Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula says he dissolved the Board of Directors of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority to prevent them from testifying at a Senate hearing without the ASTCA CEO Folasaitu Sorepa Thomas.

This was the hearing of the Senate Government Operations Committee set for August 31st, into ASTCA’s spending on the 250 Anniversary of Independence Celebrations.

Speaking on 93 KHJ’s Morning Show Wednesday, the Governor said he had heard through administration sources that some of the ASTCA board members had gone to the Fono asking that they be called in to testify on the A-250 celebrations. He said the Chief of Staff Leonard Seumanutafa had written to the Committee Chairman requesting that the hearing be postponed until the ASTCA CEO who was off island at the time could be present. However there was no response. So he wrote to the Senate President to make the same request.

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The Governor said he was deepluy saddened by some of the comments directed at him in the Senate.

Though he didn’t name names, it was clear that he was referring to Senator Muagututi’a who said the Governor was disrespectful and rude, and no one should vote for him again. Muagututi’a called for the Governor’s removal and said this is what happens when someone who has been living off-island becomes a matai and is not fully versed with the ways of a matai, especially being respectful.

The Governor had this to say.

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