DoH has little ability to censure businesses that do not follow health regulations

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Health’s head of the Environmental Health Services is a woman on a mission and she is appealing to the Legislature to include “citation fines” into the local heath statute.

 “This will ensure that businesses, including restaurants and retail stores, adhere to health regulations ensuring the products they sell to the public are healthy and clean.”

Aileen Solaita in an interview with Samoa News said their division comprising six members at the moment cannot issue citations for fines.

 “We can only issue citations, close down stores and warn businesses — but a citation accompanied with a fine would make sure the businesses are providing products that are not contaminated.

 “We have been proposing to amend the Environmental Health statute since 2017 to no avail.”

Health Inspectors ensure the public safety by inspecting businesses for health and safety hazards.

Since becoming the head of the Environmental Health Services arm of DoH, Solaita’s team has been issuing citations during daily inspections.

 “However without a fine, the businesses will not adhere to our instructions and in turn we move to revoke their Health Permit and recommend to the Department of Commerce to revoke their business license,” she said.

To date, Solaita said they have been to numerous businesses and the general problem they see are “rodents” infesting and sleeping in the storage areas.

 “We are responsible for ensuring that restaurants, grocery stores, schools and other public spaces are safe to eat in or visit. And we conduct the inspections of these establishments for health code violations such as rodent infestations, mold growth, improper food storage, etc. — for the safety of our people.

“We are not doing this for fun. The health of our people is paramount and it is our job as inspectors.”

She said the citations are dealt with by the businesses at court and a first offense fine is $50 and that doubles on the second offense.

 “This is a joke to be quite honest. The minimal fine is a slap on the wrist of the business owner.

“They don’t care about it because it’s a small fine, but hefty fines will ensure businesses adhere to health protocols.”

Adding that this week they closed down a store in Auasi, for the third time.

 “They were given warnings, but it’s apparent that it has fallen in deaf ears and we have revoked their Health permit and will submit a strong recommendation to the Department of Commerce to revoke their business license.

“They were closed down twice last year, the latest closure was in December and re-opened in January, but seven months later it is the same issue, rodents everywhere.

 “We found rats sleeping in boxes full of bras, underwear and socks. Now imagine our people, going to the store, they think it’s brand new, they buy it thinking its new, not knowing these items are where the rats are sleeping.

 “We take our role seriously and it is time the business owners invest in clean buildings.

“This is the health of our people which is a paramount concern to our team,” she said.

Members of the public purchase items and food from businesses with their hard earned money and the products sold should be up to par with health standards, according to Solaita.

Another issue cited by Solaita is that most retail stores they have inspected while run and operated by foreigners, on the business license it is owned by Samoans.

 “The owners are not part of the daily operation and they don’t see first hand the unhygienic and unhealthy conditions some of the stores are and they should be responsible and held accountable for their businesses. And why are the business licenses issued to the Samoans yet are operated by foreigners, there is something wrong with this picture,” she said.

Regarding the fines, Solaita said their department has submitted the amendments since 2017 and five years later no action has been taken over this.

 “We are proposing that for the first offense the find should be $5,000 for health violations, second citation is $7,000 and third and final fine is $10,000.

 “I believe this will ensure the businesses adhere to health standards.”