After word broke on Friday that Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga had named Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Fruean as acting police commissioner, pending official nomination and confirmation by the Fono, former police commissioner Save Liuato Tuitele says he didn’t apply for a second term in the job.

Gov. Lolo made the appointment along with other appointments in a memo released on Friday.

Reached by phone last Friday afternoon, Save said he didn’t apply for the police commissioner job when he handed in his resignation, along with all other directors from the first term of the Lolo-Lemanu administration, because he would be off island for at least two months to visit his kids and have his medical check up off island.

“I didn’t think it was fair for me to apply and then be considered for the job, when I would be gone for this long,” he said.

Save, who left Friday night, said this was explained to the governor when his resignation letter was submitted to the governor.

He had been police commissioner since early 2015 after then police commissioner William Haleck resigned due to family matters.

Tuaolo, who was recently returned to the Senate by Pago Pago traditional leaders to hold one of the three senatorial seats for Ma’oputasi County previously served as police commissioner and has also served as chief election officer.

It is unclear at this time whether or not Tuaolo will be assuming the acting police commissioner post and thus giving up the senatorial seat or if traditional leaders will be meeting again soon to decide on who will represent them in the Senate.

(Samoa News understand Tuaolo’s office at the Senate is currently still being renovated by Nana’s — his wife’s construction company — according to reliable sources; and would not confirm his appointment as acting police commissioner over the weekend.)

Meanwhile, the governor last Friday re-appointed Paramount Chief, Mauga Tasi Asuega as Secretary of Samoan Affairs while Malemo Tausaga, who served as Administrative Services Department director in the last four years of the Lolo administration, was appointed deputy secretary.

As previously reported by Samoa News, Tuiagamoa Tavai, who served in the post of deputy secretary, is the senator-select for Leasina/ Atiulagi County.

In accordance with the local Constitution, the Secretary of Samoan Affairs, who is also a cabinet director and heads the Office of Samoan Affairs is appointed by the governor and serves at the pleasure of the governor. And therefore he is not subject to Fono confirmation.

Also issued Friday was the governor’s appointment of designated acting directors for three government departments pending official nomination and confirmation by the Fono.

And all appointments are effective 12noon today, Jan. 3, according to the governor,

•     ASG Treasurer, Uelinitone Tonumaipea, who also heads the Treasury Department, will be acting Treasurer;

•     Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale, who also heads the Department of Legal Affairs, as acting AG;

•     Port Administration Department director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Tuia Poumele as acting director of the same department.

The governor is expected to release today, more acting director appointments.