This is part of an ongoing series on American Samoa post-tsunami and its disaster preparedness. In October, CNN broadcast a damning report on American Samoa’s misuse of federal funds intended for tsunami preparedness. Close to $23 million worth of funds to help the citizens.
On Tuesday 29th September 2009, in the early hours of the morning, an 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck the islands of American Samoa, Samoa and the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu. That earthquake triggered a destructive tsunami that killed close to 200 people on the official death count across all three islands. American Samoa’s official death toll, although no casualty list released, states 34 died; Samoa released an official casualty list of more than 140 dead including at least 70 children no older than 11 years old; Niuatoputapu lost 9 people including a child and an infant.
There was no island-wide emergency tsunami siren on that horrific day. America Samoa, though not releasing a casualty list citing patient privacy laws, state that 34 lives were lost.
The loss of lives on American Samoa prompted CNN to ask questions about where the millions of dollars of disaster preparedness . Those misused funds were inapprorpriately drawn down by the Treasurer of American Samoa, and the Governor’s Authorised Representative(GAR). They continually ignored express direction from both the US Administration and Ala’ilima to return funds to the homeland security budget.
One of the key players, who has perhaps displayed a degree of negligence in this tragedy, is American Samoa Telecommunications Agency. Despite signing a Memorandum of Understanding with American Homeland Security, prior to funds being frozen, they did not buy let alone install the island-wide emergency tsunami siren. Yet official records show in this box that they signed a document but failed to carry it out.
Below are the final installation of responses between Governor Tulafono’s Cabinet and the former Homeland Security Director reveal a wide difference between each one’s understanding and comprehension of the issues involved, and exactly what happened or didn’t happen.
GOVERNOR/SALA: On matters related to the sirens, Sala said that when he came on board, he found evidence of a study which had been done for an island-wide siren system. He agreed with the governor’s remarks to CNN that “it was only a study.”
AlA’ILIMA: This was way more than a study. The Territorial Office of Homeland Security had already entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) in May 2006 to purchase and install the sirens…In the memorandum it was clearly stated that the installation of the sirens was a top priority for the American Samoa Government and DHS funding was approved for the project before my termination.
GOVERNOR/SALA:A facilities manager at American Samoa Telco, who asked not to be identified, verified that it did order one siren, based on a survey done in 2006. “To date, ASTCA has not been paid for the one siren which was ordered for a test, he said. A full warning system was never delivered, per the ASTCA official.
AlA’ILIMA:Mr. Sala has obviously not read the Memorandum of Understanding. This was recognized as a top priority matter for the American Samoa Government and American Samoa Telecommunications Authority obligated itself to finance and install the sirens and then to seek reimbursement. Given that the Memorandum…was signed before the freezing of the funds, American Samoa Telco as an independent government agency could have followed the agreement, installed the sirens and then sought the contract reimbursement.
GOVERNOR/SALA: The Emergency Alert System is a separate matter. “We have the emergency alarm system, continued Sala, but NOAA was unable to deliver the EAS warning system equipment in a timely manner, after $250,000 had been advanced to them in 2004 to deliver the product.
AlA’ILIMA:As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Sala does not understand the development and integration of the Emergency Alert Systems. He also does not comprehend the problems we were working through with NOAA. The federal Department of Homeland Security was concerned about using the territory’s homeland security funds to buy NOAA equipment because NOAA, as a federal agency, had its own separate funding for homeland security. American Samoa, however, did not have an existing alert system like the individual US states already had before 9/11 with their own tie in to NOAA.
If we were to make the connection, we needed to pay for the equipment and give it to NOAA. This was the basis of our Memorandum of Understanding with NOAA. I am pleased to hear that FEMA recently agreed that such a system was warranted and that the NOAA option we invested into was the most cost effective alternative .This was a manageable federal issue but it required someone who understood the problem, which clearly Mr. Sala did not and apparently still does not after two and a half years on the job.
No response from Governor Tulafono or his Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Langford. FEMA, after initially posting a comment on the website which we replied with a request to correct our stories if need be, have not responded further. Ongoing silence from US agencies responsible for federal funding in American Samoa.
We will continue to follow this story and keep you posted on any developments.
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, NZPacific, Name Them Shame Them, South Pacific Region, Tourism, US & Foreign Affairs | Tagged: aleipata., AMERICAN SAMOA, american samoa tsunami, capital, CNN story, Community, corruption, disaster, earthquake, emergency, emergency tsunami siren, natural disaster, nz pacific community, pacific news, tonga tsunami, tsunami samoa, Village
There are so many inaccuracies in this story it makes it difficult to believe that the reporter has fact checked any of his/her sources.
Example. Evelyn Langford is NOT the Lt. Governor of American Samoa.
It is not the the American Samoa Telecommunications AGENCY.
Development does NOT mean purchase.
This is bad blogging and irresponsible journalism.
From Pago Pago,
John Wasko
EDITOR’S NOTE: Please specifically identify the “many inaccuracies” in this story? Also, John Wasko, please respond to our previous questions: What is your connection to Governor Tulafono and his Cabinet? Your long silence, until now, along with the rest of the Governor’s office suggests this is perhaps another smokescreen statement designed to direct attention away from facts of this story. Unless of course, you can specifically identify the “many inaccuracies” in this story. We await your response. Please read a detailed response below.
I know John Wasko has close ties to the current administration in American Samoa and has his opinions. I think people know who the Lt. Governor is.
Evelyn Langford is the GAR, which was always a position that the American Samoa Lt. Governor Aitofele Sunia held until just recently.
A MOU is a MOU. And it is signed by parties involved. I see ASTCA! It is hard to try and smear hard evidence.
I along with so many readers from American Samoa are happy to hear/see fair reporting, especially with the current administration trying to fabricate articles for dissemination. At least you have a reporter seeking truth and verification before publication.
The current administration can say all they want, but the truth has been revealed and we Pacific Islanders see it for what it is.
Thank you PacificEyeWitness for keeping it real. Many more ordinary people are happy to see this article come to light. American Samoans are ashamed of the Governor and his current administration, we lost too many lives and Togiola continues to buy a yacth, a cannery and still no sirens. Where is his priority? Too many lives Togiola to run away from this story. CNN and PEW has exposed the American Samoa Government for what it really is. A shame! Thank you for your fight for the ordinary people and those that lost their live to get this message across. The American Samoa Government will find any means to come at you, but do NOT back down from writing the truth. So many others have been scared to write, but I trust that PEW will expose ASG corruption and bogus lies. Thank you Pacific EyeWitness and know that you have far many more supporters for your journalism. It takes courageous Pacific Island people like yourself to stand up and write against wrong in city hall. You have become a role model for the next generation of Pacific Islanders journalist to not be afraid to write against wrong.
I am still waiting to hear from FEMA where all the money from the past years went. An EOC was supposed to be built before 911 (no sign of it). mitigation money??? – where did that go? I also put the owners on FEMA for their lack of accountability. TEMCO has always been a political parking ground for the Lt. Governor. There was serious lack of emergency management during FEMA’s reign. It was NOT until Bush’s administration that kept a close watch on funds and so much progress was made. Obama needs to make sure this is NOT another Katrina in the works.
Soifua and thank you
We hear from you again John Wasko. Let’s get some facts out of the way. First, Evelyn Langford is the GAR, and you know precsely her role in Governor Tulafono’s Administration. Secondly, the American Samoa Telco is officially called the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority. We used the term agency which is not the correct title. But it is an agency in its operation. Thank you for pointing out the correct title. That doesn’t, however, change the facts of the story. If you have different information, please respond to our previous questions put to you earlier.
Now to more substantive issues. It’s clear from your many postings online, on different websites we’ve noted, that you are among Tulafono’s most ardent supporters. What are your connections to the Governor and his Cabinet including Evelyn Langford and others? We have repeatedly asked you this question, after your last tweets to pacificeyewitness, but you have so far refused to answer.
Also, please check your other misleading statement on media as posted on samoa news which we re-posted here. Click on this link:
http://pacificeyewitness.org/2009/11/05/american-samoans-respond-to-cnn-report-on-alleged-government-corruption/.
If you can give specific examples of inaccuracies, other than the use of “agency” instead of “authority”, that would be most helpful. We will then check that and correct it where needed.
We also note your previous comments via twitter supporting the Governor’s office on why no casualty list was released for American Samoa post-tsunami. Samoa and Tonga each released one. As you said previously, the casualty list is the law. We pointed out to you then that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996(HIPPA) Privacy Rule quoted by the administration applies to patient privacy and medical treatment. How that law applies to casualties, to the dead, is still unanswered by the Governor’s office.
Refer to the rest of this post here:
http://pacificeyewitness.org/2009/11/04/nz-issues-invitation-to-samoa-american-samoa-tonga-leaders-to-attend-national-memorial-update-on-governor-office-american-samoa/
We have yet to receive any response to our questions from the Governor or his Cabinet. Likewise, you have also not responded to our question: What is your connection to the Governor’s office and others in the Cabinet?
Until you can answer those questions fully and honestly, we respectfully suggest that rather than you acting as spokesperson for the Governor’s office, which Mike Sala has done, we would prefer to hear directly from Governor Tulafono or Evelyn Langford. No need to respond further on their behalf and implicate yourself yet again with more misinformation.
If you continue to make sweeping and misleading generalisations that have no basis in fact, we will continue to shine a light on the corruption which you defend so vigorously. It highlights, perhaps the depth of collusion to which you may be party to, and we will then take action accordingly with your misleading and spammed comments.
Yours respectfully