House approves director for Search and Rescue Agency

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The House of Representatives unanimously approved Faamasino Upuese Galoia during yesterday's session as the Director of the American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency (ASSRA). The vote was 15-0.

Faamasino appeared before the House Public Safety committee chaired by Faipule Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava.

During the hearing, the lawmakers advised Faamasino to fulfill his duties with love and to uphold the law, while others urged him to respect and care for his staff and his paramount duty is the safety of the people.

In his letter to Speaker of the House Savali Talavou Ale, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Sialega Mauga said Faamasino was nominated as the director of ASSRA based on his qualifications — highlighting Fa'amasino's military service and his skills in leadership, critical and analytical thinking and problem-solving, and also he will be entrusted with equipment valued at millions and the professional development and safety of hundreds of people, their most valuable resource.

His background and experience make him an ideal leader of the Search and Rescue Agency, said Lemanu. 

In August, some lawmakers opposed the move by Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga to transfer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from under the LBJ Medical Center to the new American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency (ASSRA).

Vice Speaker of the House, Fetu Fetui Jr, during a House Health committee earlier called the decision by Lemanu as “an unprofessional move” while other faipule said this was a “stupid” move. 

Fetu further did not agree with removing the EMS from its Fagaalu premises as it is close to the LBJ, where it delivers its patients, but it’s also centrally located on the island.

BACKGROUND 

An agreement between the CEO of LBJ and the Acting Director of the new ASSRA would see the EMS move out of their base in Fagaalu, with LBJ continuing to fund the EMS payroll through the end of FY2022.

This information was revealed at a hearing of the House Health Committee last August, which was initiated by Rep. Faipule Faimealelei Anthony Allen who told the House before the recess that the LBJ has told EMS to vacate their Fagaalu premises.

After the hearing, members of the House committee advised the LBJ CEO Moefaauo William Emmsley not to touch the EMS building in Fagaalu, but allow EMS to continue occupying the building.

Emmsley told the hearing the Governor’s executive order creating ASSRA, directed that the building, equipment, personnel and all property used by the EMS be transferred to the new division.

Moefaauo pointed out that the Governor concluded that he and Faamasino, sign an agreement for LBJ to take over the EMS building in Fagaalu and in return LBJ would continue paying EMS staff up to the end of the fiscal year.

The CEO added that the EMS building had been condemned twice and the hospital planned to tear it down and construct a new building.

In the meantime, he said the hospital had reserved a temporary room and two parking slots next to the Emergency Room for EMS use.

He also said LBJ had invested $750,000 in the Tafuna EMS station, which would serve the Western District, from where most of the calls to EMS come.

Galoia told the hearing that his main concern was for EMS employees to continue being paid during the transition and that’s why he made the agreement with LBJ.

According to a report received by the House committee before the hearing, the EMS building in Fagaalu was built by LBJ in about 2001, using a combination of CIP (Federal) and LBJ funds. Then, by order of CEO and approved by the Board, EMS was designated to occupy the building.

After years of gross neglect, the EMS building was first condemned by the Department of Health (DOH) in September 25, 2021. Despite this order, EMS personnel resisted and continued to occupy the building.

Again, DoH issued its 2nd notice of condemnation for the EMS building for the same reasons in July 22, 2022 — but EMS personnel continue to occupy the building to date.