Senator Galea’i Tu’ufuli says the Fono’s disregard of the land use permitting system is an embarrassment.
And he puts the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Senate President and Speaker of the House.
The Fono was issued a stop notice for carrying out a major construction project, repairs to the Fono guesthouse, without a land use permit.
The stop notice was issued December 8, several weeks after construction company Paramount Builders had started on the project.
The notice to cease and desist was ignored and construction on the Fale Samoa continued uninterrupted.
The Fono submitted an application for a land use permit after it was issued the stop notice and a hearing was scheduled yesterday with Senate President Gaoteote Palaie listed as the applicant. However neither the president nor a designee showed up.
The permitting group, Project Notification and Review System Board, decided yesterday to issue another stop notice to the Fono and if it doesn’t comply they would refer the case to the Attorney General’s Office for legal action.
Senator Galea’i said for the Fono leadership to circumvent the rules was unconscionable and it was an embarrassing start to a new year.
The ever critical senator said he will definitely let the Senate President know his feelings about the Samoan fale project and the leaders’ disregard of the law when the Fono convenes next week.
Galea’i said he will also query how the job is being funded and why it was not put out to bid.
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale had told KHJ News shortly after the renovations work started, it’s an emergency job and Paramount Builders is providing the labor while the Fono buys the materials.
According to Savali, the fale’s posts were termite ridden, the roof was leaking and the whole structure was unsound.
He said they were rushing the repairs for the fale would be ready for the opening of the Fono in January.
But the repairs have turned into a major reconstruction and it’s far form completed,
The opening of the Fono next Monday therefore will be held in the Lee Auditorium.
