Policies set for use of gov’t fales at public parks

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has set government policies on the use of the Samoan fales at Su’igaula o le Atuvasa Park at Utulei, the Fagaalu Park fales, which are undergoing construction, and the public Banquet Facility attached to the ocean-side of Don’t Drink the Water (DDW) Restaurant.

The new policy became effective Dec. 10th — the date of the governor’s two-page ASG policy — and this policy comes with the understanding that subsequent operating policies and procedures will be reviewed and approved when received and articulated.

According to the governor, the fundamental purposes for which the Su’igaula Park fales, Fagaalu Park fales, and the Banquet Facility were constructed is to provide facilities for “our people to use for their enjoyment.”

Samoa News points out that there have been public questions as to who can use the Samoan fales at Su’igaula Park, which were dedicated last month, the Banquet Facility at DDW and the yet to be completed construction of the fales at Fagaalu Park.

This was explained by the governor in his policy document, saying that the set policies are to “avoid any confusion or misunderstanding relative to the motive and intent for which these facilities were constructed” by ASG and earmarked for public use.

The governor declared that these specific facilities shall by used by the public “free of charge” to avail the opportunity to all families, regardless of economic capacity, to have equal access to the use of these public facilities.

However, to ensure that these facilities are adequately maintained along with keeping the esthetics clean after each public use, a “cleaning fee” will be assessed — reflecting the cost to clean up — but this fee is refundable if it is deemed by the “facility administrator” that the clean-up standards — returning the facility to its original state before the event — have been met.

For the Su’igaula and Fagaalu Park facilities, the facility administrator is the Department of Parks and Recreation, which will prepare utilization policies and procedures, according to the governor.

As to the Banquet Facility, the DDW business establishment is the administrator, which will prepare and present for the governor's approval detailed operating policies and procedures connected with the use of this facility. Additionally, all newly constructed support facilities — restrooms — are deemed to be public facilities as well.

Samoa News notes that fees and detailed procedures for use of these facilities, were not immediately available at press time.

ALTERNATIVE USE POLICY

While these facilities were built to support community use, the governor points out that there will be times that the American Samoa Government will have to use the facilities for government activities.

“The development and construction of these public facilities is to support our fledgling tourism program,” he explained. “Thus, the fundamental thrust of our tourism program is local product development with maximum participation from our community.”

Accordingly, “accommodating of our tourism product development program should be given priority for utilization of these public facilities,” the governor declared. “Other government agencies wishing to use these facilities should be accommodated as well.”

While the policy-document is dated Dec. 10th, it wasn’t release publicly until this past weekend.