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by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
Senate President Lolo M. Moliga is urging Governor Togiola to take immediate steps to protect the security of local birth certificates and other documents issued by the Office of Vital Statistics, which comes under jurisdiction of the governor's office.
Lolo's request, outlined in a July 25 letter to the governor, followed a meeting last week Tuesday with Nancy K. "Sam" Finn, the regional director of the U.S. Department of State's Passport Office in Honolulu.
During the meeting, Lolo said Finn raised with him "very worrisome issues that ought to be addressed immediately."
"The bottom line is the security system connected with the protection of the integrity of our vital records is not safe," Lolo wrote. "This fact exposes us to enormous vulnerability and precipitates fraudulent practices that compromise confidence by the United States in our ability to properly manage our affairs."
The Senate President said Finn has suggested that the territory must automate its vital statistics system and recommended that a redundant set of records be developed and stored in a hurricane and weather proof facility.
Lolo said Finn has offered her assistance to ensure that the proposed corrective actions reach fruition.
The Senate President claims that $60,000 was awarded to a local company [un-named] for the vital statistic automation system and he asked the governor about the status of this project.
"I am concerned, and I am sure you are too, that our people will suffer unnecessary delays on processing passports if the Department of State lacks conviction that the documents submitted by our Office of Vital Statistics are genuine," Lolo said. "Consequently, more time is needed to authenticate the validity of the birth certificates and other required documents supporting the request for a passport."
Lolo also said it was reported to him that records used to be microfilmed and stored in a microfiche as local redundancy system, but this process has been stopped. He said this has created "great vulnerability and exposure to tremendous risk for our vital records" adding that it is "rather scary that we don't have a backup system and that we only have one set of records."
"With due respect, I implore you to please take immediate steps to mitigate adverse conditions which exposes us to unnecessary risk that has direct impact on our lives and the lives of our future generations," he said.
In a separate letter, Lolo informed Finn that the Senate will follow up on the issues she raised to ensure that these critical projects are accomplished.
The Fono will be reviewing the FY 2007 budget soon and hopefully will appropriate funds earmarked to facilitate successful attainment of the automation and backup systems, he said.
It was two weekends ago on his radio program that the governor said the U.S. government continues to question local birth certificates due to past problems.
Even today, said the governor, Samoans living in California, Washington state and Oregon were found to have been operating a business by using fake American Samoan birth certificates.
Reach the reporter at fili@samoanews.com.
Osini Faleatasi, Inc. dba Samoa News reserves all rights.
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