WASHINGTON D.C — Last week’s Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA) annual meeting heard Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga open his remarks by thanking the U.S President and the DOI leadership for leading the efforts to waive for territories the local match requirement for Federal grants and he closed his statement with a recommendation for rotating the IGIA meetings to different Islands so the leaders will have exposure to the issues discussed in the IGIA meetings.

Gov. Lemanu, First Lady Ella Mauga, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, and several directors attended the IGIA 2023 Senior Plenary Session in Washington D.C. at the Department of Interior’s (DOI) Headquarters on February 08.

The IGIA brings together elected leaders of the U.S. Insular Areas of American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to discuss issues facing the territories and explore resources to resolve the needs of each territory.

U.S Secretary of Interior, Deb Haaland opened the session by thanking the leaders of the territories for voicing their concerns and working with their office to resolve these issues, according to a news release from the ASG delegation in D.C.

Haaland reassured her support for each territory and their concerns. Each of the elected leaders was given 5 minutes to present their issues.

Lemanu opened his remarks by thanking the U.S President and the DOI leadership for leading the efforts to waive the local match requirement for usage of Federal grants.

He pleaded with the other federal agencies to follow suit and allow the territories to fully utilize and realize the benefits of federal funding allocated to the territories. Lemanu quoted President Joe Biden from his State of the Union the day before, “There’s nothing that we can do if we don’t work together”.

Lemanu highlighted the danger American Samoa is in with the impact of Climate Change and referenced the U.S. Geology stating that “American Samoa is vulnerable to sea-level rise in part due to the steep terrain of its islands.”

“I don’t want to see my Island sink”, the governor said and  asked for immediate attention and support on this issue affecting American Samoa.

The governor moved on to talk about the approved Constitutional Amendments by the people of American Samoa. He shared that although American Samoa’s relationship with the U.S. is defined as unincorporated, “the state of democracy in the government is strong”.

Lemanu thanked Haaland for meeting with the American Samoa team on February 7, 2023 and most importantly to honor the voice of the people of American Samoa.

He continued to thank the federal government and its multiple agencies for their continuous support for the people of American Samoa.

And he asked for an increase in federal funding because of the hike in the cost of living, especially with the materials needed for infrastructure projects.

He discussed the Buy America Act and how it makes it difficult for American Samoa to explore other options that are within the cost range of the awarded grant.

Lemanu emphasized that when there is a full cycle for hard infrastructure, soft infrastructure, and critical infrastructure. He gave the example of building a home. The frame of the house is the hard infrastructure. The electricity, furniture, and appliances are soft infrastructure. The bathroom is a critical infrastructure.

“One compliments the other. We cannot build roads without hospitals. We cannot have hospitals without schools. If we miss one, we will not be doing any service to our people” added Lemanu.

This is the governor’s third IGIA meeting and he shared that it is important to understand the needs of our people. Communication needs to be consistent so the territories can learn from each other.

Lemanu recommended rotating the IGIA meetings to different Islands so the people can see their nation leaders. In addition, the leaders will have exposure to the issues discussed in the IGIA meetings.

Uifa’atali supported and aligned her goals with Lemanu’s priorities.

The U.S departments of Interior, Transportation, Energy, Agriculture, Commerce and Federal Communications Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency presented at the IGIA and conducted a Q&A session for the leaders of the territories.

Assistant secretary for insular and international affairs, Carmen Cantor concluded the meeting by reminding the leaders and delegates that IGIA is a great opportunity to voice their concerns and make recommendations for the establishment or implementation of Federal programs concerning the territories.

And that DOI is committed to working together with the territories on the available resources that will help to assist with project improvements in the territories.