Dear Editor,

In reference to your article in Friday’s edition of Samoa News about the DOH Director’s recommendation to terminate the Director of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, I offer the following:

Anyone who has worked with federal grants knows that these program resources (funds, personnel, equipment, supplies, etc.) cannot legally be used to “supplant” local programs or activities, particularly when they are not remotely related to the purpose for which the grant was awarded.

As a highly respected public health official, who has completed formal Federal grants writing and administration training in the U.S., Mrs. Soliai-Lemusu is acutely aware of all the requirements and restrictions of federal grants. The Program that she directs is entirely Federally funded. I would assume that one of the main reasons that she has rebelled against the Director’s insistence on reassignment, is her refusal to violate Federal law and regulations. If other Federally funded employees had the same courage and sense of integrity, American Samoa would probably not be on the “high risk for grants” list.

Secondly, how can Mrs. Soliai-Lemusu, whose education, training and experience is entirely in the area of health care, and emergency preparedness, be expected to develop a Plan for Environmental Health? That is like asking the janitor to perform brain surgery, and then castigating him for not doing the job. Furthermore, why would DHR approve such a reassignment when it is so obviously inappropriate?

I would expect that further investigation would reveal a pervasive pattern of reassignments within DOH that have resulted in widespread disorganization, dissatisfaction, and low morale.

It would be a great disservice to the American Samoa Government, and the good people of this Territory, if we let this valuable public health employee be thrown under the bus for standing up for what’s right.”

Mick McCuddin