2 Feb 2007

Federal government freezes funds for American Samoa's Homeland Security office

6:19 am on 2 February 2007

Funds for American Samoa's Office of Homeland Security have been frozen until further notice.

Governor Togiola Tulafono says the agency is under the threat of being classified a "high risk" operation.

At present it is operating under certain procedures imposed by the US Department of Homeland Security called "in lieu of high risk" because of management deficiencies that go back to previous years.

The governor says the US Department of Homeland Security has contacted him with their concerns about the operation of the local homeland secuirty office.

He says the concerns by the federal agency are very serious.

The ASG Comptroller is meeting this week in Washington with the federal agency for discussions on how funding for American Samoa can be restored.