9 Jan 2013

American Samoa's new Governor sacks ASPA's board

7:21 am on 9 January 2013

The newly sworn in governor of American Samoa Lolo Matalasi Moliga has sacked the board of the American Samoa Power Authority and appointed new directors.

A former Chief Operations Officer for ASPA, Fonoti Perelii Perelini, a citizen of Samoa has been appointed as acting chairman of the board.

Governor Lolo has appointed three members of the private sector, Peter Crispin, Isabel Hudson and Daniel King as members.

The only old board member who has been re-appointed to the ASPA board is Va'a Sokelati Fala.

Mrs Hudson, a hotel owner, is the first woman to serve on the ASPA board .

Governor Lolo says he's confident the new members posses the skills and expertise necessary to advance the work of ASPA and to alleviate the high cost of utility services in American Samoa.

It's expected the new board will be appointing a new chief executive officer in the near future and there are strong indications that former ASPA CEO Utu Abe Malae will be named to replace current CEO Andra Samoa.