Gov. Lolo recognizes Lydia Faleafine-Nomura for her service to territory

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At last Wednesday’s cabinet meeting at the Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium, US Interior Department Field Representative Lydia Faleafine-Nomura was recognized by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga with a Governor’s Resolution — “honoring and expressing profound gratitude” from the out-going Lolo/Lemanu Administration to Faleafine-Nomura “for her tireless, selfless dedicated and compassionate service to the people of American Samoa.”

She was also presented a plaque — an “award of excellence and distinction conferred” to Faleafine-Nomura “to recognize her devotion and her dedication to the continual advancement of the improvement of the lives of the people of American Samoa.”

In his remarks, the governor expressed appreciation and gave credit to Faleafine-Nomura for the countless blessings American Samoa has received in the last 8-years from the federal government. He also says that American Samoa — unlike other territories — usually expends right away federal funding it receives.

Additionally, he and Lemanu would always seek Faleafine-Nomura’s advise on a wide-range of issues.

Samoa News notes that since the start of the Lolo/Lemanu Administration in 2013, Faleafine-Nomura has attended all cabinet meetings — as she was invited by the governor.

“I am completely shocked and honored and really undeserving” of the recognition, said Faleafine-Nomura through tears during her brief remarks after being presented with the special recognition.

 “Because I feel that everyone in this room has done just as much, if not more, than myself in your own personal careers. But we all do it in our own way, in different lights, different walks,” she said.

“But some of us are more in the limelight because of having the fortunate opportunity of being in certain positions. But there are people in this room, who I know, that have done so much more. The people that I work with each week in the different offices...” she said.

To the governor, “I have to say, even though I’ve been in public service for 40 years, the last 8 years have been the most productive years of my entire career,” she said to applause from cabinet members.

“And also the most tiring, as I’m sure all of you folks have experienced, as I know that he has worked you hard,” she told cabinet members and noted that the governor is like a father to her and that her father passed away in 1984.

She thanked both the governor and the lieutenant governor, all cabinet members and others for their support throughout the 8-years during which they have all worked together.

[photo: Leua Aiono Frost]