More than $1.9 plus million was spent on getting American Samoa compliant with federal specifications for driver’s licenses mandated by the Real ID Act of 2005.
But after spending all that money, local ID’s do not pass muster and cannot be accepted as official proof of identification in US buildings and places.
Now the US Department of Homeland Security refuses to provide anymore funding after the local government failed to complete a project which would have enabled local identification cards to be in compliance with the federal law.
This was revealed in testimony by Commissioner of Public Safety Save Liuato Tuitele before the House Public Safety Committee yesterday,
Manu’a Faipule Vesi Fautanu Jr. requested the hearing after learning of a cabinet member who was unable to enter a federal building because her id was not compliant with the Real ID Act.
The concerned Manu’a faipule is sad that a great amount of money has been spent uselessly.
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From 2008-2013, there were five change orders made under a contract for the REAL ID project, a fact that Commissioner Save confirmed at yesterday’s hearing.
He said the Togiola Administration should have discussed the details of this project with the Fono before accepting the federal funding for it.
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Save didn’t think the Fono had any input in the project and he also suspects that then Governor Togiola and cabinet were fully informed and what to expect before accepting the funds.
Upon becoming Commissioner, he learned that an initial $38,000 was granted to start off the implementation of the REAL ID law.
Then five change orders were made with more than $600,000 spent to purchase computers and cameras.
Another change order was for $684,000.
The feds also required a well-secured building to house all the equipment for this project, which the commissioner suspected was another set back.
According to Save, as of today, the off-island contractor which was awarded the REAL ID project has not been paid for its services.
