Fono News Thu, 03/06/2014 - 10:54am Local News By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu joy@samoanews ASTCA HEARING POSTPONED DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE ATTIRE OF WITNESS The Government Operations Committee has rescheduled a hearing which was supposed to be held last Monday morning for the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority on the update of the BLAST project due to the inappropriate attire of one of the witnesses. Witnesses called to testify on Monday were Chairman of the ASTCA Board Roy Hall Jr, ASTCA CEO Moefauo Bill Emmsley and EPA Director Ameko Pato. Moefuao came before the Fono without a tie, however in Senate and House chambers a witness must be in proper attire, which according to lawmakers, means the witness must wear a tie. When the hearing was about to start, the Chairman of the Committee, Faimealelei Anthony Allen pointed out to the ASTCA CEO his inappropriate attire before the lawmakers. Moefauo then pulled out a tie and was in the process of putting on his tie, when Pago Pago faipule Va’amua Henry Sesepasara aired his disappointment with the CEO, saying that he was showing no respect to lawmakers by putting on his tie. Va’amua described the CEO’s actions as unbecoming behavior (lemafaufau). Faimealelei told Moefauo to leave the House chambers to fix his tie outside, as what he was doing was disrespectful. Moefauo left the chambers and lawmakers then moved to postpone the hearing to next Tuesday. The ASTCA Chairman pointed out to lawmakers that he would not be available for the hearing slated for Tuesday, but Faimealelei said if the Chairman is absent the Vice Chair can attend the hearing. CONFIRMATION HEARING ON RETIREMENT BOARD FINALLY SCHEDULED IN SENATE The Senate has finally scheduled a confirmation hearing for the governor’s nominee for the Retirement Board, next week Thursday. This time the governor has nominated Former Lt Governor, Faoa Aitofele Sunia to remain on the Retirement Board, along with Treasurer Dr Falema’o ‘Phil’ Pili, HR Director Sonny Thompson, Toafala Iafeta, Aloma Aumau-Langford, Lauvao Stephen Haleck and Maaelopa Bob Tuiasosopo. This is the third time the governor has submitted nominations for the retirement board, and twice the Fono has rejected the nominations. In a letter to Fono leaders last week, Lolo said this group of individuals brings a broad range of experience for the Retirement Fund Board. “With backgrounds in finance, the law, human resource management, government administration and private industry, they represent a well rounded cross section of leaders, well prepared to shepherd the Retirement Fund into the next generation. SANITOA SEEKING UPDATE ON TUALAUTA FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT Tualauta faipule Larry Sanitoa notes that Mr. Gen Tamura of FEMA has provided the latest update on the detailed designs for the Tualauta Mitigation Project. According to Sanitoa, as per Tamuras email, FEMA will not proceed with their environmental review without the comprehensive designs. ”In addition, one of my concerns raised earlier in the year with HTC Iu (Governor’s Executive Assistant Iulogologo Pereira) was the possibility of losing funds due to expiring validity dates — but as indicated in Mr. Tamuras email, that will not be the case as this was part of the FEMA appropriation from the Tsunami disaster in 2009. “That is the good news,” said Sanitoa, “ however the ongoing problematic flooding continues to create havoc to our residents and motorists in Tualauta and Ituau counties.”
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 01:39:11 +0000
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