Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — According to the testimony by the DPS Deputy Commission, Jerry Letuli, October is now the target date for the Department of Public Safety/Office of Motor Vehicles to begin issuing REAL ID driver’s licenses and ID cards.

Letuli, along with Director of the Department of Homeland Security, Samana Semo Ve’ave’a testified before the House Homeland Security committee last week to discuss several issues house members raised. One of the issues was an update on the REAL ID license.

According to Samana, American Samoa has been given several extensions by the US Department of Homeland Security to come into compliance with the REAL ID law.

The latest deadline for the territory is May of next year. After that time, the current American Samoa driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted for travel purposes to the US or for clearance to enter federal buildings.

Letuli said Paramount Builders, the contractor for the REAL ID building to house the servers, computers, camera and all components for the REAL ID system expects to finish installation of a cyber secure door for the building before an inspection by federal officials in September,

He said they are targeting October to begin issuing REAL ID driver’s licenses.

Homeland Security Director Samana told the committee the US Department of Homeland Security is waiting for the territory to issue REAL ID driver’s licenses. He said improvements can be made incrementally but the most important thing is to start producing the REAL ID driver’s licenses.

He emphasized that since it’s been two years since computers, printers, servers and other IT equipment for the system have been installed, the off island contractor needs to do another inspection before the system goes on line. “They need to check if all the equipment is still around, or some have walked,” he quipped.

Faipule Faimealelei Anthony Allen, a frequent traveler to Hawaii and the mainland, said local travelers are already facing so many inconveniences and urged that everything must be done to ensure that American Samoa’s driver’s licenses are fully REAL ID compliant by the deadline.

Faipule Ape Mike Asifoa said he was unable to rent a car while he was in Hawaii during his recent trip because the American Samoa driver’s licenses are not recognized as an international driver license in all parts of th