Swains Island delegate urges Congress maintain territorial oversight

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Swains Island delegate in the American Samoa legislature wants the US Congress to maintain oversight of the territory.

Currently before the Congress is a measure that would give this right solely to the Secretary of the Interior.

The Swains delegate Su'a Alexander Eli Jennings, a direct descendant of the original owner of Swains Island, wants Washington to implement reforms voted for last year.

A majority of American Samoa voters approved five amendments to the American Samoa Constitution through a referendum, but they have not been implemented.

Su'a said the most significant of these is the "Swains Island Amendment," which gives their delegate the ability to vote in the local legislature - something the island had been denied for the past 63 years.

He said the DOI has neglected the rights of Swains Islanders for generations and continues to do so.

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