Travel, medical appointments & ownership of VA Center

aumua-townhall

Cancelled off island medical appointments, changing travel arrangements, and ownership of the VA Memorial Center were some of the issues that veterans raised at a town hall meeting hosted by Congresswoman Aumua Amata yesterday .

About 40 veterans and family members attended the meeting held at the VA Memorial Center.

One retiree  claimed that he had a confirmed seat on Hawaiian Air which he paid for.  But when he checked in on flight night, he was told that there was no record of his paid fare and he wasnt on the flight.  So he had to pay a very hgih fare to get on the flight

Congresswoman Aumua Amata remarked that she will look into it and said, “I hope you have your receipts.”

Veteran Nick Faasala spoke about VA medical appointments being  cancelled by the local VA Clinic without their knowledge.

He also brought up an issue about the local VA doctor referring those who need chiropractor services off-island to a local physical therapist. There is no chiropractor on island.

Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua mentioned, “For years we have the opportunity to work with ASG; we want to bring more services to American Samoa.”

He added that the Congresswoman cannot settle all the issues; most issues can be settled among the veterans if they pull together and unite as one group.

Pulu Ae Ae Jr of the Congresswoman’s Field Office brought up the ownership of the VA Memorial center.

He said when he was a faipule and the center was under construction, it was supposed to belong to the Veterans Association.

Another former faipule Manu Talamoa echoed Pulu’s statement that the building belongs to the VA but under the government, but because there is no unified body (group of veterans), it is now under the government.

Before the meeting ended Congresswoman Aumua held up a copy of a 1992 GAO report on the various benefits and services available to American Samoa and invited them to pick up a copy, at no charge, from her office in Fagatogo.