Four of the six members of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau Board have been confirmed by the Senate.
Following a hearing by the Senate Government Operations Committee this morning, the nominations of Tuiagamoa Tavai, Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Tuli Fruean, Station Manager of Hawaiian Air, Thomas Drabble, owner of Sadie Thompson Inn and Sadie’s by the Sea and Deputy Director of Commerce Uili Leauanae to serve on the ASVB Board were approved.
Leauanae, Tuiagamoa and Drabble were confirmed by a vote of 13-1 while Fruean’s nomination received unanimous approval.
The remaining board members, Roy JD Hall Jr and Mrs Betty Cavanaugh were not present as they are off island.
Tuiagamoa, Leauanae, and Hall have already been confirmed by the House.
Committee Chairman Senator Galeai Tuufuli advised the board members, now that they have a quorum they should not wait until the other two board directors are confirmed.
He echoed statements by Senator Soliai Tuipine that only two members of the previous board made decisions for the American Samoa Visitors Bureau including how the budget is spent.
The senators also drew the nominees attention to the almost $1 million allocated for personnel costs for 7 employees.
