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Pula shares feds stand on issues affecting territory

Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs executive director Nikolao Pula has informed Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga the stand of the federal government when it comes to cabotage waivers for American Samoa. The waiver would allow foreign carriers to operate between other U.S. airports and Pago Pago

 

This issue was one of the economic development areas that were discussed between Pula and the governor during a meeting last Saturday in Honolulu. Other issues of discussion included DOI technical assistance, education, and decolonization.

 

These are identical issues that the governor’s office says were discussed between the two officials. See Samoa News edition of June 18th on what the governor raised during the meeting.

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

Responding to Samoa News request for comments following the meeting, Pula said the governor expressed his desire to revisit the issue of federal Essential Air Service (EAS) and cabotage law “even though it is challenging and a difficult nut to crack.”

 

He said the governor wants to make the case to the federal government in general and more specifically to the U.S. Department of Transportation and its bureau, the Federal Aviation Administration “that there is almost no chance for this tiny US territory for economic development if the transportation issues connecting it to commercial lines of the region and the mainland US are not addressed accordingly.” (USDOT and FAA oversee cabotage issues and the EAS program)

 

“I reiterated to Governor Lolo that the main response of these offices in the past, which have jurisdiction on these issues, is that this is a market driven reality,” said Pula. “That while there is only one airline servicing the territory to Hawai’i, there is no existing law stopping other domestic airlines from competing for the same route.”

 

“The issue is allowing foreign airlines to compete on the same route. Governor Lolo wants to aggressively pursue the matter anyway, hoping for some alternative solutions,” he said via e-mail yesterday from Washington D.C.

 

LOCAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE

 

The governor also shared his desire to improve some aspects of Education in the territory, said Pula, adding that he had the opportunity to meet with Education Department director Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau and ASDOE deputy directors, Philo Jennings and Fa'aui Vaitautolu when he was in Pago Pago during the April Flag Day celebration.

 

“I saw some of the good work they were doing to complete implementation of the Plan of Action as required by U.S. Department of Education on its High Risk status,” he said.

 

Pula revealed that the governor said a recent briefing by Salu Hunkin-Finau “has prompted him to reach out to certain members of the community — experts, church, business and his staff to prepare for an Education Summit later this year.”

 

Pula said he shared with the governor “some of the work my office is doing” in the state of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to help improve its education system.

 

“We've had high level meetings where we've reached out to President Mori of the FSM, Governor Elimo of Chuuk, its legislative leaders, regional education folks and the department itself to focus on realistic reforms,” said Pula.

 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

 

There were two issues for technical assistance and one of them is the Samoan Heritage Week in Hawai’i. Pula said the governor expressed interest in expanding the role of the Heritage Week to include an economic development forum for attracting businesses to American Samoa and promoting the territory.

 

“I told the Governor that OIA will review the [funding] proposal when we receive it,” he said

 

The governor also expressed interest for a technical assistance proposal to demolish the Rainmaker Hotel. “The dilapidated structure is an eye-sore to the cruise ships coming in and is becoming a health hazard,” said Pula.

 

“The site is at a wonderful location and it could lure potential investors to construct other economic development projects for tourism or other businesses. OIA will also entertain this proposal when we receive it,” he said.

 

DECOLONIZATION

 

As to the issue of decolonization and the territory’s political status, Pula said the governor acknowledged the positions taken by past governors of the territory to have American Samoa be removed from the UN list of non self-governing entities.

 

While Lolo has not yet provided his position to the UN Decolonization Committee, “he alluded to having a similar view of the matter as pertaining to his view of the territory's political status — that he wants the people of American Samoa to make the final decision to reflect their wishes,” said Pula.

 

He also says that perhaps Lolo will have a position prepared when the UN Committee of 24, or the Decolonization Committee, invites him to the next round of meetings. (The next committee meeting is late May of next year.)