Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a memo issued Oct. 23rd, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga made “organizational changes” within the Insurance Office, which comes under the purview of the Governor’s Office.

Peter Fuimaono has been serving as Insurance Commissioner, but the governor has now designated Elizabeth Perry as Acting Insurance Commissioner and she “will assume all mandated functions and administration of the Office of Insurance,” the memo states.

Lolo said Perry comes with over 30 years of insurance experience and has been working in the Insurance Office for over 20 years. “Reflective of the priorities of this Administration, Peter Fuimaono’s duties and responsibilities will be confined to securing settlement of our insurance payments” on damages caused to ASG assets by Tropical Storm Gita last year, the governor explained.

Moreover, Fuimaono will work with Office of Disaster Assistance & Petroleum Management (ODAPM) executive director Alfonso Pete Galea’i to ensure that public assets damaged by Gita are promptly repaired.

Lolo said it’s now nearing 3-years since Gita and the “incurred damages remain unaddressed with costs continuing to escalate due to inflation.”

During FY 2020 budget hearings last month, executive branch officials told lawmakers that ASG’s claim for Gita damage was $15 million and the insurance company has only paid $5 million, leaving $10 million that ASG continues to fight with the insurer to get.

Meanwhile, the governor — in his memo — said the priority now is getting the American Samoa Property Insurance request for proposals (RFP) advertised promptly before the 6-month extension lapses.

He said the RFP is to be coordinated with the ODAPM executive director, Chief Procurement Officer, Attorney General’s Office, and ASG Treasurer “to ensure that the RPF is clear, concise, and simple to avoid confusion and delays” in receiving payment of ASG insurance claims.