The amount spent on ASG’s gift for Masefau village is $14,000 and it came from the tax payer funded budget for Flag Day of $350,000 in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget.
Acting Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga explains that the Flag Day budget covers both the territorial Flag Day celebration in April and the Manu’a Flag Day in July.
Its not a 50% share …according to Lemanu, the April Flag Day gets more, but didn’t give a specific amount.
In an interview with KHJ News in the Lt. Governor’s Office yesterday, Lemanu as co-chairman of the Flag Day Committee said the faux pas which led to Masefau village being told first to prepare the “pese and siva,” and then later informed that they won’t be on the program, was the fault of the committee.
He apologized as lt governor and as co chairman of the Flag Day Committee to Masefau and to the whole territory for what happened.
He admits it could have been avoided if there had been better communication among the committee.
Lemanu, a matai of Sailele village, which is under the District of Sua together with Masefau and Masausi villages, explained that there are reasons why the selection of Masefau was inappropriate.
Last year, Masausi and Sailele performed for Flag Day, so to have Masefau another village from Sua District entertain again would not be seen as fair.
“Some would say Im being favorable to my district,” said Lemanu.
He felt it was necessary to make the change hence the meeting that was held with matai of Vatia at the Office of Samoan Affairs.
Lemanu said he was the one that conveyed the decision for Masefau to be taken off the Flag Day program at the meeting and fully explained the reasons behind the change.
In the meantime Nu’uuli village, which had earlier declined to perform, agreed to entertain for Flag Day.
Lemanu acknowledged his ties to Nuuuli, where his title Sialega is from.
He said Nuuuli hasn’t performed for Flag Day in many years so the committee was happy when Ituau agreed to entertain this year.
The acting governor said he and Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega felt it was necessary to give a gift to Masefau in recognition for the time and effort that the village had spent rehearsing.
Lemanu told KHJ News that the gift was $10,000 and $4,000 was spent on sua and lafo during their meeting with Masefau last Friday.
He said although Masefau matai initially rejected the gift, he was happy that they deferred to the Mauputasi’s presence and had a change of heart, so as put it, “the villagers who had used up their evenings to rehearse could receive something for their efforts.”
Asked why Masefau couldn’t be added to the program, instead of getting a monetary gift, Lemanu said it’s not that simple.
He said the entertainment is delegated to districts and if Nu’uuli and Masefau both perform it would mean the Eastern District would have two groups.
In addition it would lead to disparity in awarding prize money.
Lemanu said the results of the fund raising events for Flag Day will be made known once the report is completed.
