The Acting Director of Public Works, Taeaoti Punaofo Tilei, told a hearing of the House Public Works Committee, yesterday, that the department had let contractors operate as they wished without much oversight. This is why some projects, which should only have taken 8 months to 1-2 years to complete, have taken many more years; with some still not complete.
He said all contracts have ‘complete by’ dates, and if contractors fail to complete the projects by then, with consideration for weather and delays in supplies and materials, the department should invoke a penalty for liquidated damages of $500 for each day the project is not complete.
But, he said, Public Works did not have any control, and it seemed like the Governor’s Office was calling the shots.
He gave, as an example, an unfinished project at Pavaiai Elementary School. He said Public Works is having to complete the project, and has to find the funds for the materials and supplies for the job. He said this was also happening with other school building projects.
Taeaotui, who was director of Public Works for more than 10 years in the Tauese Togiola and Togiola Faoa administration, said he was calling a meeting with construction companies and he intends to give them a deadline to complete their projects. If their fail to perform their contracts will be terminated.
Taeaotui also spoke about the landscaping contracts. He said there are over 50 such contracts with companies to clean up and beautify roadsides on Tutuila and Manu’a. The cost of these contracts is over $2 million. He said in Manu’a one contract is to landscape from Asaga to Sili, which is uninhabited.
A similar contract is to landscape the roadside going to Fagamalo. 
He said some of the contractors just trim bushes by the roadside without any real work done.
According to the acting director, the landscaping contracts have been suspended until he’s had a meeting with the companies. His intention is to set miles of roadside areas that each contractor will be responsible for.
Taeaotui told the hearing that Public Works used to have control of the Road Maintenance Fund, which is financed with a portion of the excise tax on fuel, when he was Director of Public Works; before the fund used to generate about $1 million, which went to fix the roads. But, he said, from what he’s learned, the Governor’s Office was controlling the Road Maintenance Fund and not Public Works.
With regards to the Capital Improvement Projects, Taeaotui said Public Works also used to have oversight of CIPs, and depended on this funding for needed infrastructure projects. But he’s found out that the CIP programs were dictated by the Governor’s Office.
At the hearing of the Public Works Committee, yesterday, all House members present had questions about unfinished road projects, seawalls, drainage, bus stops, and other infrastructure in their districts.
A list of projects that have been completed, in progress, or halted, because of lack of funding was distributed at the hearing.
Deputy Director Faalevai Taase said that federally funded projects are continuing; however, projects funded with local revenues have been suspended. He said that over 20 projects, which are locally funded, have been suspended for now.
