Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Fuiavailili Keniseli Lafaele, a member the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund board has been removed as of April 24, 2025, the date of the letter, according to a letter he received as formal notice last Friday, Apr. 25th.

Samoa News has obtained a copy of the letter/ formal notice, which is signed by Caroline Wendt, Acting [Executive] Director [of ASGERF].

The letter states that “as of today’s date the ASGERF Board of Directors has unanimously voted to remove you from your position as a Board Member, effective immediately.

“This decision follows serious concerns regarding breaches of confidentiality, dissemination of misleading information, overstepping authority, and repeated disregard for Board protocols and leadership.

“These actions have eroded the Board's trust in you and impaired their ability to function effectively.”

It concludes, “If you have any questions, you may contact Chairman Tuaolo Fruean.”

The letter is cc’d to Tuaolo M.E. Fruean, Chairman of the Board; Loa Tauapa'l Laupola, Vice-Chairman of the Board; Tony Togia'l, Board Member; and, Toloa'l Ho Ching, Board Member.

Fuiavailili’s response to his removal is in the form of an Open Letter to the members of the ASGERF that is published in today’s Samoa News edition — it is the 4th and final one in a series of Letters To the Editor (LTEs) he has had published highlighting his concerns about the government employees retirement fund’s viability.

The LTEs have all been addressed to ASGERF members.

His letters have covered a host of concerns including the Board’s support of an amendment to increase the percentage by which the Fund can loan money to the local government — from 17% to no cap. After much discussion, the Senate settled on a 60% cap versus no cap at all.

Fuiavailili was against the change and noted in one of his Open LTEs that “the proposed removal of the cap on local investments threatens critical safeguards that protect benefit payments from disruption.”

Of interest, when the amendment was argued/ discussed there was no mention of an actuary report which is required under provisions of the Retirement Fund statute for review by the Fono when there are proposed changes to the law. Instead, then ASGERF director Vaitautolu Talia Faafetai merely gave a verbal report on the status of the Fund.

In addition, Fuiavailili advocates the formation of an association of active and retired members of the ASG retirement fund that with legal representation would demand improved governance and long- term security of the Fund, saying the Fund has the ability to be a “a potent economic driver for the territory”.