Once again idea of ‘elected’ senators is in the background of 'selection'

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The new Senate and House of Representatives will be sworn in at noon on January 3, 2021, and the Secretary of the Office of the Samoan Affair, Paramount Chief Mauga Tasi Asuega told Samoa News this week that the new Legislature needs to work closely with the new Administration to build a strong and good government for American Samoa.

He has confidence that all the Senators who have been selected by their District and certified by his Office are more than qualified for the big challenge ahead.

“We need leaders who aren’t afraid to speak the truth and do good things for our people. We also need leaders that are founded in God because that is the beginning of all blessings for our government and our country,” Mauga said.

So far, nine senators have now been certified by the county chiefs of their districts and affirmed by the Secretary of Samoan Affairs to serve in the American Samoa Legislature for the next four years.

For District #1 Manu’a #1 including Ta’u, Faleasao and Fitiuta, High Chiefs (HC) Tauilili Lauifi and Ma’o Faauma Gogo have been selected, replacing Sen. Nuanuaolefeagaiga S. Nua and Sen. Logoai Siaki.

For District #2, Manu’a #2 including Ofu, Olosega and Sili, the district chiefs selected High Talking Chief (HTC) Malaepule Fuega Moliga as their new senator, replacing Sen. Misaalefua J. Hudson.

For District #3 Vaifanuatele including Alao, Aoa, Onenoa, Tula and Vatia, HC Satele Aliitai Lili’o is selected as the new senator, replacing Senate President Gaoteote Palaie Tofau.

For District #4, Saole including Aunu’u, Amouli, Utumea and Alofau, the district chiefs selected Utu Sila Poasa.

For District #7 Maoputasi Nov. 1 including the village of Aua, Leloaloa/Atuu

For District #8 Maoputasi Nov. 2 including the village of Pago Pago, the village chiefs reselected Sen. Tuaolo M. Fruean to continue on with the post.

For District #9 Maoputasi No. 3 including the village of Fagatogo, Faga’alu and Utulei, the district chiefs has reselected Sen. FanoMitch Shimasaki to continue on with the post.

For District #12 Ituau, including the village of Nuuuli, Fagasa, Matuu and Faganeanea, the district chiefs during a meeting last week selected HC Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono and HC Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson to be their new senators in the next 4 years.

VAOFANUATELE DISTRICT MEETING

High Chief Satele Aliitai Lili’o of Alao will take up the Senate seat for Vaifanuatele District now occupied by Senate President Gaoteote Palaie Tofau.

This was the outcome of a district meeting held 3 weeks ago at the Satele’s guesthouse in Alao. The meeting was attended by chiefs of the district where they unanimously agreed to Satele.

At the meeting, Gaoteote who has had two four-year terms as senator expressed his wish to continue his service, pointing out that it was a feather in the cap for the district that their senator is the Senate President and has been for the last 8 years.

He also indicated that he had a good chance at retaining the Senate presidency.

In response Satele thanked Gaoteote for elevating Vaifanua District through his leadership position as Senate president and indeed the district was proud of his tenure at the helm of the legislative branch of government.

Satele also acknowledged that Gaoteote had been in contention for governor in the recent general elections. While his bid was unsuccessful, Satele expressed confidence that the good Lord has another calling for Gaoteote.

MAOPUTASI DISTRICT MEETING TO SELECT THEIR 3RD SENATOR

A meeting for the Maoputasi District to select their third senator to represent Fagatogo, Utulei and Fagaalu was held at Mauga’s guest house in Pago Pago two weeks ago. This was the district’s second meeting to select their new senator.

Sen. Fano Mitch Shimasaki is currently holding the seat for these three villages.

When the meeting was started, Sen. Tuaolo M. Fruean gave the opportunity to chiefs of Fagatogo, Fagaalu and Utulei to announce their decision.

Fagatogo chiefs told the meeting that they wanted High Chief Mailo, who is stuck off island due to the closing of borders to be their new senator. Fagatogo chiefs believe that Faga’alu’s term is over and the seat now moves to Fagatogo.

Tuaolo interrupted and reminded chiefs of Fagatogo of his statements made in their previous meeting, where he advised them to hurry up with their decision because he heard that there are other chiefs of the Maoputasi county who are stuck off island that want to take up the senatorial seat.

“That shouldn’t happen,” Tuaolo advised chiefs of Fagatogo. “We should not delay our decision because of those who are stuck off island. Our time is running out and we need to select our leaders before the new Administration comes into office.”

After a brief discussion regarding the matter, Mauga, along with Tuaolo’s advice made the final decision to reselect Fano to take the post.

Several Chiefs of Fagatogo voiced their disappointed to Samoa News regarding the way things are done through the Faa Samoa. They felt that it’s time to amend the Constitution and to elect senators by popular vote, similar to the House of Representatives.

“It’s a constitutional issue” and “it’s an issue obviously the people will have to decide. Times have changed. I know things are bit different now, [than] about 10 or 20 years ago,” one traditional leader told Samoa News.

Another traditional leader echoed his fellow leader’s statement and said, “I agree 100 percent. It’s fair and square. That’s the democratic way.” He said in villages they select their senator, bringing back to the Senate the same person, but “what about the other chief — a lesser ranking chief doesn’t get a chance.”

“So by electing [a] senator, it’s “fair and square. That is the democratic way”

ITUAU DISTRICT

A meeting to select new senators for the Ituau District was held in Matuu and Faganeanea last weekend. Ituau has two seats in the Senate.

During the meeting, Chiefs of Fagasa announced their decision that Alo Dr.Paul Stevenson is now their new senator. Chiefs of Nuuuli also announced that Soliai Tuipine Fuimaoni is their new senator.

The Faalupega (County Chief) Savea Tavita Loseti interrupted and told the meeting that he feels that this is the term of Matuu and Faganeanea to one of the seats. A chief from Fagasa interrupted and told Savea that’s not how things in the district are run.

HC Soliai set the record straight and told the story of why Matuu and Faganeanea settled in the land of the Ituau District. At the end of the meeting, district chiefs supported the decision to let Soliai and Alo be the new senators