Gov urges cabinet to keep projects rolling — the money is in the bank

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With a lot of federal money pouring in for American Samoa and sitting in the bank not used, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga urged cabinet directors to move forward on projects for which these funds are allocated, instead of delaying them.

Lemanu told directors during a cabinet meeting last week Thursday that the new Administration is now into its fourth month and cabinet members are aware of what needs to be done to continue moving government service forward for the people — but there is no progress.

He said there are many changes that need to be done and American Samoa, along with its residents, wants to move forward as well, but “we are not moving” to get things done. He said “we” referring to himself, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale along with cabinet directors are not working on moving along projects and other issues that need to be taken care of.

He pointed out that what cabinet members do or don’t do, reflects on him and Talauega. And what he and Talauega do, also reflects and involves cabinet members. Therefore everyone must work together.

Lemanu said “we are the cause” of the delays, while the community wants to see improvements and to move forward with the new administration, which is 4 months old.

The governor reminded his cabinet that plans are in place going forward and should be implement instead of directors trying to hold back or delay them.  He urged directors to not try to hold back the “process” of what needs done.

For example, don’t stop or put a hold on work already carried out on a road project, because the work underway is based on a directive from either him or Talauega, the governor said.

What the cabinet directors should do, said Lemanu, is find ways for further improvements or make it right. If cabinet members come upon a project with problems but the project was based on a “directive” from him and Talauega, the governor said the director should find ways to make it right and legal, if they find problems.

He said the directive to carry out work from the governor’s office is a decision for everyone. And if a director finds problems or other issues, he said the solution is “talk, and discussion” with others — not just sit in the office and do nothing.

According to the governor, a lot of financial resources and funding has poured in from the  federal government but it’s not being used. He said that if a director is not happy with any project, that doesn’t mean that project should be put on hold. “Find a way to correct it and move the project along,” he advised cabinet members, who were also told to look at “our process” making sure it works but “don’t hold up the process”.

He also says that if a director wants a project, but there’s no funding allocated in that department’s budget, “come to us, let’s talk”. He then announced that the repatriation program, which has a budget of $8 million, is running low and efforts are being made to secure additional money. (See Samoa News edition Apr. 12th for more details.)

According to the governor, contractors for ASG projects have come looking for payments, after a month into their work. He said contractors shouldn’t have to come back looking for their payments. He said it’s the government’s responsibility to pay the contractors.

He reiterated the need for directors to move forward with the process.

Samoa News notes that former Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga made similar comments during his cabinet meetings, saying that ASG projects provide more jobs.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, an ASG official said Lemanu wants the pending projects to move along, so that federal funds can be used and provide an economic boost for American Samoa. “Some of these federal funds have a timeframe to be spent or return to the federal grantor,” said the official who responded but didn’t want to be identified by name.