Bit by bit, an iconic building in the center of down town Fagatogo will be coming down.
Contents of the Fale shaped Fono building are being removed to prepare for demolition of the more than 40 year-old structure that has been the home of the lawmaking branch of the American Samoa Government.
This is to make way for a brand new Fono building, a project that has been on the drawing board and for which money has been allocated for about ten years.
As of this morning, the Senate chamber was completely empty.
Senators chairs and desks have been moved to the Fono guest house.
The Senate Communications Room, which has video and audio equipment has been cleaned out.
The walls of the foyer which were covered with framed photos of former House Representatives and Senators are now empty.
Before the Fono adjourned, Senate President Gaoteote Palaie Togafau told Senators to take the contents of their offices home as the Fono building will be demolished.
The House side has also been cleared.
House staffers said some of the House furniture have been moved to the north wing of the Lee Auditorium which the House will use in the interim.
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale has said that they haven’t decided where the Fono sessions will be held when the 2nd regular session convenes in July.
Efforts by KHJ News to find out who the contractor or contractors for the demolition work, and design and construction of the new Fono building are have not been successful.
$1.5 million was allocated from the proceeds of the bond sale proceeds by the American Samoa Economic Development Authority for architectural and engineering designs for the new Fono Building.
Other ASEDA funded projects have gone through the ASG procurement system but so far there have not been any bid advertisements for the Fono building demolition or construction.
Meanwhile a senior maintenance employee of the Fono said that they should have the building demolished by next week.
