Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Only two of the Governor’s five nominees to the American Samoa Visitors Bureau (ASVB) Board of Directors appeared for their Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday morning.

Senator Togiola T.A. Tulafono, who chairs the Senate Government Operations Committee, noted that the absence of the other nominees stemmed from the Governor’s Office not informing them of the scheduled hearing.

Those who did attend were Aliimuamua Magdalene Petaia, Director of Commerce, and Vaiutusala Sataua Dr. Mataese Samuelu, Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs. Both affirmed their readiness to serve on the Visitors Bureau board.

When the matter reached the Senate floor, Senator Togiola moved for all five nominees to be confirmed together and suggested that, rather than using secret ballots, senators cast their votes by raising their hands.

The Senate agreed, and all five nominees were unanimously approved in a single vote. In addition to Aliimuamua and Vaiutusala, the confirmed board members include Tisa Faamuli, Sosene Asifoa Jr., and Rosalind Polu.

The five members of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau Board of Directors are all newly appointed, having officially begun their service following their unanimous Senate confirmation last Thursday.

Their terms, set by statute and outlined in the Governor’s nomination notice, run through either September 2028 or March 2029, depending on the seat.

With their confirmation occurring in a single vote, the board — comprising Aliimuamua Magdalene Petaia, Vaiutusala Sataua Dr. Mataese Samuelu, Tisa Faamuli, Sosene Asifoa Jr., and Rosalind Polu has only just commenced its work this month.