Senator Galeai Tuufuli wants the Fonoto get the same privileges as directors …specifically $300 a month phone allowances.
It was Senator Gaea Pelefoti who asked about the phone allowance for directors during a Senate hearing yesterday on the governor’s supplemental budget bill.
Gaea asked Budget Director Cathy Saeulua if it’s true that department funds are used to buy expensive phones for directors and also their phone bills.
Saelua explained that the directors buy their own phones but they receive a $300 monthly allowance.
Senator Tuaolo Fuean said when he was Election Commissioner he used his personal cell phone for office work and he was paid a monthly phone allowance of $300.
When he left the position, he took his phone home, which is better than what was happening in the past, when directors finished their terms they took the government phones with them.
Senator Galeai was surprised to hear about the phone allowance for directors and asked who made such a stupid decision?
Saelua said it was the governor’s feeling that since directors jobs are 24/7 they will be using their cell phones for official business and are therefore entitled to a phone allowance.
Senator Galeai suggested to his colleagues that they look for funds in the proposed supplemental budget bill to allocate for phone allowances for lawmakers.
