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Concerns over Taeoafua’s harangue doesn’t stop Senate confirmation

Nikolao Iuli Pula Jr [SN file photo]]
Senate president: the work of the Senate is not based on letters and other writings
fili@samoanews.com

An uncle of Simeonica Tuiteleleapaga has raised with Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie concerns over statements in a tape recording made by then Department of Human and Social Services Director Taeoafua Dr. Meki Solomona during a staff meeting the day after the 2016 general election.

In his letter, Nikolao Iuli Pula Jr., who also just happens to be a US Interior Department official, revealed that the same concerns were discussed with Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, after the governor re-appointed Taeaoafua to the same directorship post for the next four years of the Lolo Administration.

Tuiteleleapaga, a transgender woman who has worked for many years at DHSS, has filed a sex discrimination complaint against ASG with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

During Taeaoafua’s confirmation hearing yesterday in the Senate, the letter, which was distributed by an unknown person to senators over the weekend and also yesterday was mentioned by some senators, including Gaoteote who informed his colleagues that the work of the Senate is not based on letters and other writings, and a senator’s decision should be based on the qualification and experience of a director-nominee.

During yesterday’s Senate session, senators confirmed Taeaoafua in a 15-3 vote while the House gave its endorsement early last week. He is now fully confirmed by the Fono. (See separate story for Senate hearing.)

Pula made clear in his letter that he was writing “as a citizen of the territory and a concerned U.S. National who was born and raised in the Islands.” Additionally, he has worked in the federal government for the past 30 plus years “and has carried the responsibility for making decisions that have had a direct impact on the affairs of American Samoa.”

Pula didn’t identify the federal government agency he has worked for or is currently working in.

He informed Gaoteote that he was surprised with Taeaoafua being nominated again as DHSS director, adding that the decision concerns him because of a tape recording he heard regarding the Nov. 9, 2016 meeting at the DHSS office where Taeaoafua “singled out a few employees; including Simeonica Tuiteleleapaga... in front of approximately 200 supervisors and staff and told her to “get out,” and that [she] was fired.”

He pointed to a Letter to the Editor titled “Inalienable Rights" published in the Nov. 17 Samoa News edition, that partially describes the incident. Additionally, those who have listened to it have posted the recording of what transpired at the Nov. 9 meeting.”

Pula asked Senate members to listen to that recording to better understand why he is bringing this matter to their attention.

“It begs the question as to whether or not such a nominee should be rewarded for his actions by being nominated again for a high-level cabinet position or whether he should be held accountable for his actions?” he asked.

 He also made clear that he was “not directing the Senate on how they should vote nor am I asking them to not confirm [Taeaoafua].”

“In a scripture we read that where much is given, much is required,” Pula wrote. “As a leader and a manager, I expected more from the DHSS director, than the hostile idiosyncratic visceral venting that I heard on the tape.”

Pula also informed Gaoteote that this is an important issue on many fronts — “sufficiently so to me that I spoke to the governor's special assistant about it soon after the nomination announcement, and eventually with the governor himself last week.”

He said he expressed to the governor his concerns, including his disappointment regarding the decision to nominate Taeaoafua again. He shared the following questions he raised with the governor:

•     What message does the ASG leadership want to send to our citizenry, our youth and the public on this matter?

•     Is it permissible for a department director or supervisor in the ASG to verbally abuse, demean and embarrass an employee and not be held accountable?

•     Is he allowed to violate an employee’s civil rights or attempt to dehumanize an individual because of gender preference?

“Regardless of one’s relation to this staff, government employees — our people — should never be subjected to this type of treatment or behavior,” Pulu said. “This is an important issue to address because it affects all levels of our community.”

“It touches on our basic respect and civility for individuals, family and plain common sense in the way we should govern,” he concluded.

The Governor’s Office press officer didn’t immediately respond to Samoa News requests for confirmation that Pula spoke with the governor and about the governor’s reaction to Pula’s concerns.

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