According to a resolution to establish a Senate Select Investigative Committee, one of the ASG projects that the committee is to look into is the “operation and financial expenditures for the government owned airline purportedly purchased using funds earmarked for Manu’a air services.
The measure says there was no budget established for the operation and maintenance of the said aircraft , for property and liability insurance and for the compensation of the pilot or mechanic.
KHJ News understands that the aircraft which is referred to is the old Segauls plane which was leased to Tausami Airlines, a company whose principals included Filifastali Mike Fuiava, I’aulualo Talia Faafetai and Rep Alex Jennings.
The airline planned to operate air service to Manu’a but it never got off the ground.
Tausani Air was awarded a loan of $400,000 by the Development Bank of American Samoa, to help with the costs of acquiring another aircraft from Guam,
Airline officials stated at Fono hearings that the loan money went into refurbishing the Segaula aircraft which was inoperable.
The tasks of the SSIC are to review government operations and its financial condition and to investigate any unlawful actions, conllict of interest or other unethical conduct, waste, fraud and abuse involving procedures, practices, receipt and expenditure of local and federal funds.
The committee is also to look into violations of the anti-deficiency law, misappropriation of equipment, vehicles or funds and any other activities of misconduct involving government operations within all departments, agencies and enterprise operations of the American Samoa Govt.
According to the measure, “If action is not taken against those persons responsible for the misuse and abuse of federal and local funds the fraud, waste and abuse of these valuable local government and federal assets will continue to exist, and the persons responsible will be encouraged to continue with these unlawful and corrupt practices and activities without fear of retribution or punishment.”
It goes on to say, “The prosecution of these individuals locally for violations of local criminal law and/or federal law, will restore the public confidence in the government that fraud, abuse and corruption will not be tolerated no matter what level of government or the private sector the individual or individuals may be employed or the public or elective office that person or persons may hold.”
The SSIC shall have full powers and rights granted by the
Constitution and laws of American Samoa to issue subpoenas for any person and or document, to take testimony under oath, and to investigate any unlawful, improper and unethical conduct, waste, fraud and other corrupt abuses.
The Senate President has appointed nine senators to the committee:
- Togiola T. Tulafono, Chairman
- Magalei Logovi’i, Vice-Chairman
- Faiivae I. Godinet
- Alo Paul Stevenson
- Ma’o Fa’auma Gogo
- Utu Sila Poasa
- Uti Petelo
- Fonoti Tafa’ifa Aufata
- Ponemafua Tapeni.
