27 Nov 2012

No budget for American Samoa governor's inauguration

11:16 am on 27 November 2012

American Samoa's governor-elect Lolo Letalu Moliga says most of the funding for the current fiscal year has already been spent.

He says the former governor, Togiola Tulafono, has informed him and Lieutenant Governor-elect Lemanu Peleti Mauga that the government's unpaid utility debt with the American Samoa Power Authority is 10 million US dollars, and the government also owes between 6 and 10 million to an insurance company.

Lolo told a meeting of their supporters last week that no costs have allocated for the inauguration of the new administration.

He said usually an inauguration budget is included every four years however that didn't happen this time and he thinks its because the current government didn't expect that there would be a change.

Lolo said all cabinet positions will be open for applications from anyone who is interested .

However he and Lemanu will select the Secretary of Samoan Affairs and the Attorney General.