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Two more cabinet appointees officially confirmed

Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Tuia Poumele, during her confirmation hearing yesterday before the Senate.  [photo: FS]ASG Treasurer Uelinitone Tonumaipea during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday before the House.  [photo: AF]
fili@samoanews.com

The Fono has officially endorsed two more cabinet directors — Port Administration Director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Tuia Poumele and ASG Treasurer Uelinitone Tonumaipea — for the Lolo Administration for the next four years.

The final decision came yesterday when the Senate confirmed Taimalelagi in a unanimous vote of 16-0, the House had voted 16-2; and it also gave Tonumaipea a unanimous vote of 16-0, while the House voted 14-3 on Wednesday.

PORT DIRECTOR

Taimalelagi went through a House confirmation hearing Wednesday afternoon and she appeared yesterday morning before the Senate Transportation Committee for the confirmation process. The government’s new $13.6 million vessel, MV Manu’atele, dominated questions during the Senate hearing. The vessel was also raised during the House hearing.

At the Senate hearing, Taimalelagi said it was planned to have the vessel sail to Manu’a in March, although Port Administration is also planning a trial sail to the island group, with Port Admin staff on board.

She also said that they are still waiting for the part to arrive from off island for the safety of the vessel to enter Faleasao and Ofu wharves in Manu’a. Taimalelagi didn’t elaborate on the needed part, but she had mentioned late last month the vessel’s “bow thruster”, which became an issue while the vessel was sailing from Honolulu to the territory.

Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Fruean recalled the morning of Jan. 4 when the MV Manu’atele sailed into Pago Pago Harbor that he shed tears, with the great accomplishment by a woman at the helm. He said he was very proud of Taimalelagi and remembered her late father, Sen. Tuanaitau Tuia, who would have been very proud of what his daughter had achieved.

Tuaolo also noted that many Port Administration personnel, led by deputy director Chris King, in the Senate gallery, attending the hearing to show the staff’s support.

Samoa News counted more than 15 staffers, including personnel wearing the MV Manu’atele polo shirts along with Master Captain Loleni Faiai, who captained the vessel on its trip from Seattle, via Honolulu, to Pago Pago. Port staffers packed chairs on the gallery, and sitting on the floor.

The Administration has said that the MV Manu’atele can also sail later to other Pacific islands, such as Samoa, Tonga, Niue; and Taimalelagi informed the committee that the vessel is also registered to sail to international destinations in the region.

However, Sens. Tuiagamoa Tavai and Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua both voiced concerns over the use of the vessel for international destinations that would again prevent the frequency of service to Manu’a. The senators said that sailing to Samoa is no problem since the country is closer to Pago Pago, but other countries are further away and it takes time for the vessel to return to the territory.

Taimalelagi explained that foreign destinations are planned later down the line while the focus is Manu’a. Furthermore, Port Administration will still use the MV Sili, which can carry heavy cargo such as machinery and fuel.

Responding to a question about the status of the relocation of the airport jet fuel tanks, Taimalelagi said this project has already started and it’s funded with $6 million from the Federal Aviation Administration.

However, Sen. Taua’a Saunoa Vaouli is concerned with the relocation next to the new community swimming pool project at Lions Park.

Taimalelagi said this project has been in discussion for many years and involved the FAA, ASG, and engineers. She believes that if the new site of the fuel tanks were not safe, the FAA would not have provided the large amount of money for the project.

ASG TREASURY

One of the issues raised during Tonumaipea’s confirmation hearing in the Senate, dealt with the Rapiscan project, in which he explained that four were purchased and two are already operational — one at the airport and the other in a mobile van, which can also be used at the airport and the inter island dock.

However, the two large scanners for containers are not operational yet, with engineers from the manufacturer scheduled to be on island next Monday to install and test the scanners before they’re put to use.

Tonumaipea had told a House committee that the scanners were to be handed over to ASG on Feb. 9 (next week, Thursday).

Asked about the ASG deficit, Tonumaipea said that at the close of fiscal year 2015, the total was $9.15 million, while ASG is projecting — based on unaudited numbers — a surplus of $1.2 million for FY 2016, which closed Sept. 30, 2016.

Once the FY 2016 audit is completed and the surplus is confirmed, the deficit will drop to around $7.9 million, he said.

For the current projections of FY 2017 — based on the first quarter financial report — ASG will be in the “red” by $1.6 million at the end of the fiscal year. However, Tonumaipea said ASG had projected FY 2016 to be in the “red” based on its first quarter financial report; but at the end of FY 2016 and based on unaudited numbers; ASG will be in the  “black” by $1.2 million.

The question of how many deputies in Treasury Department was also raised during the hearing and Tonumaipea responded there are two — deputy of operations, which includes accounts payable and general accounting; and deputy of revenue, which includes Customs and Tax Office.

No one asked and Tonumaipea didn’t identify the two deputies by name. However, Samoa News reported last week that former Criminal Justice Planning Agency Director, Keith Gebauer, is now Deputy for Revenue.  Samoa News understands that Deputy for Operations is Tina Va’a.