Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At last week’s cabinet meeting, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga re-emphasized that no overtime is to be processed unless it first gets his pre-approval and he urged cabinet members to the comply with this administration’s long standing policy.

In a Nov. 17th memo to cabinet members, the governor said that as of the date of the memo, all overtime was suspended.

“Notwithstanding, there are emergencies which compel the incurring of overtime,” the governor explained. “The overtime pre-approval policy is again being reemphasized and will be aggressively enforced.” (See Samoa News edition Nov. 19th for details.)

At the cabinet meeting, the governor said instructions have been communicated to Human Resources director Eseneiaso Liu and ASG Budget and Planning Office director, Catherine Saelua that no overtime is to be paid in the next pay periods.

And if there is overtime work needed, Lolo stressed that his approval must first be obtained — no matter which department or office is requesting overtime, even if the request is from the Department of Public Safety.

 He emphasized to executive branch directors that no overtime is processed unless he gives pre-approval.

In his Nov. 17th memo, the governor said the “increased flurry of overtime requests for my approval is alarming given the absence of the need for incurrence except for the Department of Health and the Department of Port Administration dealing with COVID-19 mitigation issues.”

The governor, at the cabinet meeting, also said that the ASG island-wide clean-up committee is “one of the last things we need to push before we leave office.” Lolo wants the island-wide clean-up to be carried out before Christmas and a second one prior to the inauguration of the new governor and lieutenant governor.

The governor also spoke briefly of the 2020 general election saying it was a peaceful one and commended the Election Office for their work as well as the support from other ASG agencies.

He asked that everyone come together now to lend their support to the newly elected leaders, including governor-elect, Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga and lieutenant governor-elect, Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale.