Gov calls on semi-autonomous agencies to complete all audits

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga is requesting that ASG semi-autonomous agencies complete all required financial audits, even if it’s a performance audit for the last fiscal year, using current government auditors before the administration leaves office.

The governor’s request was made at last week’s cabinet meeting after the issue of audits were mentioned by leaders of the Development Bank of American Samoa (DBAS) and the Feleti Barstow Public Library, when they gave brief updates on new developments with the semi-autonomous agencies.

DBAS president Ruth Matagi-Fa’atili informed cabinet members that the bank’s unaudited financial statement was completed as of March, as required by law and this information was also shared with House members during a recent committee hearing.

She explained that due to the coronavirus pandemic, DBAS’ independent audit has been delayed and the bank uses Deloitte Company, out of the Northern Mariana Islands for the independent audit.

She said it’s now been agreed and accepted to use “virtual auditing” for DBAS covering fiscal year 2019. She didn’t provide any information as to when it will be carried out.

Territorial Librarian, Jason Maga, who also heads the Feleti Barstow Library informed the cabinet meeting that when the administration took office, the Library was behind on it’s financial audits, for about 7 years.

He said the library has since been able to catch up with the audits with only FY 2019 now waiting to be audited. Once FY 2019 is completed, the library will be fully up-to-date when records are turned over to the new incoming administration.

The governor responded that financial audits must be completed and pointed out that ASG has local auditors, and to utilized them to “conduct some kind of performance audit” especially for semi-autonomous agencies.

“You cannot just let it go,” said Lolo, reiterating the need to get some kind of performance audit completed every fiscal year in order to identify areas in need of improvement.

The governor didn’t specify who are the ASG auditors, but the government has the independent Office of Territorial Auditor, that works with ASG agencies.

Meanwhile the Budget and Planning Office reminded cabinet members of their third quarter performance reports, which are required by law and need to be submitted to the budget office for submission to the governor and the Fono.

Many lawmakers are very interested in the 3rd quarter performance report, which is used — along with independent financial audit reports — when the Fono reviews the government’s annual budget.