Samoa disaster 'man-made' - CNN

BY MICHAEL FIELD

Last updated 13:36 28/10/2009

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American Samoa's tsunami disaster was a "man-made tragedy", the US television network CNN claims.

It says US federal money to install a tsunami warning system in the territory was diverted by the territorial government, leaving American Samoa with no alert.

Thirty four people died when the tsunami hit the region last month and around 160 people died in neighbouring Samoa and Tonga.

CNN says its investigation has "uncovered an array of unsettling facts that point to a single conclusion: this natural disaster was in many ways a man-made tragedy".

CNN says the FBI is now investigating.

It says Department of Homeland Security (DHS) records show millions of dollars in grants were awarded to prepare for a disaster, including the construction of an island-wide siren warning system.

But the funding was frozen in early 2007 after DHS inspectors found that the local American Samoa government had been diverting millions of those dollars for its own uses.

Birdsall Alailima, director of American Samoa's territorial office of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2007, and now living in Illinois, showed CNN on a map exactly where on the island the sirens were to have been placed.

Thirty towers in all, he said, with 30 sirens that could have been activated by the push of a single button.

"You're saying that the systems should have been in place?" CNN correspondent Drew Griffin asked him.

"Absolutely," Alailima said.

"And people died as a result?"

"Yes."

CNN says other federal sources admitted the death toll would have been lower if the towers had been built.

In Pago Pago, Governor Togiola Tulafono, told CNN that he knew of no viable plan for the siren system.

"There was a study, I believe, but never a plan for a system. I was trying to get verification of what happened to that system, but I could not get the definite information."

American Samoa would have had access to the frozen funds if it had agreed to pay back even some of the money it misused, an unnamed official told CNN.

The government and the governor refused, and the tsunami siren system was stopped.

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Henry #8 01:49 pm Oct 29 2009

Sounds funny, Governor Togiola says he knew of no viable plan for the siren system but only a study, he believes but never a plan. So the question is, WHERE IS THE FUND THAT WAS ASSINGED for the siren system? I think Togiola is not only a Governor but he's also a Lawyer.

But remember, "IT'S HARD TO REMEBER A LIE"

Allen #7 10:03 pm Oct 28 2009

Corrurption is only from aid...yeah right. Brent (#1) you know nothing...to say EVERY receiver of aid is corrput is naive. Yes it does happen...like in many things...but how do you know EVERY one is corrupt in aid? Can you prove that...? Ah...no! There are corrupt practices on this side of the fence as well but we turn a blind eye. The finance companies that failed...what's the chances that was to do with corruption rather than incompetence? But it's okay with we get away with it, right?

Sam #6 08:44 pm Oct 28 2009

Governor Togiola Tulafono is a money grubbing official that has eaten the money for many years. I wander how much money he has profited ovrer the years. If there is a change that american samoa needs, it needs to start in the government.

frangipani #5 04:22 pm Oct 28 2009

I am a samoan and unfortunately, i have been hearing rumours that support this claim, there are things that have been sent over that are now being sold in shops. I dont think that everyone in goverment is corrupt, but then it takes just one bad apple to spoil the whole box. Its sad but then its something that happens not only in samoa but in many other countries as well. I just feel for the families that are affected....though i must say with the container loads that have been going over, it would have been about enough to clothe all of samoa!!!

Hamish #4 03:06 pm Oct 28 2009

Banana Republic???

Matt #3 02:48 pm Oct 28 2009

In Pago Pago, Governor Togiola Tulafono, told CNN that he knew of no viable plan for the siren system, and that after the installation of his petanque court and in-ground swimming pool there were barely enough funds remaining to pay his small village of servants, let alone a rarely used tsunami alert system.

paul #2 02:13 pm Oct 28 2009

There are already reports that aid isn't reaching the people who need it - guarantee a lot of the money people give won't reach them either. It's why I choose not to give to charities.

Brent #1 01:49 pm Oct 28 2009

Aid given to countries is ripped off by every government it's given to. Samoans are not exepmt to this either. The blame therefore is on the American Samoan government officals, who are, just like every other recievr of aid...corrupt. How much of NZ money to Samoa is being syphoned off?

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