AROUND TOWN — Opinions on Chief Justice & Associates question

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The upcoming Mid Term Election on November 8, 2022 will have 11 constitutional amendments on the ballot for voters to decide. The First amendment on the ballot poses the question: The Governor shall appoint the Chief Justice and Associate Justices subject to confirmation by the Legislature.

Julie Pau’u of our newsroom was Around Town asking people for their opinion on this proposed amendment.

KELE HANA

I don’t agree with the Amendment, because in American Samoa we are all family. Second our government doesn’t have that much money here in our Island to pay the Office of Justice and that Chief Justice, we Samoa will rule over the Chief Justice, so I don’t agree to that Constitutional Amendment.

LINO VILALIO

My own opinion, I agree with the Amendment, because there must be a change in the government because everything right now is all messed up. So yeah I agree to this amendment.

LISA MOE

I disagree. Why, because this is going to be unfair for the people of American Samoa, so it is nice if the Secretary of Interior appoints the Chief Justice, I still want the foundation of the Constitution that was already laid from the beginning.

LUPEMASILA AISA LAMOASUA

I don’t agree to it. I want the foundation of the Constitution that was already laid from the beginning. Why because America is different from here in American Samoa, it’s like in America where we make all of the American Samoa things it's best if we still go to what was laid from the beginning, we are all going to fight if we let the Governor appoint the Chief Justice so that’s why it would be nice if we let the Secretary of Interior appoint the Chief Justice. 

PE’A IOSEFA

My own opinion, it is not good because we should go to what the Government has already laid out, it’s nice to appoint from the Secretary of Interior in the United States, we must go to the foundation of the Constitution that was already laid out. I disagree to this change of the Constitution.