AROUND TOWN — Opinions on the 6th amendment to the Constitution

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 sixth amendment on the ballot poses the question: Should the delegate of Swains Island have the right to vote in the House of Representatives?

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

LINA MOAFANUA

I agree with it. This is because there are a lot of Swains people in American Samoa and it is only fair to give the delegate of Swains, the right to vote. This would be the voice of the people of Swains in the House of Representatives. The Representative from Swains has been in office for 18 consecutive years but never had a voice in the House of Representatives, that’s too many years to do nothing but attend.

MARY KITIONA

I think it is time for the delegate from Swains Island to vote. It is time that we the people of American Samoa give the Swains delegate the right to vote in office. It is their birthright, Swains has also assisted American Samoa in so many ways, so why not give the delegate the right to vote.

MAX WILLIAMS 

The people of Swains have the right to voice their concerns in the Fono by way of a vote and at the moment that is not allowed, and the question is, why is that?

In my own opinion it is time to give the delegate from Swains Island the right to vote in the House of Representatives. Also consider the service by the Swains delegate, he’s been in office for a very long time, he has earned that right to vote.

PE’A IOSEFA

I will vote yes to amend our Constitution to give the delegate from Swains Island the rights to vote in the House of Representatives.

We need to allow the delegate of Swains to vote in the House. I cannot imagine sitting in the House of Representative for those many years, not being able to vote, yet the decisions made will have an impact on the people of Swains. 

TAEMA SUEGA FA'ASAVALU

In my own opinion, I say we give the delegate from Swains Island the right to vote in the House of Representatives and this is because there's a lot of Tokelau people from Swains that live and serve here in American Samoa, they are taxpayers as well, so why not give them the right to voice their opinion in the House?