To help boost the local economy, Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale says one way to improve it is by proposing a ‘special’ visitors permit for citizens of Samoa — one that would allow them to make purchases or shop in American Samoa and then return home within a 48- 72- hour period.

Talauega shared the proposal during his separate confirmation hearings in both the House and Senate last week when lawmakers in both chambers raised the issue of permits for foreigners entering the territory. There was also a lawmaker who was concerned with the high fee paid to Immigration for someone from Samoa to enter the territory.

The AG first noted that Immigration issues also affect American Samoa’s commerce, saying the territory’s estimated population is about 60,000 and this number does not really support the local economy.

For example, a restaurant opens up and then closes down, because there are not enough customers. He asked what can be done to expand the territory’s economic base and one avenue is for Immigration to relax restrictions on permits for people coming from Samoa to make purchases, shop and spend money here and return to their home country.

Currently a 14-day entry permit is $10, which can be issued at the port of entry and only for citizens of Samoa, while a 30-day visitors permit is $40 and must be obtained prior to arrival in Pago Pago.

Talauega said the territorial government is looking at a permit without a fee for a 48-hour stay or a three-day stay for citizens of Samoa especially business people coming here on business, or for others who only want to shop.

And if this free permit works well for Samoa, then maybe it could be expanded to other countries such as Fiji, which has its own airline, the AG said, referring to Fiji’s national carrier, Fiji Airways, which the Lolo Administration hopes will operate flights in and out of Pago Pago, as well as establish a stopover in Pago Pago en route to and from the U.S.

Talauega stressed to lawmakers that American Samoa’s population can’t support the local economy.

Some lawmakers supported Talauega’s proposal of easing entry into the territory, with Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi saying the government needs to relax restrictions on entry permits to help boost the local economy — something that should have been done a long time ago.

The local Chamber of Commerce, during the tenure of former chairman David Robinson, has for many years recommended an overhaul of immigration law to allow easy entry into the territory for foreigners who come here only to visit. Business owners and shoppers from Samoa was one example cited many times by Robinson and other Chamber members, saying that should be the target for relaxing immigration entry policies, as more and more business people from Samoa continue to visit the territory just to shop.

The government’s 2014- 2017 Economic Development Implementation Plan, released in early 2014, calls for identifying ways to ease travel between American Samoa and Samoa while improving upon enforcement of local immigration law and travel agreements between the two Samoas.

It also suggested eliminating entry permits for citizens of Samoa to open up American Samoa to new tourists.

Also raised during Talauega’s confirmation is the Samoa government’s requirement for US Nationals to have an entry permit. Talauega responded that this issue is in the hands of the US State Department, which handles international affairs for American Samoa and other territories.