The ‘plot’ of the handicapped parking story takes a turn-around

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In its May 25 issue, Samoa News ran a front page photo taken by a member of the community on May 24, 2022 of an ASG vehicle with no Disabled Parking Permit — parked in a Disabled Parking space at the Lumana’i Building. At the time Samoa News received two photos, one of the back of the vehicle, the other a front view, which was not used because it was decided the back view was a better photo. Samoa News published it — and did not identify anyone — neither the person who took and sent the photo to Samoa news, nor the driver.

The photo showed a vehicle with the ASG license plate — TV - O5, under the heading “RESPECT THE DISABLED…”

Following publication of the photo, a memo was issued to all government directors by the Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel and acting chief of staff Jason Mitchell, reminding them of their duty to public accountability. Its’ content was reported in the Samoa News on May 27, 2022.

The memo said that in recent months, they have seen pictures in the media of government vehicles in handicapped parking spots without having handicapped tags hanging from their mirrors.  

“We need to be better than that. We must comply with the letter and the spirit of the law as we conduct our business,” he said and noted that he expects directors to handle these matters administratively.

“Additionally, I have encouraged the Office of Protection and Advocacy for the Disabled to enforce the handicapped parking law without regard to government vehicles.” 

Then, on June 1, 2022, Samoa News ran a story that the person who drove the vehicle that day — TV - 05 — had come forward to defend himself, saying the reason he had parked there was because it was “the only space free for me to go into instead of reversing all the way out was the disabled parking. He identified himself as KVZK News Director, Tosimaea Tupua to Samoa News.

“As I was waiting for the van to reverse [a person that] works for Department of Education, across the hall from our office, took the photo and sent it to Samoa News,” Tupua said. Adding that he was in the car ready to reverse into a public parking space when the photo was taken.  

The following day, Samoa News received an email from the sender of the photos of the vehicle, stating that a driver was clearly NOT seen in the photo of the front view of the vehicle, as it was “illegally” parked in a handicapped parking space. The person asked for a correction pointing out that no one was in the vehicle when the photo was taken.

Samoa News has since checked out both photos it received and also contacted both people involved in the issue. The following was found:

First, the photo of the front of the vehicle shows no one inside the vehicle, nor a ‘disabled’ placard displayed, while it was parked illegally;

Second, Tupua was asked for comment about the photo showing ‘no driver’ and he replied that he had nothing to add; and,

Third, the person who took and sent the photo wished to continue to remain anonymous.

Here are the two photos — side-by-side — you be the judge.