Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The enforcement of evening curfews in the villages continues following advice from the Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega two months ago during a meeting of the territory’s mayors.

He emphasized the importance of village mayors’ roles, adding that a village mayor is also responsible for the security and safety of his village, through awareness in preparation for natural disasters and also protecting residents from drugs by alerting police when there’s a suspicion of drugs or illegal activities in the village.

As of today the village of Aoa, to the north east of Tutuila island, follows its neighbor village Fagaitua in carrying out evening curfews with bells at 6pm, 9pm and 10pm.

Manutulila Leuila, is on his second term as the mayor for the village of Aoa, and spoke about American Samoan nationals being a minority in his village.

While there’s a thousand plus people residing in Aoa, Manutuila in his observation, said, most of them are from Samoa, the Independent state, following local immigration policies for non residents to live with sponsors. 

“It’s a quiet village” he says, besides outsiders coming in trying to sell drugs, where he took care of that problem right away by calling police, and those drug people involved are now in jail he assured.

His village meets twice a month, where they talk about the enforcement of self-reliance, clean environment, working together in keeping peace and avoiding domestic violence.

The three denominations, Assembly of God (AOG), American Samoa Congregational Christian Church (ASCCC) and the Catholic Church contribute in the development of the village welfare as well.

Talks about food sustainability, “individual families are responsible for their own food supplies. There is also assistance from the government through land grants, for small farms like pig sties.

Fishing is allowed for local consumption, as the village reefs are rich with a variety of fish, including sea cucumbers and shellfish. He pointed out the women’s team in the village was named after a special sea cucumber, SEAULA, unfortunately that all time favorite species has totally disappeared from Aoa.

He said, besides banana trees growing everywhere in the village, not every family has an interest in farming taro, ta'amu and yams due to destruction from wild pigs, which is a challenge for most.

Manutilila owns the only pig sty in the village and he finds it money savings for his family food-wise. He sells agricultural produce at the Fagatogo market during the week.

Furthermore he says family members can apply for support from the Department of Agriculture or Land Grant.

The Department of Agriculture goes directly to the farmers, not the pulenuu, unless there’s a need for village mayor involvement.

He recalls there was once a call from the Department of Agriculture for the mayors during the COVID-19 pandemic, for families to start planting sustainable food supplies close to their homes.

In the meantime the current Agriculture programs include the supplies of planting materials like taro shoots, support for farmers with a pig sty, hydroponic grown vegetables, greenhouse nursery materials, etc.

Officials from Agriculture usually do follow up with individual families they are working with, to view the outcome for another step forward.

 Manutulila also says he is one of those individuals working with the Agriculture department, and he is looking forward to trying out other Agriculture and Aquaculture projects in the pipeline.

A senior official at the Department of Agriculture says they’re looking at farming clams, fish and having a nursery of Samoan plants and trees.