Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, on Wednesday, repeated advice he gave at the opening of the Fono on Monday for acting directors to delay any personnel changes until they have been confirmed.
Tuaolo said, “I want to advise acting directors not to remove employees, be patient and wait until you have been confirmed.”
He said there have been complaints from the public about employees who have been removed.
When KHJ News asked the Senate President to elaborate, he said that the Deputy Director of Health Vesi Fautanu has been fired.
Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu Jr. said, in the House, that last week, a son of Manu’a was removed from his job; and the Acting Director of Health has ended the services of another son of Manu’a, this week. He expressed disappointment that some acting directors are not heeding the advice from the Senate President.
When reached by KHJ News, Vesi Fautanu Jr. said he was verbally informed by Acting Director of Health Dr. Saipale Fuimaono on Monday that he is no longer Deputy Director of Health.
Vesi, who has been deputy Director of DOH for the last four years, said, despite this verbal order by the Acting Director, he will not leave until he receives a written notification that his services have been terminated. He said that his contract ends in April.
