The Senate has rejected the Governor’s nomination of Theodore Ted Le’iato for another four year term on the Board of Directors of the American Samoa power Authority. Seven senators voted in support of Le’iato while five senators rejected his nomination. Ten votes are needed for confirmation in the Senate.
Le’iato has been a member of the ASPA Board since 2022. He worked for 23 years at ASPA, nine of which were as power generation manager. He was also in charge of ASPA’s renewable energy programs. Later, he joined the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority as Special Projects Manager.
Le’iato is a graduate of the Fiji School of Technology and the Manukau Institute of Technology.
During his 45 minute confirmation hearing Le’iato fielded questions about the discontinuation of debit meters, renewable energy projects including the solar farm at Pavaiai and the planned wind power project in Manunu, why he had resigned from ASPA and whether there were conflicts between the Board and ASTCA CEO and management.
Le’iato said he resigned from ASPA in January of 2016 when he was asked to serve as Assistant Pastor of their church. He decided to search for a job with a lighter work load and joined the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority. He commented that the ASTCA position allowed him to leave work at 4 pm and he did not have to attend to trouble calls as was the case with his position at ASPA.
Senator Olo Uluao Letuli asked Le’iato if there were any conflicts or disagreements between the ASPA Board and CEO of ASPA.
Le’iato explained that the board is conducting a review (iloiloga) into ASPA operations as it has found there are several issues and conditions which need to be corrected. He said their review is continuums and a report would be provided once it is completed. He some are of the view that ASPA is functioning well but he said they are in the minority, people who are benefitting from decision making. But the majority of the employees do not share this view. He continued that the board has found a case of fraud involving an engineer from off island. He said if senators were in the shoes of ASPA Board members they would also see the need to resolve problems currently existing in ASPA operations.
He pointed out that monthly reports which were available in the past to show ASPA’s finances, efficiencies and operations are no longer produced. And when the board asks for certain information the management takes a long time to provide that information
Regarding debit meters he said he was the one that installed debit meters in 2000 which were very popular with customers.
However it has been explained by the ASPA management that the debit meters are old technology and will be replaced with new meters.
Sen Atualevao Asifoa questioned Le’iato’s appointment as Chairman of the ASPA Board as he was of the view that the nominee should have been approved first.
Leiato said he was appointed by Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula as Chairman of the Board in October of last year. His term as a member of the board expired in January of this year and he was asked to stay on. KHJ News points out that the statute states that the Governor designates the chairman of the ASPA Board annually from among the membership of the Board of Directors, and the Board selects its vice-chairman.
Senator Togiola Tulafono and Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean had questions about ASPA solar power projects and the planned wind power project in Manunu. Le’iato said power generated by the Pavaiai solar farm is slowly being fed into the grid. He reported that the Manunu wind farm project is continuing. From the ;ast report given by the ASPA management registration of the land being used, is in progress.
