Tuiasina Salamo Laumoli sworn in to fill vacant Tualatai Senate seat

Pago Pago, AMERICANN SAMOA — The Senate again has its complete 18 members after Tuiasina Salamo Laumoli was sworn in late yesterday morning in the Senate chambers, during a brief ceremony presided over by Chief Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr.

Tuiasina, a former Health Director, fills the Tualatai County senatorial seat left vacant following the sudden death late last year of Paramount Chief, Sen. Satele Galu Satele Sr. Tuiasina will serve out the two-years left in Satele’s four-year term in office.

The swearing in ceremony was part of a special sitting of the Senate called by Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, who informed his colleagues that senators serve a 4-year term.

However, he called the special gathering so that senators could witness the newly selected Tualatai senator, Tuiasina, take the oath of office.

Tuaolo recalled Senate rules, which gives the President of the Senate the authority to appoint a special committee to review credentials and other documents for a newly selected senator.

Therefore, he appointed a three-member committee, chaired by Sen. Magalei Logovi’i along with Sens. Malaepule Saite Moliga and Satele Aliita Lilio.

Tuaolo called a brief break while the special committee met away from the chamber and were presented with documents — including the Certification of Decision by the County Council of Tualatai County in its selection of Tuiasina as well as the governor’s official communque to Tuaolo on the new senator.

Gov. Lemanu P. S Mauga in a Dec 28, 2022 letter informed Tuaolo of Tualatai’s selection of Tuiasina as their new senator.

“In the most unfortunate event that a Senator passes while serving,” Lemanu said that the American Samoa Constitution requires that the governor issues a Writ of Special Election to the County Chief of the county for which the senator was serving.

“We have experienced such an unfortunate loss with the passing of Senator Satele Galu Satele, Senator for Senate District 10 - Tualatai county,” the governor wrote.

Lemanu recalled that on Dec 19, 2022 he issued a Writ of Special Election to Maiavatele Vaigafi Maiava, who is the Tualatai County Chief, pursuant to a provision of the Constitution.

The Writ was returned by Maiavatele, along with a Certificate of Election, indicating that the County Council of Tualatai County met in Vailoatai, discussed the “vacancy and in accordance with Samoan custom” and agreed that Tuiasina “will serve to fill the vacancy during the remainder of the unexpired term of his predecessor,” the governor explained.

According to the Certificate of Decision document, Maiavatele certified that the decision by the County Council of Tualatai County was made on Nov. 26, 2022, selecting Tuiasina.

And while awaiting the special committee’s decision, Tuaolo called on Senate Legal Council Mitzie Jessop Ta’ase to answer an important question for senators. And that is, can a new senator take the oath of office before 12noon? And Jessop-Ta’ase gave the response, “yes”.

Just around 11:30 a.m, the special committee returned with Malaepule recommending that the Senate accepted the new Tualatai senator. Senators unanimously gave their endorsement followed by the swearing in ceremony.

Tuaolo informed senators that next week Monday is the start of the new 38th Legislature and this year marks the 75th Anniversary of when the Fono was established — which was in 1948.

He said that the Fono had celebrated its 50th Anniversary and asked senators to think about how the Fono can celebrate  its 75th Anniversary, which is a major milestone not only for the Fono but American Samoa.

The Senate completed its special sitting before 12noon yesterday and senators moved to hold their luncheon during which Tuiasina’s family made “sua presentations” to senators.