Constitutional Review Committee leadership questioned

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As the opening ceremony yesterday morning for the 2022 American Samoa Constitutional Review Committee was heading towards closing, Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono voiced his disappointment and sadness over the Administration not looking to the Fono to serve on the Committee’s leadership posts of chair or vice chair.

Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga in creating the Review Committee and announcing the initial membership, he also appointed Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale as chair and Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Tauese Va’a Sunia as vice chair.

Soliai said he is saddened that the governor didn’t take the Fono into consideration when appointing the chair and vice chair — with appointees to both posts part of the Executive Branch — and none from the Legislature.

Soliai noted that if the lieutenant governor was appointed to the chairmanship post, at least consider the Fono for the vice chair post, as the Legislature is the cornerstone of previous Constitutional Conventions and also plays a major role in this important event for the territory.

As he raised his voice a little, Soliai reiterated that there was no consideration given to the Fono, which should have at least be given the vice chair post.

In his response, Lemanu recalled his remarks at the start of the service, that appointments of the membership was not an easy task as he considered all sectors of the community be included. And the Fono was not ignored.

According to the governor, he and Talauega looked at having the vice chair post be represented by the Local Government — referring to the Office of Samoan Affairs. Lemanu noted the Executive and Legislative branches work together as one and points out that there’s no representation of the Judicial branch in the initial committee membership.

However, if this is the wish of the Fono — as cited by Soliai — the governor said this issue will be revisited. He also said that the committee’s membership and work is not about him and Talauega but it’s for the entirety of American Samoa.

Soliai responded that the Office of Samoan Affairs is part of the Executive Branch, working with the Governor’s Office.

House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale noted that what’s important is the work and task to be done by the committee. Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean echoed the same sentiment and asked that the committee move forward with its work for the Constitutional Convention and accept the appointments made already.

Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga T. Asuega spoke briefly before Soliai spoke up — twice — for the committee’s work to proceed forward with the decision already made by the governor.

Tuaolo, Savali and Soliai are among the 10 members of the committee from the Fono — 5 legislators from each chamber.

The opening ceremony for the first meeting of the committee was held at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium where the governor delivered special remarks saying that the work and agenda for the committee is important as the territory prepares for the Constitutional Convention later this year.

Names of the initial membership of the committee was read out by Talauega, who called on the members to work together.

After the opening service, the committee took a brief break and officially convened 10 minutes later to look at their agenda.

Samoa News will report later this week on other issues from the committee meeting.