021. The governor urged all cabinet members who will have a role to play in this project to ensure that everything goes forward smoothly to ensure its successful completion.