Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has given Pentagon Samoa Construction, owned by Taupau Tauileave Toluono, four weeks to complete the construction of a new cafeteria for the inmates at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).

The was confirmed by Taupau during a conversation yesterday regarding the project.

“We are working two shifts to meet the demand given to us by the American Samoa Government, which is 4 weeks to complete the new building,” Taupau told Samoa News. The new building is 46' x 68'.

The order as stated by Taupau was given by Gov. Lolo during his surprise visit to the TCF last week, after hearing reports that the TCF Maximum Security unit, a bathroom, and cafeteria buildings were closed down permanently by officials from the Department of Health (DOH), due to health concerns.

Taupau was among those who were there with Gov. Lolo and several cabinet members during the visit. Immediately after the surprise visit, work on the new cafeteria commenced.

Sources tell Samoa News that the decision by Gov. Lolo to build a new cafeteria is the answer to the many prayers by inmates, who have raised the issue so many times.

“This is not a new issue. We’ve being raising this issue with previous wardens but nothing was done. We also informed previous DPS Commissioners including the recent one, but our cries have fallen on deaf ears. We want to thank our Governor for taking the time to visit us and making the decision to build a new cafeteria for us,” one source said.

While the inmates are more than happy with the Governor’s decision, some people have scoffed at it, saying the LBJ Hospital deserves a visit instead of the TCF.

“The Hospital is horrific with lousy service; the hospital is more for ghetto citizens and this island deserves better. We are not homeless or ghetto citizens therefore, please Gov. Lolo, pay a visit to our Hospital,” one concerned resident said.