Spending of Coronavirus Relief Fund of $35.1 million

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A total of $105,390 was paid to vendors who supplied meals for the quarantine sites between March and July 31st.

The names of the vendors are not listed in the reports that Treasurer Ueligitone Tonumaipe’a and Budget Director Catherine Saelua distributed at a hearing of the House Budget and Appropriations Committee into the COVID-19 grants awarded to ASG.

These payments came from the $35.1 million that ASG was awarded under the CARES Act.

Some of the vendors which DOH used for the meals are KS Mart, Fonuea, and DDW.

The report shows that Sadies By the Sea was paid $147,498 for the use of the hotel as a quarantine side. One payment was for $136,000 for 44 rooms and meals from June to July.

A second payment of $11,578 was for 22 rooms and meals for quarantined individuals in April.

Samoa Airways received a total of $147,240 for charter flights to Manu’a and the government paid $10,467 for the pilots to stay at the Tradewinds Hotel while the plane for Manu’a charters was parked at the Tafuna Airport.

Other vendors who received payments from he COVID-19 money are Nana’s Inc which was paid $440,000 for quarantine sites and Paramount Builders which received $299.943 also for quarantine buildings.

Other costs listed are $210,700 for five new vehicles for the Department of Public Safety enforcement.

The Territorial Bank of American Samoa also received $100,000 for bank checks.

Other costs which were paid from the ASG Coronavirus Relief Fund was the $10,000 checks for village enforcement which were given to Nu’uuli, Pago Pago, Leone and Faleniu/Mesepa.

A $10,000 check in the name of Adrianna Tavai of the Governor’s Office was to cover a meeting with Nu’uuli village for the secondary road construction.

As of July 31st, $15.4 million of this fund has been spent leaving a balance of $18.7 million.

During yesterday’s hearing Reps Larry Sanitoa and Timusa Lam Yuen urged that a plan to return residents stranded in Hawaii and the mainland be considered and that a portion of the money be used to pay for charters to bring them home.

Treasurer Ueligitone Tonumaipe’a said that charter costs would be allowable however with coronavirus cases not showing any decline in the mainland and Hawaii, there are no plans at this time to bring home residents who are stuck off island.

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