As the governor sees it the ban on social gatherings during the emergency declaration for coronavirus is not being followed in villages.
And he’s written to the Secretary of Samoan Affairs to lean on village mayors to help enforce the rules.
Lolo said reports of bingo games, family gatherings and other activities going on in the villages which violate the edicts of the second amended declaration is “very disconcerting.”
He says it’s an indication that pulenuu are not performing their duties to help the Department of Public Safety “compel compliance by all residents”.
In the amended declaration, all public gatherings are suspended until further notice. This includes but not limited to bingo halls, rallies, political events, theaters, traditional gatherings, parks and recreation areas, flight night gatherings and major sponsored events.
Only private family gatherings of no more than ten people will be permitted. DPS is tasked with ensuring that public gatherings disperse.
Failure to obey this restriction will be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor which carries a fine of up t0 $1000 and or a 1 year jail term.
The governor informed Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega, “All the pulenuu needs to do is report violators to the police and they will apprehend the person or persons defying the declaration.”
“They are the eyes and ears of the government in their respective villages. They should be looking out for individuals who might show signs of the coronavirus,” said Lolo.
The governor emphasized that COVID-19 is a deadly disease, “thus it’s imperative and necessary that we, as officials of the government as well as village leaders, should take the lead to make sure that no one among our midst would fall victim to this virus.”
He told Mauga, “I’m imploring you to please lean on the pulenuus and faalupegas” to help the Department of Public Safety in enforcing the declaration.”
