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Former DMWR director nominated to hospital board

LBJ hospital sign
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a Dec. 2nd memorandum, Gov. Lolo Matalasi made the “recess appointment” of Ufagafa Ray Tulafono to the board of the American Samoa Medical Center Authority (LBJ Hospital) to fill the vacancy made by the passing of Utoofili Asofa’afetai Maga, a former ASG Health director.

Lolo points to provision of local law which allows a governor to make “recess appointments” — when the Fono is not in session — to fill vacancies caused by death, resignation, or removal of cause if the vacancy occurs while the Legislature is not in session. Recess appointments shall expire at the conclusion of the next following regular or special session of the Legislature if they are not confirmed during that session. Incumbents may continue to serve after the expiration of their terms until a successor is appointed and confirmed.

The Fono convenes next month, January 2020.

According to the governor, Ufagafa brings to the board of directors “wealth of leadership and management experience” having served as director of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources “for many years along with the accumulation of skills set having been exposed to all operational levels of the American Samoa Government, which will enrich the work” of the board.