2 Sep 2004

American Samoa candidate for governorship promises strengthened audit processes

10:31 am on 2 September 2004

One of the candidates running for governor in American Samoa, Afoa Moega Lutu plans to call for a complete independent audit of the government if he wins the electoral race.

Afoa says if elected he will commission the government's Territorial Audit Office to carry out within the first 100-days of his administration a complete independent audit of all government assets, operations, finances and workforce.

He says departments and offices will also be instructed to carry out their own internal reviews and status of programmmes, personnel and finances.

He also says there will be a complete review of all special funding operations and accounts not authorized by statute, to determine their need and legitimacy.

Our correspondent in Pago Pago says Afoa's message comes at a time when many residents and lawmakers are concerned with the accuracy of financial figures and data put out by Governor Togiola Tulafono's administration in the past few months.