A new Board of Directors for the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority has been appointed by the Governor.

They are: Omar Shalhout, who is the Acting Chairperson, Lewis Seau, Karen Satele, Molitogi Lemana and Ma’aveeseese Lei Mauga, Jr.

Shalout, Seau, Satele and Lemana were members of the Board that the Governor dissolved on August 28. The other members of the former board were Alex Sene Jr. and Ella Gurr. Avamua Dave Haleck and Andrew Berquist resigned from the old Board.

In the General Memorandum appointing the new ASTCA Board, Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula said the Board members will serve two year terms or unless sooner replaced by the Governor, subject to applicable law.

The Chairperson is designated by the Governor. The Board Secretary shall be elected by a majority of the Board at a meeting at which a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members named in the General Memorandum, which goes into effect as of September 10, the date of the appointing memo. The Governor said the ASTCA Board shall organize promptly, elect a Board Secretary, and carry out its duties in accordance with Executive Order NO. 012-2018 applicable laws, rules, policies, and governing authorities.

The ASTCA budget hearing was scheduled for Thursday however the Joint Budget and Appropriations Committee decided not to go ahead with the hearing because there was no ASCTA Board. It’s the Fono’s stance that the ASTCA budget is approved by the board and the CEO reports to the Board. After the Governor dissolved the board, the terms of the Executive Order establishing ASTCA for the board to approve the budget is not fulfilled.

ASCTA CEO Folasaitu Sorepa Thomas had turned up for ASTCA’s budget hearing but was told that the review would not take place without an ASTCA Board.