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UPDATE: Mauga challenges cabinet to step up to help stranded residents

Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga T. Asuega
Still no movement or scheduling for a repatriation flight
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — To help provide some financial assistance for American Samoa residents stranded off island due to border closure, Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga T. Asuega suggested a cabinet-member funded initiative, and declared his donation of $5,000 to kick start such a fundraising event.

Mauga’s suggestion was made at last Friday’s cabinet meeting at the Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium and comes amid calls by the House of Representatives, through an approved resolution, for the governor to provide financial assistance for American Samoa residents stranded across the U.S.

Speaking towards the end of the cabinet meeting, Mauga — at the outset of his remarks — asked cabinet members and others to offer prayers for a speedy recovery for US President Donald Trump and the First Lady — both of whom last week tested positive for COVID-19.

He then reminded those in attendance, that these are difficult and challenging times, due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has prompted the closure of borders. He pointed out that the government’s COVID-19 task force continues their work and so does the governor, whose responsibility it will be, when the time comes, to make a final decision based on the set plans.

And if the cabinet is looking at some form of help for local residents waiting from off island to return home, he suggested financial assistance, saying that he is putting forth his suggestion to the governor and lieutenant governor for consideration.

Mauga estimates there were about 40 cabinet members in attendance and suggested starting with each director donating $1,000 for a financial assistance fund initiative to assist those stranded off island and such action would show the community that, “we talk it, we walk it”.

He says such assistance would also show American Samoa residents wantubg to return home and they are not forgotten while waiting that day when the governor makes a final decision on flights.

He also recommended female cabinet members start organizing a committee for this initiative while awaiting a decision by the governor.

Mauga offered his $5,000 donation to start the cabinet-funded initiative, which he says is a suggestion for consideration for the governor and lieutenant governor.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga only acknowledged Mauga remarks but didn’t offer any response to the cabinet-funded initiative.

At this point, there’s still no official word from the governor on a repatriation flight to bring home more than 400 local residents stranded across the US, while Hawaiian Airlines flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago are now suspended through the end of November.

In his Oct. 1st letter to Hawaiian chief executive officer and president Peter Ingram, the governor, again, thanked the Honolulu-based carrier for their "staunch support" of American Samoa's efforts "to protect lives by preventing the accidental transmission of the COVID-19 by travelers through the suspension of flights."

Responding to requests regarding ASG's "future plans... relative to the duration of our border closure, the unstable and apparent uncontrollable transmissions” of the COVID-19 in Hawaii as well as the US mainland, the governor informed Ingram that, the "territory is left with little recourse but to continue our border closure for the month of November."

Hawaiian carried out the ASG organized Medicaid charter in July to Honolulu and the governor is hopeful that the airline will continue to "support our requests for special" Medicaid charter flights to address the needs of local patients seeking off-island treatment.

"Moreover, many of our local residents do have standing medical appointments with outside healthcare institutions but have been unable to attend because of our border closure," Lolo informed Ingram, and noted that the territory is "also exploring the possibility of requesting a special repatriation charter to bring our stranded residents home."

In closing, Lolo acknowledged the airline's "economic and financial hardship" as a result of "our border closure policy" and thanked Hawaiian and Ingram for their continued commitment "of placing lives before profits."