Program pays inmates to pick up trash

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (PINA Nius) — About 30 inmates serving light sentences at the Tafuna Territorial Correctional Facility will pick up trash on the roadside as part of the Anti-Litter Task Force Program.

The inmates will be divided between the different districts. They will be escorted by several police officers during the four-hour trash-pickup project each day, said American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) Solid Waste Manager/Public Relations Officer Soa‘i Asaeli.

Asaeli added that ASPA will pay the inmates $1 an hour for their work.

The new Anti Litter Task Force Program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Public Safety and ASPA.

“The project is set up to promote a clean and beautiful American Samoa,” Asaeli said.

He said that ASPA has eight local residents under contract as “trash pickers” along roadsides and in public places.

ASPA executive director Abe Malae and Asaeli approached Department of Public Safety Commissioner Te‘o J Fuavai to help provide “enforcement” for the project.

According to Asaeli, Te‘o has set aside five police officers as members of an “Anti-Litter Team.” They make regular visits to public places and issue citations to individuals who litter around the Territory.

Just recently, ASPA officials also made a request to Te‘o for the inmates to help in picking up the trash.

“When we approached Te‘o with our project, he fully supported it and we are happy with the progress,” said Asaeli.

ASPA will be providing vests, trash bags and any needed materials for the inmates.

“The inmates will be escorted back to Tafuna by the police officers after each day’s work,” Asaeli said.

In a related story, the second annual Island Wide Asiasiga program kicked off yesterday. The Department of Health program promotes a clean environment for American Samoa.

The program is a collaboration effort between with the Office of Tourism and ASPA.

Officials of the three agencies will make home visitations around the Territory to speak to families about a “trash free” environment.

During the program’s inaugural year, officials will give warnings to families who have problems with trash or “filthy dumps” near their homes.

The representatives of the program will be issuing citations to families that have not made any effort to improve trash-littered sites.

The objective is two-fold: for mosquito eradication, to prevent dengue fever and filariasis, and to beautify the surroundings.