The American Samoa Telecommunications Authority ASTCA hosted a luncheon at DDW Restaurant Monday, Dec 8 to celebrate the successful completion of the Manu’a BLAST Repair Project on Ta’u Island in Manu’a.
The underwater sections of the undersea cable were damaged in March 2020 and June 2021 due to severe weather activity near the Auasi, Ta’u and Ofu shorelines.
The work was carried out last month by ASTCA employees working in partnership with other ASG departments including the Department of Search and Rescue EMS and Marine Patrol personnel and the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.
Restoration of the fiber cable has restored for the long term, high reliability fiber connection to Ta’u island.
All of the ASTCA employees who took part in the repair work and those from other agencies attended the luncheon with the Governor and Lt Governor, Chairman Avamua Dave Haleck and members of the ASTCA Board as well as senators, representatives and directors.
Catechist Malaki Aunoa of the Vailoa-tai Catholic Church offered prayers thanking the Lord for His protection, allowing the successful completion of the restoration work without any injuries even though working conditions undersea were hazardous.
ASTCA Chief Executive Officer Folasaitu Sorepa Fata Thomas said she was only in the CEO’s seat for two days when the ASTCA budget was submitted to the Fono, and during the budget hearings they gave assurance that restoration of the Manu’a cable would begin in November. But with the start of the new fiscal year there was not enough funding to carry out the work.
She said she sought help from the Governor, the ASTCA Board Chairman and the ARPA Office and called a meeting of the ASTCA division heads during which she impressed upon them the need to raise funds to carry out the project.
Folasaita acknowledged that it was the hard work of the billings and collections, marketing, sales and finance divisions that raised the funding needed to start the repair work on the Manu’a cable. She said $1.5 million has been spent by the current administration on the restoration project.
In her remarks, she gave a cultural perspective on why it was important to restore connectivity for Manu’a.
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Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula congratulated the ASTCA CEO and employees and all those who were involved in the project.
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At the luncheon, all of the ASTCA, DMWR, and Department of Search and Rescue employees who worked on repairs for the undersea cable were presented checks for hazardous pay.
