Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ASG using privately owned “MV Pago Pago” for Manu’a voyages, repairs to government vessel MV Manu’atele, and status of where the territory stands with an Air Traffic Control Tower for Pago Pago International Airport were among the issues raised last week during the Port Administration’s fiscal year 2021 budget hearing, where the department’s second-deputy director was introduced to lawmakers.  

Last week Tuesday, while the Fono Joint Budget Committee hearings were underway, the MV Pago Pago, owned by local businessman Papali’i Lauli’i Alofa, was loading at the inter-island dock for another trip to the Manu’a islands.

The following day, during Port Administration’s budget hearing, Sen. Fonoti Tafa’ifa Aufata asked when this vessel started operating for Manu’a and if Port Administration had conducted thorough inspections to ensure safety before operations started.

Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele responded that the vessel started service sometime in May this year and it’s the US Coast Guard that conducts inspections before allowing any vessel to operate in territorial waters.

ASG is utilizing the MV Pago Pago while the MV Manu’atele — with a crew of nine  — is undergoing repairs at the Marisco shipyard in Honolulu. The multi-million dollar vessel sustained damage at the Ofu Wharf during bad weather early this year.

House Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui Jr., sought an update on the repairs, to which Taimalelagi said it’s expected to be completed next month and thereafter return to the territory.

As reported by Samoa News in July the governor through his executive order, temporarily suspended local procurement requirements so repairs could be carried out for the MV Manu’atele. The US Department of Interior has allocated $1.6 million for repairs to the vessel. (See Samoa News edition July 17th for details.)

Another question lawmakers raised with the director is the status of an Air Traffic Control Tower. Taimalelagi explained that the last discussion with the US Federal Aviation Administration on this issue as well as a funding discussion was last year. She said Port has requested federal funding for the project and this issue would probably continue on to next year.

Taimalelagi appeared at the hearing with her two deputy directors — Christopher King who has been deputy for a long time, and a new deputy, Falenaoti Loi-On Fruen who has been with Port Administration for many years. Taimalelagi told lawmakers that when her term comes to a close at the end of December, the deputy directors are on hand heading into the year 2021, transitioning in for the new administration.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Taimalelagi told Samoa News last Friday that the second deputy director position has been in the Budget for the past two years. And the decision to recruit a second Deputy Director “was based on the magnitude of responsibilities” at the Port of Pago Pago, Faleasao and Ofu harbor and wharf, Pago Pago International Airport as well as the Fitiuta and Ofu airports in Manu’a.

“The [second] Deputy Position was advertised in-house and three employees applied for the position,” she explained. “A panel of 5 management level administrators conducted the interview and made the selection which was supported by the Director.”

Taimalelagi said Loi-on Fruen has been with the Port for over 20 years and has a Masters Degree.

The two deputy director positions, according to Port Administration’s budget, are both career service employees.