SANITOA FOLLOWS UP ON REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL REPORTS FROM ASG

Tualauta Rep. Larry Sanitoa is following up on his recent request to obtain 2014 and 2015 ASG Financial Statement including revenue and expenditures reports from Treasury and Budget pursuant to ASCA 2.0601 and 2.0602, in a letter to the Legislative Financial Officer Talalemotu  Mauga this week.

Sanitoa pointed out that several of his colleagues intend to raise the issue of increments with the administration again, given Governor Lolo’s recent State of the Territorial address in which it was reported that ASG collected over $100 million last year. He also pointed out that the administration bill to create the “Territorial Bank of American Samoa” has recently been introduced to the House and was referred to the Commerce Committee. 

“While I applaud the administration for taking a bold initiative in realizing the need to improve our banking services to assist our government, promote economic development and to help our people, this bill is very complex and the $10 million investment of tax payer’s money is quite substantial.

“Therefore, as Commerce Committee chairman I humbly request your assistance to obtain the following reports from Treasurer Ueli Tonumaipea to assist the committee with its due diligence work: 5-Year Plan including financial statement on projected revenue and expenditures; Update on the Bond Proposal in reference to financing the bank.”

ASG increments have been frozen since the Lolo and Lemanu took office in January 2013. In a cabinet meeting last year September, Lolo pointed out that an increment is an award given to people who perform a good job — not everybody is entitled to an increment, it’s based on the evaluation that has been performed by the directors, the governor pointed out. He added that it also depends on how the government does financially — “that’s the bottom line.”

At the time Lolo assured that they are observing and making sure that they will implement the increments and he’s asked the Directors of Budget, Human Resources and Treasury to look into the issue.

BILL TO RAISE SMALL CLAIMS LIMIT REINTRODUCED IN HOUSE

A bill to raise the small claims limit for banks, savings and loan institution amending the local statute on the trial of small claims by the Administration was introduced in the House yesterday morning. In the 33rd legislation, House Legal Affairs Chair, Vui Florence Saulo tabled this measure noting that there are a lot of loopholes and a lot of questions posed about this bill and there fore the committee has agreed to table this measure. The Senate also tabled the measure.

The proposed legislation is to limit for the proceedings of cases in small claims court on behalf of banks and savings loan institution from $3,000 to $7,500. The bill has again been assigned to the Legal Affairs Committee.