Families who have lost loved ones react to “inhuman” treatment by ASG

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Families are voicing their frustrations and disappointment with government delays by agencies that should be providing services for families who have lost a loved one.

Families say they have been unable to pick up death certificates to begin their funeral plans for the deceased because government offices that deal with these services are closed during the Code Red shutdown.

The government offices according to one concerned family member include the division of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) that deals with findings of the cause of death (criminal, suicide, accident or natural death); the Office of the Attorney General with the signature of authority to release the body, and the physician’s signature to officially release the death certificates at the LBJ Medical Center.

“Depending on the death status, these delays of searching and chasing down the required officials during lockdown from three separate government departments and offices is inhuman for the families of the deceased,” said one family member.

The family member also believes that the issue of releasing death certificates is a necessary and essential need for these families and the government leaders including the Task Force need to come up with a quick plan to deal with this issue.

“Our families were in preparation for our father’s funeral for over 3 weeks before the lockdown last week and all of our preparations are now stalled because of this situation. This is ridiculous and we’re hoping that the government will do something soon.”

Another concerned family member questioned why the government has halted funerals and other essential family gathering while crowds of people gather at vaccination sites.

“The White House lifts its mask mandate for fully vaccinated people this week and we — as an US territory — we must follow the same path and allow families to have their funerals and for a certain amount of people to be involved,” a man from Tafuna said.

A woman from Nu’uuli told Samoa News the various agencies were supposed to have all the paperwork ready before the closing of business on Monday, Feb. 21, before the lockdown, but the slow service by offices of the government has now caused a delay.

The Task Force announced this week during one of their press updates on the Coronavirus community spread that they’re considering allowing families to hold funerals for their loved ones, however, the restrictions to be imposed include having no more than 10 people present, maintaining a distance of 6 feet apart  for social distancing and wearing a face mask at all times.

The Task Force also announced that on the day of the funeral the hearse will go straight from the LBJ morgue to the grave site where a service may be held and attended by only 10 people.

It was clear during the press conference that it’s the wish of Task Force chair, Lt. Gov. Talauega E.V. Ale that families be allowed to hold funerals for their loved ones while at the same time the public is protected from the community spread of the virus.