Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The citations closing down Government buildings due to unsanitary conditions are the responsibility of the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Services Division, but any legal actions against government agencies not adhering to the citation falls on the Director of Health and Director of the Agency cited.

This is according to the head of the DOH Environmental Health Services Division, Aileen Solaita in response to Samoa News questions. 

On July 25, the DOH Environmental Health Services Division cited the Hospital’s cafeteria and deemed it closed due to unsanitary issues, but the hospital ignored the citation.

“EHSD-DOH deemed the facility CLOSED even on the day of inspection, which was on July 25, 2022,” said Mrs Solaita in an email confirming the closure.

But as reported earlier by Samoa News, nurses and doctors at the hospital on the other hand confirmed the cafeteria was “never closed”.

Mrs Solaita told Samoa News that any legal actions from DoH to remove anyone from the government building would be based on their director and the directors of those ‘closed’ buildings. 

 “We have worked with other directors in which they totally agree with our findings and feels for the safety and health of their staff, which they take our call seriously; however, others, depend on the availability of a place for them to relocate to or what they plan in order to still have their staff be able to work and provide for their families.”

Adding that for government building inspections — all they can do is the inspection and inform directors or leaders of their calls for their buildings. 

 “But removing people from the workplace and offices depends on the director and leaders. The call we make for the government buildings we inspect, verify the complaints and document the findings and the call that we have made. 

 “Such calls also relieve DOH from any liability if for any reason, an individual/ person gets injured, sick or affected by such conditions. 

 “We've deemed CLOSED quite a few government buildings, but some continue to occupy them due to issues, such as leaders are looking for other office spaces, and deciding what they are going to do,” said the head of the division.

According to Mrs Solaita the following government buildings their division have already deemed “either unsafe, unhygienic, unsanitary or all three are Port Admin Buildings and from past calls; Executive Office Building; Department of Public Safety Tafuna Substation; the Emergency Medical Services, LBJ Cafeteria, the Department of Records office in Fagatogo — from past year’s and the Postal Service - last year but after corrective actions, it reopened.

 “One thing I'm afraid to say is that, if we were to inspect all government buildings, most likely, all would be deemed either unsafe, unhygienic or unsanitary.

 “The above buildings were inspected due to numerous complaints. 

“There are more government buildings that we have received complaints for. 

“We have also received complaints on churches, their kitchens and halls and have also deemed it CLOSED due to the above issues.

“We have deemed homes as well closed and condemned due to unsanitary conditions. We have deemed piggeries, water machines, ice machines, meat cutting rooms, etc. CLOSED  even our own DOH clinics in the past — Dental and Primary clinic,” said Solaita.

Regarding concerns over the inconsistency in exposing of government buildings versus private businesses that are posted on the division’s Facebook page, Solaita told Samoa News they cannot please everyone.

 “The FB page was created to inform the public of businesses that were closed so they don't drive to that store and [find] they are closed, which should be public information.  At the same time it was created as an educational tool on what is acceptable and unacceptable with DOH findings.  

 “Our Samoan people are so hard to please and whether we post government or non-government closures, people will always complain. 

“However, our mission may be interpreted by others as negative; however, we continue to inform you that when there is a closure, then that means there is a reason, which includes the following: rodent droppings on shelves and in kitchens, mold growth, unsanitary and unhygienic conditions of food places, tools, utensils and equipment.”

According the head of the division, as of January to date they have closed more than 50 businesses (food and non food such as sewing shop, laundromat, etc) and last year, we have closed more than 100 businesses and some are repeated closures.