A senator in American Samoa has questioned senior officials as to the source of the territory's $US100,000 donation to the Manu Samoa rugby team, during its fundraising in Pago Pago in July.
Photo: © Copyright Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photosport Ltd 2019
Fonoti Tafa'ifa Aufata raised the issue during yesterday's budget committee hearings for special programs administrated by the governor for the new fiscal year 2020.
Fonoti said she was trying to locate the $US100,000 the governor gave to the rugby team from Samoa.
The governor's chief of staff, Fiu Johnny Saelua, responded by saying it came from money allocated under the Governor's Contingency Fund and said it was up to the governor how this money was spent.
Fonoti quickly responded saying that this money belongs to the government and the people of American Samoa and that it does not belong to just one person.
She cautioned against misusing money and said no one should be "playing with these funds".
For the current fiscal year, $US300,000 is allocated to the Contingency Fund and the same amount is proposed in fiscal year 2020.
Since the $US100,000 donation there have been many questions as to the funding source used by the governor.
Others in the territory have criticised the donation, saying that there are so many other important issues, which can be funded with such a large sum, such as pay hikes for teachers, repair roads and help with medical service.
American Samoa’s governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga (left) with Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi during the July 2019 fundraising for the Manu Samoa rugby team, hosted by the governor in Pago Pago. Photo: Fili Sagapolutele