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Governor calls for cabinet to remember they are “public servants”

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga yesterday at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium before the start of the last cabinet meeting of 2017.  [photo: FS]
fili@samoanews.com
Reflect on the great benefits that God offered to all of us to help the public

With the year 2017 coming to a close later this month, Gov. Lolo M. Moliga expressed appreciation on behalf of himself and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga, to cabinet members for their continued service as “public servants” to the people of American Samoa.

The governor’s comments were made at yesterday’s cabinet meeting at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium, where directors were reminded that the annual Territorial Christmas Program opens this Sunday at Fagatogo Pavilion and for all of them to attend the event, which runs through Wednesday night, and is hosted by the American Samoa Arts Council. 

The program is three-hours starting at 7p.m. and Sunday night’s opening includes lighting of the Territorial Christmas Tree.

During his speech, the governor pointed out that this was the final cabinet meeting of the year and an important time for the administration to reflect on its service to the public over the past 12 months.

It was also a time to “reflect on the great benefits that God offered to all of us” to help the public, he said and told cabinet directors that he and Lemanu “believe that your job is the hardest one because your duties affect the lives of our people.”

“While we are all leaders, we also have a duty as public servants to help the community grow and prosper,” he told directors. “Thank you all. We use our lives to serve our people.”

Lolo says that he and Lemanu lead the government but it is the directors in the front working with the ASG workforce to serve the public. On behalf of Lemanu, the governor urged directors to be strong and “do our best” heading into the New Year.

“We put in our all to serve our people” Lolo said.

He says the next three years, left in the administration’s work for the people and government, will be a difficult task ahead compared to the first five years in office.

Lemanu, who spoke towards the end of the cabinet meeting reminded directors that “our job is to serve the public” and it’s not an easy task as its filled with many challenges, moving forward in the new year.

He pointed out that there are times when arguments will come up during the job as a director, but those arguments bring everyone today to find solutions “for the betterment of our community.”

He also noted that the governor makes the final decisions and that is the “final say”.

“Overall our service — tautua — is (as a) public servant,” he said and reminded directors that there are several more days left in 2017 and to take care of their departments and agencies.

At the outset of the meeting, the governor — because it was the last cabinet meeting of the year, thanked the media for their work, and reiterated what he had said in the past, that the media plays an important role in any open democratic society.

He pointed out that an “important element” of democracy is an open media for the public, although he also acknowledged that there are times that the government doesn’t agreement with media reporting.

Yesterday’s meeting ended with the Christmas Luncheon hosted by the governor and first lady Mrs. Cynthia Malala Moliga.