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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
AMERICAN SAMOA
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Wednesday, November 7, 2007)
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(684) 633-4116 - Fax: (684) 633-2269 - Cell: (684) 731-8989
Governor Togiola holds monthly Cabinet Meeting
(UTULEI) – The General Accounting Office visit and payment of overtime were among topics discussed by Governor Togiola Tulafono today at his monthly Cabinet Meeting held at the Office of the Governor.
General Accounting Office Visitation (GAO)
Governor Togiola Tulafono thanked all directors, and especially Secretary of Samoan Affairs – Paramount Chief Mauga Tasi Asuega and District Governors, for helping make the GAO visit very successful.
“The response from GAO was they received excellent cooperation from all government officials. It is very important for us to help people express their views. People need to be free to express themselves,” said Governor Togiola.
Payment of Overtime
Governor Togiola said the easiest way to deal with this issue is to follow the law. He was referring to a memo from Treasurer Velega Savali regarding requests for payment for overtime. The memo to all directors said, “Effective immediately employees that are Grade 12 or higher cannot be paid overtime at time and half nor will they be paid for more than 40 hrours per week at straight time wages. This includes reimbursed over time for all agencies and departments.
American Samoa Government (ASG) Website
ASG website: www.americansamoa.gov: Referring to a memo from the Governor’s Communications Director – Dr. Jacinta Galea’i, Governor Togiola informed directors to designate a staff member in their offices to do regular write-ups of department activities to be submitted to the website. Departments are involved in a lot of good work but the public is not informed about it.
The memo informed the departments that the Office of the Governor is in the process of centralizing and updating the American Samoa Government website to improve communications among departments and with the general public regarding government services. In order to complete these goals, the website staff require news items, photos of events or other interesting items, as well as department missions, goals, and contact information, etc., to be submitted to the website.
As government agencies, part of the service to the public is to communicate government services, information, activities, and polices and it is the hope of the Office of the Governor that the ASG website will fulfill that public service.
“I highly encourage you, directors, and your departments to visit our website at www.americansamoa.gov and provide us with any suggestions that will help American Samoa meet its communications responsibilities to the public both in and out of the Territory,” said Governor Togiola.
Festival of the Pacific Arts
Director Lauti Simona informed all directors that his office is working together with the Office of Tourism at the Department of Commerce to create a “Calendar of Events” to inform the public and ASG of government events, and he hopes that it will prevent conflicts with events before, during and after the festival. Lauti asked directors for their full cooperation.
Documentary on Teen Pregnancy – “Preventing the Consequences”
Youth & Women Affairs Director – Leiataua Leuga Turner reminded directors of a documentary presented by Crossroads Theater for Youth this Saturday. It will focus on teen pregnancy and will be followed by a panel to discuss teen pregnancy, child abuse and a host of other social issues affecting our people in American Samoa.
It is entitled: "PREVENTING THE CONSEQUENCES", on Saturday, November 10th at 7pm on three channels: KVZK-TV Channel 5, Malama TV Cable Channel 4 and Island Music Channel 10. Leaiataua asked all directors to join her department in promoting awareness of the current problems facing our young people. They are our future so we need to address issues that are impacting their lives today.
Governor Togiola thanked all directors for their hard work, and wished them all the best.
The Governor’s monthly Cabinet Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month. The next meeting is scheduled for December 5th.
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