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Governor appoints acting director for local Homeland Security

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reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga on Wednesday this week appointed Alfonso Pete Galea’i as acting director of the local Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS). The appointment was effective Wednesday, the same day that the governor issued the memo announcing the acting director.

Galea’i “has extensive management experience allowing him to seamlessly assume the duties and responsibilities mandated by applicable law,” said Lolo in the memo to cabinet members, who asked them to extend the “same courtesies and support” to Galea’i as they do to other cabinet members.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, the governor’s executive assistant, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira said Thursday that Galea’i’s appointment followed the governor’s acceptance of resignation from Samana Semo Ve’ave’a, the former director of ASDHS.

“It is the Governor’s intention to submit Mr. Galea’i’s name for confirmation by the Fono,” Iulogologo pointed out.

Samana handed in his resignation on Apr. 21st and the governor assigned ASDHS deputy director, Vinnie Atofau to the acting post “until further notice”. Samoa News understands that the governor placed Samana on a 30-day administrative leave and this past week accepted his resignation.

Prior to joining ASDHS, Galea’i had been serving for several years as director of the ASG Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM). Iulogologo said the governor plans to appoint an acting director for ODAPM.