Lolo slates Leadership and Ethics workshop for all directors

To ensure “ethical behavior” and to continue good leadership practices from all ASG directors, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has set up a two-day “Leadership and Ethics Workshop” next month. The governor’s move is to ensure at the start of his administration that all directors fully understand their role as leaders as well as ethical questions involved.
 
“In recognition of the importance of leadership and ethics with regard to the positions that we now assume, it is deemed essential for all of us to revisit principles central to how we discharge our duties and responsibilities,” Lolo said in the memo.
 
He said it’s universally recognized and acknowledged that leadership is pivotal to the success of any organization and success within the “court of public opinion” places ethical leadership as a priority criterion.
 
“Hence, the success of our administration will be judged by the ethical behavior of our cadre of leadership corps,” he pointed out. “We promised our people that our administration is dedicated to the basic tenet of ‘doing the right things the right way all the time’.”
 
“As leaders, it is our obligation to adhere faithfully to the simple precept and to ensure that this vision is shared by all the employees of the American Samoa Government,” he said, and added it’s “mandatory that all directors participate in this workshop.”
 
Directors have been requested by the governor to “make necessary schedule preparations to ensure your participation in these two days of professional exchange” set for Apr. 5-6 from 8a.m. to 4p.m. at the Lee Auditorium.
 
The workshop will be facilitated by San Diego State University, which already has a cohort program with ASG for government employees seeking higher degrees in education and other subject areas.
 
At last August’s graduation, then candidate for governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga and then candidate for lieutenant governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, both received their degrees. They were among the 51 individuals who received master’s degrees.
 
In May 2009, former governor Togiola Tulafono ordered an ethics training for all directors and deputy directors. Togiola said at the time that the training and workshop is to remind directors and deputy directors the important of ethics and good work behavior.
 
“If leaders [in departments] are consistent with ethnics and good working habits, that will help workers as well,” he said.
 
The ethics training and later a leadership workshop, came at the start Togiola’s second term in office.