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.<\/p>\n
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\u2018i Asaeli.<\/p>\n
Asaeli added that ASPA will pay the inmates $1 an hour for their work.<\/p>\n
The new Anti Litter Task Force Program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Public Safety and ASPA.<\/p>\n
“The project is set up to promote a clean and beautiful American Samoa,” Asaeli said.<\/p>\n
He said that ASPA has eight local residents under contract as “trash pickers” along roadsides and in public places.<\/p>\n
ASPA executive director Abe Malae and Asaeli approached Department of Public Safety Commissioner Te\u2018o J Fuavai to help provide “enforcement” for the project.<\/p>\n
According to Asaeli, Te\u2018o 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.<\/p>\n
Just recently, ASPA officials also made a request to Te\u2018o for the inmates to help in picking up the trash.<\/p>\n
“When we approached Te\u2018o with our project, he fully supported it and we are happy with the progress,” said Asaeli.<\/p>\n
ASPA will be providing vests, trash bags and any needed materials for the inmates.<\/p>\n
“The inmates will be escorted back to Tafuna by the police officers after each day’s work,” Asaeli said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The program is a collaboration effort between with the Office of Tourism and ASPA.<\/p>\n
Officials of the three agencies will make home visitations around the Territory to speak to families about a “trash free” environment.<\/p>\n
During the program’s inaugural year, officials will give warnings to families who have problems with trash or “filthy dumps” near their homes.<\/p>\n
The representatives of the program will be issuing citations to families that have not made any effort to improve trash-littered sites.<\/p>\n
The objective is two-fold: for mosquito eradication, to prevent dengue fever and filariasis, and to beautify the surroundings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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