The budget for Fiscal Year 2015 (which officially begins Oct. 1, 2014), two inter Samoa talks, food safety in the territory and a possible new phone directory by Bluesky Communications were among the issues discussed during the Cabinet meeting held Monday, prior to Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga’s departure from the territory.

Lemanu, who is also acting governor, first acknowledged ASG directors and departments for a successful Flag Day celebration and he was very appreciative of the countless hours spent in preparation by ASG employees.

During the meeting, Director of Agriculture Lealao Melila Purcell conducted a presentation on food safety and sustainability in the territory. He discussed aquaponics, pesticide regulation and safe practices for agriculture.

Lealao emphasized the prevention of food borne illnesses through various programs conducted by DoA, DoH, DOE and LBJ. Awareness of proper food preparation, harvesting, packaging, and food storage were topics of discussion, along with the ASG school lunch program.

The DoA is also involved with piggeries, and is helping to eliminate the contamination from runoffs and landfills with aid for dry litter piggeries. (Samoa News will provide details on these issues in later editions.)

Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Satele Galu Satele, who chaired the Flag Day celebrations this year, expressed gratitude for the substantial undertaking by all cabinet members to make this Flag Day celebration an extraordinary success.

He acknowledged the personal participation by the directors and praised Bluesky, ASPA and the private sector for making this Flag Day special. He also encouraged cabinet members to be honest employees and to avoid questionable practices as they carry out their duties and responsibilities.

Budget & Planning Director Catherine Dora Aigamaua Saelua reminded the cabinet that budgets are due May 2, 2014 for FY 2015, with budget negotiation meetings slated for May 5, 2014 with the Lt. Governor.

She stated that the 2015 budget ceiling is the 2014 budget amount.

The budget director further requested that all departments that utilized the “special programs budget” for personnel positions this year need to incorporate such positions into their own departmental budgets for 2015, e.g. College graduate initiative, DPW special hires, Treasury professional staff hires and other positions.

Lemanu then reminded cabinet members the Fono is not where you ask for funds for ASG projects — directors must bring their budget and vision statements to the Budget meeting with the governor first.

He said the Fono is where directors need to “defend” their budget requests that have been submitted to the legislature. He also pointed out that it is required that directors personally attend the Budget meeting with the Governor’s Office and not to send their deputy director or representatives.

Lemanu noted that the Two Inter Samoa Talks will be scheduled for June 27, 2014 and all items to be discussed at this meeting will be presented to DOC Director Keniseli Lafaele for pre-approval. The DOC Director will coordinate and work directly with the Governor’s office on these issues.

The Lt Governor gave the cabinet members a deadline for their quarterly reports, due on Monday at 4p.m. and thanked the department and agencies who have already submitted their quarterly reports.

Information about the new phone directory can be found elsewhere in this edition.