The wife of  Governor-elect Lemanu Peleti Mauga is still one of around 600 people stranded off island because of the closure of the borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At this stage there is no certainty that Ella Perefoti Mauga will be by Lemanu's side when he takes the oath of office on 3 January.

The former, who just retired from the US Army last month, had military approval to travel from Honolulu on a Coast Guard flight before the November general elections.

However outgoing Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga did not grant approval for her to enter the territory.

There were other military personnel and veterans booked to travel on the same flight, who were also not approved.

When asked by KHJ news, the Chairman of the Coronavirus Taskforce, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira pointed to the 10th Emergency Declaration for Covid-19 saying it restricts entry for all residents stranded outside except workers.

"Based on these restrictions, the policy was applied across the board to ensure that the integrity of these policies is preserved and the principal of equity as applied indiscriminately."