Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Despite objections from several faipule voiced to the LBJ CEO during a House Health committee hearing last week — the old EMS building is now under the control of LBJ. All EMS vehicles and equipment were removed last week.

Samoa News visited the location yesterday morning and observed LBJ security standing in front of the building guarding the premises with yellow security tape and cones blocking the entrances.

The friendly security guard told Samoa News that the new look at the EMS premises started last week after the CEO ordered the area blocked off and converted to a parking area for LBJ brass.

The side of the former EMS building has notices designating parking slots for the “CEO” and “CMO”.

 “So what happen to EMS crew?” Samoa News asked the security guard. His response was, “They’re out.”

Last week, top officials from LBJ including the CEO, Moefa’auo Bill Emmsley, along with the acting director for the new Search and Rescue Agency (SRA), Faamasino Galoia and EMS Chief Galumalemana Popo Avegalio appeared before the House Health committee for a hearing to discuss the reason behind the move to remove EMS from LBJ and put it under the SRA, which was established by an Executive Order issued by Gov. Lemanu Peleti Sialega Mauga.

It was during the hearing that faipule learned that LBJ CEO, Moefa’auo and the acting director of the new SRA Galoia agreed to trade the EMS building for payroll for the EMS employees.

Galoia told the House committee during last week’s hearing that he had no choice as he wanted the EMS crews to get paid.

This statement did not sit well with the faipule from Aua, Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e Allen, who is also an LBJ board member.

Faimealelei did not mince words when he addressed the issue about removing EMS from LBJ and the agreement to trade the EMS building for employees’ salaries.

Faimealelei acknowledged Galumalemana’s service to EMS.

According to Faimealelei, it has been more than 40 years since Galumalemana started the first EMS service in the territory from the back of his own pickup truck.

“Now, look around us, we have EMS all over American Samoa. We have EMS certified crew, we have ambulances. The service has grown for many years now, but what is happening now, our government leaders did not want to recognize the importance of this service,” Faimealelei said.

According to Faimealelei, he has been dealing with EMS issues for the last 20 years since he retired and up until now, EMS issues and problems are still piling up.

Speaking about the trade of the EMS building for employee’ salaries, Faimealelei was not in agreement.

“Galoia, I know you’re a retired solider and I respect that, but you know, you don’t sell one thing cheap to get something else as a trade, and that is my big concern about the agreement between you and the LBJ CEO,” Faimealelei said.

Faimealelei offered some advice to the acting director of the SRA.

“If you want to make a decision, seek strong advice from those who came before you. Sit down with them and discuss these issues because this is not about you or the LBJ CEO. No, this is about the life of our people. We’re talking about EMS service for the whole entire territory, not just two people.”

Speaking about the old EMS building in Faga’alu, Faimealelei pointed out that this building was built specifically for EMS purposes, not for any offices or any hospital services.

He said that whole building was built for a special purpose. If you look inside the building, you can see how the building was formatted. There is a room for training, a room for emergency calls, and a room for all the equipment.

“So the agreement between you Galoia and Moefaauo to trade the building in order for LBJ to continue providing for EMS crews’ payroll is totally not right and does not sit well with all of us faipule.”

Faimealelei also questioned the LBJ CEO on his decision to move EMS out of its old building in Faga’alu.

According to Faimealelei, the first letter from the Department of Health (DoH) to condemn the EMS building was issued on Sept. 25, 2021, while the second letter was issued on July 22, 2022. After more than 10 months since DoH condemned the EMS building, Faimealelei asked Moefa’auo why he acted right now to move EMS away from its Faga’alu premises.

“You’ve been an LBJ board member for more than a year now and you were familiar with the problem about the EMS building. Now, you become the CEO and still no decision to renovate the building. Why did you make the decision to have EMS move out of its building instead of providing funds to renovate the building so that EMS could continued to use it?” Faimealelei asked.

Faimealelei said he believed that the reason why Moefaauo made this quick move was because Gov. Lemanu issued his Executive Order to move EMS under the new agency called Search and Rescue.

Moefaauo stated in his report that was submitted to the House committee during the hearing, that with the Governor’s support via LBJ’s plea and rationalization and by mutual “agreement” with Galoia, the EMS building passed to LBJ’s jurisdiction, in exchanged for LBJ’s commitment to subsidize payroll for the SRA employees until the end of the calendar year. However earlier reports stated salaries would be paid through to the end of the fiscal year.

“Thus, LBJ Board of Directors resolved or demolish, if needed, the building to expand its clinical services and in support of ARPA’s $100 million investment, as recommended by the CEO,” the report said.

In closing of the report, Moefaauo stated that he believes the main issue here is “the degree of compelling necessity of required medical services in the public’s best interest.

“Clearly, the overarching and irrefutable requirements of LBJ, far outweighs and prevails over, the desire of EMS leadership, which cannot be rationally justified in any meaningful way and the desire of a few to disrupt ASG and LBJ plans is ethically repugnant.”

Moefa’auo further stated in his report that there were personal attempts, more or less, to block or to reverse the Governor’s Executive Order, the mutually signed agreement by and between LBJ and the SRA, and LBJ’s ongoing effort to improve its far reaching clinical services in the interest of the public, and these efforts were “outrageous and irresponsible”.