Fono Report

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Swains Island faipule Su’a Alex Jennings called for a hearing in the House last week to ensure that a Resolution is submitted to the Department of Interior (DOI) in support of the constitutional amendments approved in this past November’s election that are now before the U.S. Congress for ratification.

One of the five amendments submitted to the DOI and voted on by the people of American Samoa is the right given to the Swains Island delegate to vote in the local House.

The request was denied by the Speaker of the House Savali Talavou Ale, who said there is no need for a hearing since the amendments have been submitted by the governor to DOI.

Su’a told Samoa News this is a historical event for the American Samoa Constitution especially for Swains Island after waiting 70 years to finally get the right to vote. 

 “Many of us have never experienced this part of revising the Constitution of American Samoa, especially since all the proposed Amendments were rejected by the voters in the 2010 elections. 

 “While waiting patiently for a final decision from Washington DC, there's been several issues I wish Swains Island had the opportunity to vote on especially the recent re-appropriation bill. 

 “The basic right to vote should be like a serious injury, it should not have to go through all these hoops to fix, especially after the distinguished Delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the people of American expressed their overwhelming support by voting to approve it.”

Su’a has also called on the Administration to be more transparent about the submission to DOI of the five (5) Constitution Amendments by keeping the Fono updated about correspondence and any other communications, and not leaving them to find out about the matter via media.

HOUSE APPROVES NEW RETIREMENT BOARD MEMBER

The House of Representative unanimously confirmed Joseph Toloa’i Ho Ching II as a member of the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund Board of Trustees during this past Thursday’s session.

He was also approved in the Senate last week.  Ho Ching is the business member nominee to the board, and replaces businessman Frank Gaisoa, who resigned.

Ho Ching is currently President & CEO for both CBT Ho Ching & Co., and AVEIA INC.  as well as member of the board of directors for the two aforementioned companies. He also serves as the administrator for the Angels Crossing Home Hospice.

ADMIN BILL TO AMEND BANKING LAWS INTRODUCED

The American Samoa Government is amending laws for government deposit requirements to meet federal regulatory rules that all federal funds awarded to American Samoa are required to be deposited in a federally insured financial institution since the Territorial Bank of American Samoa is not insured at this time.

The provision of the law the bill seeks to amend in order to comply with federal regulation is titled, “American Samoa Government Funds and Income of the Bank”. 

The proposed amendment adds this change (in quotations): “unless otherwise specifically prohibited by federal statute or regulation or as directed by order of the courts of this and any other state or territory, or of the United States,” — all  government funds and deposits — including those earned or received by semi-autonomous agencies, shall be deposited with and maintained at the TBAS.

Samoa News understands that ASG currently uses accounts at Zions Bank, which is a FDIC member based in Utah, to comply with the federal requirement.

REV MATAIA FAILAUGA CONFIRMED FOR SCHOLARSHIP BOARD

Rev. Mataio Failauga of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS), Fagamalo was unanimously confirmed as a member of the American Samoa Student Financial Aid board during yesterday’s House session. He was confirmed in the Senate on Tuesday.

A graduate of Leone High School and a U.S Navy veteran, retiring in September 1999, Failauga attended Kanana Fou Theological Seminary from June 2006 to 2010.