Some government departments and authorities say they cannot fully follow Governor Lolo Moliga’s directive to purchase only from the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority because there are services they need that ASTCA cannot provide.
An August 15 memo from the governor instructed all departments, offices and authorities of the American Samoa Government to procure telecommunication services from ASTCA.
The governor said in his memo to directors and CEOs, “We can find all types of excuses to justify our current practice of purchasing telecommunication services from another vendor. We cannot continue to undermine the viability of this asset of the American Samoa Government.”
Employees of one of the larger ASG departments who did not want to be named, say since their department switched over to ASTCA their internet service has been very slow.
They also said that their department is spread out in different locations and ASTCA cannot keep up with work orders for installation of phone and internet service.
The Executive Director of the American Samoa Power Authority, Utu Abe Malae says ASPA needs VOIA or Voice Over Internet Protocol, a service that ASTCA cannot provide.
He said they have a lot of problems with incoming calls on ASTCA service, and are therefore using VOIP which only Blue Sky can provide.
In addition, ASPA is still using a lot of BlueSky flip phones and it would be expensive to replace them with ASTCA phones.
Blue Sky Communications CEO Toleafoa Douglas Creevey has not responded to our questions on how their company will be impacted if it no longer does business with ASG.
One business owner was baffled by the “buy only ASTCA” policy.
He said while the Lolo Lemanu administration talks about helping the private sector its actions are hurting businesses.
He said BlueSky has more than 100 employees , is paying taxes and is providing services that ASTCA can’t.
