It’s been over a year since the Tafuna substation of the Department of Public Safety has been condemned by the Department of Health because it is rat infested.
And up until now, there’s been no evidence of any effort to fix the building or tear it down and build a new one.
Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu and Rep. Luaitaua Gene Pan expressed their disappointment that the government has not done anything to the building in one whole year, or even have a plan to rebuild or replace the building.
Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Terry Letuli, testifying at a House Public Safety Committee hearing last week, said they are waiting for word from Public Works if the building should be repaired or demolished and to build a new one. He said there’s no funding to get the job done.
Asked if there’s even funding in the new fiscal year budget for this, Letuli said no.
Vice Speaker Fetui said the department should be more aggressive and tell ASG they need a new building. He said it’s embarrassing that the building is rat infested and police are now squeezed into the OMV building. He said, the rats are moving into the OMV Building.
Rep. Luaitaua said DPS should have a new building and there’s enough space at the site for one. He shared the vice speaker’s view that DPS should tell the leaders what they need and to provide the resources necessary to do their work.
Letuli said they’ve discussed this with the Governor’s Office but there’s no funding at this stage to rebuild or construct a new substation.
