Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga remains firm that he will not submit his nomination of Aoelua Solomona Aoelua as Director of the Office of Public Information/KVZK-TV to the Fono for confirmation.
On Inauguration Day January 3rd, Governor Lemanu issued two memos naming heads of departments, offices and agencies. One memo appointed 22 acting directors of departments and offices while the second named directors of agencies and offices.
The Acting Director of the Office of Public Information/KVZK-TV was on the first list. Aoelua’s is the only name out of the 22 who hasn’t been submitted to the Fono for approval. (Note that Acting Director of Youth & Women affairs Salote Aoelua Fanene’s nomination was submitted. However, it hasn’t yet been reviewed by the Fono because she is off island for medical treatment.)
Senate President Tuaolo Fruean has written to Governor Lemanu seeking an explanation on why the acting director of the government television station hasn’t been sent to the Fono for review. He told KHJ News that it’s the Senate’s position that this position is subject to Fono review and approval. He said the same goes for the Director of the Office of Criminal Justice & Planning Agency (CJPA). The CJPA director is Mariana Timu Faiai .
Tuaolo maintains that in the past the directors of these two offices were submitted to the Fono for approval and he says the Senate wants to know the basis for the governor’s decision not to submit their nominations.
He pointed out it appears that “each Governor has his own rules but we operate on laws.”
Tuaolo told KHJ News this is why he instructed the Senate attorney Mitzie Jessop Taase to seek an explanation from the governor.
Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui has twice raised the issue about the KVZK-TV director on the House floor.
Communications Officer in the Governor’s Office Fiafia Sunia said yesterday Governor Lemanu is firm that “he will not submit Director Solomona to go through the confirmation process. “
He said this has been an issue with every Administration since Governor Lutali, and every Governor has had to deal with either sending or not sending the appointee. “Governor Lemanu has decided not to send Director Solomona,” said Sunia.
For the record, all KVZK-TV directors for the last 35 years have been confirmed by the Fono: Fulifuli Taveuveu, Leo’o Vaa Ma’o, Vaoita Savali, Paolo Sivia, Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde, Tuimavave Tauapa’i Laupola and Tialuga Vincent Iuli.
