The former Director of the American Samoa Resilience Office, Dr Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, has responded to comments attributed to Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula concerning the termination of her services as ASRO director.
In a post on Facebook she said the Governor talked about her removal at the recent Education Summit, in conversations with members of the public and at this month’s cabinet meeting.
Suluai-Mahuka said at the cabinet meeting the Governor stated when people in Washington DC asked if she was removed because of her stance on deep sea mining he replied no. She was removed because she was “trying to use the government to support Finafinau.”
Finafinau is the non profit organization that Suluai-Makuka and seven students started in 2017 to build leadership, especially with our youth, in environmental advocacy, conservation, and resilience.
The former cabinet member said after giving it much thought and prayer, she decided to make a public statement regarding the Governor’s comments. “I will not let anyone discredit the truth and the trust I have built through my reputation, distort the truth of my removal or cheapen the hard work of Finafinau,” she remarked.
She said that she was initially told that the reason for her removal was because of administrative and management concerns. “Now suddenly the narrative has changed, to it’s because of Finafinau”.
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Suluai-Mahuka said Finafinau does not receive any funding from the government. Since its establishment in 2017 Finafinau has conducted clean ups, promoted environmental awareness and worked with ASG agencies including the American Samoa Resilience Office.
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