Mrs. Cynthia Moliga, the wife of Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, was given the honor of cutting the ribbon during the official opening and dedication ceremony Thursday for the new Development Bank of American Samoa building in Pago Pago. Standing behind Mrs. Moliga is Chief Justice Michael Kruse.

The new two-story, 5,000 square building replaces the one destroyed in the September 2009 tsunami. “After 5 years, we are celebrating the return to our old location and our new building. We take this opportunity to thank all those involved in making this day possible,” DBAS president Ruth S. Matagi-Fa’atili told the gathering, which included the Governor, Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, DBAS board, lawmakers and others.

Constructed by Paramount Builders Inc., the architectural design was by Joe Weilenman and the work supervised by the DBAS board of directors, whose chairman is Sen. Nua Saoluaga.

Matagi-Fa’atili told the audience the total cost of the project came to $3.1 million with just $2.97 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $310,000 provided by DBAS.

Lolo, who was DBAS president at the time of the 2009 tsunami, recalled for the audience, how he called then Gov. Togiola Tulafono to tell him that the old DBAS building had been destroyed.  He said Togiola ordered him to do all possible to have a new building built.

The governor also told the DBAS board to do all possible to assist the community and the private sector.