Governor once again submitting Aoelua as director of OPI KVZK-TV

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Lemanu P.S.  Mauga has urged the Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean and his colleagues, to review and confirm the nomination of Solomona Vaioletama Aoelua as the Director of the Office of Public Information, the government agency that manages KVZK-TV.

The Governor’s letter of Dec. 8, 2023, obtained by Samoa news, mentions a confirmation hearing that was postponed.

“Respectfully, I urge you and your colleagues to review and confirm the nomination of Solomona Vaioletama Aoelua as the Director for the Office of Public Information.

 “Mr. Aoelua has past experience with the Office of Public Information having worked as a camera man and then TV Producer/ Director.

His extensive executive management experience in addition to his working knowledge of media operations makes him an ideal candidate for the position..

The confirmation hearing of Mr. Aoelua was postponed according to Governor Lemanu’s letter of resubmission. 

He thanked the President again for his consideration.

An official from the Senate office via a phone call confirmed to Samoa News, that “The Governor’s letter has reached the Senate office but the Senate President is overseas.”

The Administration appointed Aoelua on Jan. 3, 2023 to serve as acting director, after then- director, Aaron Hall resigned.

Samoa News points out at the start of Lemanu- Talauega Administration in 2021, the governor nominated Aoelua as director of OPI but he didn’t get approval by the Senate, although he was endorsed by the House. Thereafter, Hall was nominated to the post and was officially confirmed by both the Senate and House.

Attached to the letter is a list of Mr. Aoelua’s professional experience, which includes his post as Executive Assistant to then Lt. Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga and his post with the late Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, as Deputy Chief of Staff. His 10 years of work with the US Census Bureau is also cited.