5 Nov 2003

American Samoa lawmakers back loan to LBJ hospital

5:05 pm on 5 November 2003

The American Samoa House of Representatives has approved a five million dollar bail out of the Territory's LBJ hospital.

Two members dissented.

Representatives Su'a Schuster and Vaiausia Yandall said they supported giving the hospital money.

But they also said the government must provide details of the funding source of the loan, which is the 16 million dollars gained in interest on the hurricane insurance settlement.

The Government says the money is earning interest in an off island bank account.

Meanwhile in the Senate moves are underway to amend the loan bill before it goes through a final reading.

The Senators are pushing for the money to be given as a grant not a loan.