Though the Senate is meeting without a quorum with many senators off island for medical reasons or attending family obligations here at home, directors are still being called in to answer “pressing matters.”
On Tuesday, Senator Satele Lili’o Satele spoke his mind about the Department of Public Works’ “inaction” or “slow action” on problems that senators have repeatedly raised.
The senator’s ire was directed at the hardly visible traffic signs and road markings like the road centerline and cross walks, as well as the continual digging of the roads which are left unpaved for a long time.
Satele said the Senate continues to hear the same answers from Public Works but nothing is done.
He pointed out that reports by DPW, of active and pending road projects, are the same ones they gave a year ago.
Satele observed that the government is putting so much attention on Lions Park, building new structures but is neglecting existing buildings. He pointed to the TAOA building in Tafuna as an example.
Satele said, when it rains the elderly get wet because the buildings are deficient and inadequate.
“The government is building new roads and buildings at Lions Park but there are existing facilities which have not been completed,” he complained.
During yesterday’s Senate session, Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean asked Satele, who chairs the Senate Public Works Committee, to call in the Public Works Director and CEO of the American Samoa Power Authority.
According to Tuaolo, on Tuesday night, a church minister’s vehicle struck a pedestrian on the cross walk in front of the Fagatogo marketplace. He said, the whole area was dark as the streetlights were out.
Tuaolo referred to earlier complaints by Senator Faiivae Alex Iuli about the wharf not having working streetlights.
He said, this was an emergency and they should question the Director of Public Works and ASPA right away.
Tuaolo asked that the two appear before the Committee this morning.
DPW Director Faleosina Voigt and ASPA CEO Wallon Young, are part of the ASG delegation visiting South Korea with the Governor.
