Amendments for Samoan lands and voting on Constitutional Review Committee agenda

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga addressed members of the American Samoa Constitutional Review Committee during the opening ceremony Feb. 8 at the Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium.

In his remarks — delivered in Samoan — the governor noted that the committee’s work is the first step towards the Constitutional Convention, which the Administration plans later this year.

He said the committee’s review, discussion and work, is very important as the outcome will set the agenda for the Constitution Convention and he informed the membership that their duties and responsibilities are for the benefit of all American Samoa, and not to involve politics or other interference.

The governor’s executive order establishing the Committee summarizes the responsibilities and duties of the panel, which is to review the entire Constitution and consider all proposals for revision as submitted through designated meetings, gatherings, and discussions as held by and through the Constitutional Review Office and the Governor’s Office, as well as reports and requests submitted by lawfully appointed bodies including but not limited to the Fono, Judiciary, the political status study committees, local government and the public.

In his remarks, the governor recalled the history of the territory’s Constitutional Conventions going back to April of 1960, and points out that American Samoa has gone through many challenges and changes over the years and therefore, it’s important that the Constitution is reviewed and changes recommended.

Lemanu also addressed the issue of the initial membership — which he says covers a wide-range of sectors in the community, from government to the business community, community-at-large, members of the clergy, youth and women.

He said input from these various sectors of the community will assist the Committee in its work. According to the governor, there are a lot of important issues to review and he told the membership that American Samoa should make changes to its Constitution and not those outside of the territory.

After the opening service, the committee took a break before they convened the first gathering, where members were presented with packets of the agenda as well as the schedule of meetings, which began with orientation for membership yesterday.

According to the informational schedule, there are to be submissions of amendments for the Chief Justice, the House of Representatives, as well as amendments for Samoan lands and voting. The schedule shows that the committee meetings go through Mar. 2.

The membership during their first meeting on Tuesday, also went into background information on the Constitution and the difference between what the Committee will be doing and the work of the ASG Political Status Office.