New admin unresponsive to requests for info on first cabinet meeting
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The first cabinet meeting for the new Lemanu and Talauega Administration was held Monday this week, where Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga introduced the new cabinet members.
It was also during the cabinet meeting, held at the Agriculture Department conference room, where the Health Department, along with LBJ Medical Center gave the COVID-19 presentation update — which is similar to that presented in the last cabinet meeting of the previous Lolo Administration, according to information from some of those who attended the meeting.
KVZK-TV News on Tuesday night briefly mentioned the new administration’s first cabinet meeting and showed a video clip of Lemanu thanking DoH and LBJ for the presentation.
Lemanu also said that he was just informed that the Senate had endorsed the House concurrent resolution addressing the funding-gap issue for the current fiscal year. He said he appreciates the Fono’s efforts. (See Samoa News online Jan. 5th for details of the funding-gap update.)
The Governor’s Chief of Staff, Tuimavave Tauapa’i Laupola didn’t immediately respond to Samoa News email questions sent Tuesday and again yesterday, with follow-up messages left yesterday at the Governor’s Office on issues discussed at the first cabinet meeting.
Three individuals who attended the meeting told Samoa News that the governor spoke about the funding measure sent to the Fono and the importance of conducting a complete inventory of government assets under the jurisdiction of each ASG entity.
Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale also spoke at the meeting, echoing the governor’s statement and telling cabinet members the importance of serving the public over the next four-years.
Acting director for Human and Social Service, Muavaefa’atasi John Suisala and acting police commissioner, Pese Lefiti are among local residents currently stranded off island and therefore weren’t present at the cabinet meeting.
Tuimavave — the chief of staff who had served as chief procurement officer and Office of Public Information (KVZK) in the Lolo administration — also did not respond to Samoa News questions as to whether the news media will be allowed to attend future cabinet meetings.
Samoa News and KHJ News were not invited or informed about the cabinet meeting and therefore had to reach out to those in attendance for information. KVZK has yet to air the entire cabinet meeting.
In the previous administration, then Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, made it a priority that the media be allowed to attend cabinet meetings and even allowed KVZK-TV to film it for broadcast later. Lolo made clear from the start of the Lolo/ Lemanu Administration in 2013 that allowing the news media to attend government meetings was an important part of the administration’s move for transparency in government operations.