|
Lawmakers not backing down on request
Monday,
June 29, 2009
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale informed the House today that questions concerning the undersea fiber optic cable will be answered at a special briefing for the Fono next Monday.
He said officials from the fiber optic cable company will be arriving Sunday and a briefing for the Fono has been set for Monday.
Vice Speaker Laolagi Fonoti Vaeao and five other representatives had asked the Legislative Financial Officer to provide answers to a long list of questions concerning ASG’s role, the financing, partners and development of the fiber optic project.
Their request was prompted by news reports about a $16.6 million loan for the undersea cable. ASG 's investment in the fiber optic project is $9 million of which $6 million has already been paid, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission by Elandia Technologies International, the major shareholder in the cable company. Elandia is the parent company of Blue Sky Communications.
One representative who signed the request for information on the fiber optic project said that he does not expect the off island officials to have the answers they're seeking. He said their main concern is ASG's liability with the loan and other financial obligations for the fiber optic project. He said that he will insist that the Legislative Financial Officer follow through with their request.
An official launching ceremony for the under sea fiber optic cable is set for 10 am next Tuesday at the Lee Auditorium.
| 
