Governor Lolo Moliga does not deny that an offer was made to the AYFS team to Samoa for the Manu’atele to transport them to Apia.
But he says when Lt Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga made the offer he wasn’t aware of the Coast Guard requirements for the vessel to sail in international waters.
He said clearance was also required from Samoa.
Governor Lolo said Port Administration held meetings with the local Coast Guard on Friday and it was made clear that Coast Guard approvals were necessary before the boat can travel to Samoa.
The Coast Guard also explained serious consequences for ASG if there were incidents during the voyage.
Lolo said he met with a group of parents Monday and explained why the Manu’atele couldn’t make the trip to Samoa.
AYFS officials paid for two plane charters to take the team and coaches on Sunday and they had the understanding that the government would reimburse the costs.
But the governor told KHJ News that he told the parents he met with on Monday that at this time the government is not prepared to provide such assistance.
He said the government is also struggling and such a move would set precedent for other sports teams.
Lolo said the organizers of the trip are the ones that let the kids down.
“They should have been more responsible in their organization of the trip to Samoa,” said Lolo.
He said the team members didn’t even have consent forms from their parents.
Meanwhile in Apia, one of the main organizers of the AYFS Friendship Game in Samoa, Loso Iaulualo, is faced with another problem.
He says the Samoa Airways official here that he arranged the charters with quoted $6,000 return for two flights.
But in Apia he was given a different quote. ‘
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Despite the problem, Iaulualo says the team is in good spirits and all psyched up for their game Friday Samoa time against a combined team with three schools in the Apia urban area.
