Fono hears department needs during budget hearings

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Police Commissioner has used the budget hearings to make his plea to Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and the Legislature for additional funding to better the operations of his Department.

He pointed to the lack of promotions, not enough police manpower, unpaid overtime and expensive police uniforms as the issues that should be addressed. 

The Department’s budget, which has been reduced significantly from the FY 2022 total of $9.68 million to $5.85 million was deliberated before the lawmakers last week.

Police Commissioner Lefiti Aitulagi Pese told Senators the reduction in police budget is due to the separation of two divisions from their Department — the Marine Patrol and the Territorial Correctional Facility, which have been made independent agencies.

He then pointed to the long standing issues of unpaid overtime for the police officers.

 “However I’ll just lay it out for your consideration and assistance. Also uniforms for the officers are quite expensive and some officers spend their entire salary on the uniforms and  this is the platform where theses issues can be resolved,” said the Commissioner.

Adding that another predicament faced by the police is the lack of promotions to which officers are entitled, but due to limited funding they are unable to proceed with the necessary promotions.

A total of $4.85 million for DPA is local funding and $1 million is from federal grants.

For the Commissioner’s office, its budget is $581,000; finance is $192,000; $50,000 for the training and research; $2.28 million for the Field Services Bureau; $57,000 to the Criminal Investigation Division, $825,500 for the Support Services and $309,000 for the Office of Motor Vehicles.

According to the budget $100,000 is allocated for the telephone and communications for the Commissioner’s office and it was same budget from 2022, but in 2021 it was $47,651.

A total of $350,000 has been allocated for utilities — an increase from $270,000 previously.

A total of the 73 vehicles under the Department include police vehicles. There are 380 staff members for the department and funding allocated for personnel amounts to $4.29 million; $6,500 for materials and supplies; $4,000 for contractual services; $533,000 under all others.

According to the budget $24,000 is set for training overseas where $6,000 is for airfares and $12,000 is for per diem.

OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

Senators on Friday unanimously approved Aaron Hall as Director of the Office of Public Information.

Senator Togiola T.A. Tulafono made the motion to approve the Governor’s nomination noting that Director’s qualifications have been made known during an earlier hearing held before the session.

The vote was unanimous with 11 yays and no objections. During the hearing on Friday morning, Mr Hall’s private business was questioned by the Senators while at the same timehe is overseeing the operation of the Office of Public Information.

Senator Faaivae Iuli Godinet posted the question and Hall confirmed that does have a private business and that he has separated himself from the business, in hopes that there’s no conflict of interest with the local KVZK.

According to the Senate Resolution, Mr Hall has more than 7 years’ experience in media/digital broadcasting and 12 years of management experience. “He served as Deputy Director of the Office of Public Information beginning in 2021 and currently serves as Acting Director.

Prior to that, he was CEO of his own media company. In all these roles he has embraced new technologies and demonstrated innovation.”

Hall has already been approved by the House of Representatives.

CONCERNS ABOUT INCREASING NUMBERS OF CANCER PATIENTS

Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean has raised concerns on the increasing number of cancer patients in the territory.

Adding that the hospital management should appear before the Senate to answer questions over the concerns raised.

 “This was never the case in the past but recently patients heading overseas to seek medical treatment only to find out that it’s too late they are at the late stages of cancer and this is concerning,” said Tuaolo.

 “We should not sit idle and allow this to continue, because the increasing number of cases is disturbing and the Senate should take action.”

Adding that while the Senate is focused on other issues, such as the TALOFAPass but the health care of the people of American Samoa should be at the forefront of their priority list and called on the Health Committee to consider a hearing on this matter.

Senator Soliai Tuipine took the floor and questioned the qualification of the doctors working at the hospital.

He said: “our hospital is like a morgue rather than a hospital aimed to save lives.

“The CEO appeared recently and he said that it is costly to hire overseas doctors, but it is the lives of our people we are talking about and the hospital should take all the necessary actions.

 “We need to have certified doctors on island, even if their salaries are $300,000 per annum, this can save us money [rather than] sending our people to seek medical treatment overseas,” said Soliai.