Chief of Staff responds to Pulu Ae Ae Jr

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The Governor’s Chief of Staff Fiu Johnny Saelua has responded to concerns raised by District director of Congresswoman Aumua Amata’s local office, Pulu Ae Ae Jr., on the treatment of the congresswoman during public high school graduations.

Pulu had written to Governor Lolo Moliga two weeks ago stating that during graduation ceremonies it was reported to their office that the Director of Education had given specific instructions to bar Congresswoman Aumua from taking a seat on the stage reserved for the church minister, governor and other VIPs attending public high school graduations.

According to Pulu, when the congresswoman was unable to get on stage, parents were upset that their students could not be congratulated by their Representative to the United States Congress.

Pulu told the governor the Director of Education’s action appears to have political overtones and added it was uncalled for and puts the Director’s political agenda ahead of the students’ rights.

The day after Pulu sent off his June 15 missive to the governor, he got a reply from the Governor’s Chief of Staff Fiu Johnny Saelua.

Fiu wrote it’s unfortunate the concerned callers did not contact their office directly “so we could have discuss these accusations with the director of education at that time and afford her the opportunity to refute these allegations or explain the actions” that Pulu refers to.

Fiu said they have made inquiries and have found that the DOE Director, Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau, never gave any instructions that the congresswoman “should be barred from any of the graduations.”

Pulu’s letter to the governor doesnt say Aumua was barred from graduations, rather that she was barred from sitting on stage with the VIPs.

Fiu pointed out in his letter to Pulu the schools organize their own graduation ceremonies and it was possible during the “chaotic organization of graduations there can be incidents where one might become offended where no offense was intended.”

 

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