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Abuse of ASG vehicles remains a problem

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga in a Samoa News file photo
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The governor’s first cabinet meeting of 2019 raised — again — the issue of misuse of government vehicles. This has been a long standing matter for the Lolo Administration, as in almost every cabinet meeting over the past six years, it has been on the agenda.

At last Thursday’s cabinet meeting, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga again emphasized the re-enforcement of ASG policy when it comes to the use of ASG vehicles. He called on the Police Commissioner and the ASG Road Marshall to enforce the long standing policy and stressed to cabinet members that all ASG agencies must adhere to it.

Lolo said that the Governor’s Office, which oversees the monitoring and authorizing of the use of ASG vehicles after hours, also takes the blame for the problem. He claimed that some government employees are driving ASG vehicles without an official driver’s license and noted that he holds one of those licenses.

Lolo said that when directors are off island, they need to turn their vehicle over to their agency for use, and not lock them up at home. He cited an incident where a director was off island for two weeks and left the car at home.

The governor made it clear to directors that it’s a “privilege” to drive a government car, and all must follow the policy.