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HTC Velega Savali passes — a righteous voice lost

Velega Savali passed away on Oct. 15 2016, he was 72.  [SN file photo]
joyetter@samoanews.com

Velega Savali Savali Jr. was known for his bravery and outspokenness — speaking with “few words” when criticizing government leaders head on — out front. Former Senator, Treasurer, Chief Election Office, Vietnam Veteran and High Talking Chief, Velega passed away Friday October 15, 2016, he was 73.

Married to Leleiga “Raina” Fa’atili Esera, their daughter Lela Savali Siufanua said cancer took away her amazing father.

On her Facebook post, Lela noted, “My Father was a man of few words, so few that I will always regret not knowing some of his life stories, happiest moments, and sorrows. He never wavered in what he thought was right and if you needed anything, he never hesitated to help. As heartbreaking it is to lose my Dad, I am at peace to know that he is not suffering.”

Velega of Ofu Manu’a was candidate for Lieutenant Governor during the 2008 gubernatorial election, where he and his partner lost.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the Marines in1965. He received the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal and two medals for good conduct.

He earned his BA in Political Science and Business Administration from California State University. His service for the American Samoa Government started in 1974 when he became the assistant director of the Department of Public Works. The next year he served as the Manager of the Office of Motor Vehicles under the Department of Public Safety.

Velaga then moved to serve as the Administrator at the High Court of American Samoa back in 1978 and then in 200; he was appointed the Vice President if the Development Bank of American Samoa (DBAS). However prior to being the DBAS president, he served as the Legislative Financial officer in 1986 for the Legislature.

He also served as the Treasurer in former Governor Togiola Tulafono’s Administration. Under the Lolo Administration, Velega served as a board member of the LBJ hospital.

Velega also served under the current administration as the Chief Election Officer briefly and resigned noting that the job was “too relaxing” for him. It was the last position he held in public service.

The former senator left at least two of his public positions after expressing his frustration with the lack of response to issues that needed to be resolved by the leadership he served under — both the previous and current one.

Samoa News was unable to get direct responses from his wife or family.

However, the Annesley family expresses their deepest condolences to the mourning family. “He was a friend of our father, Te’o Gus Annesley, and spoke often to us of believing in our father’s dreams and endeavors — especially the Amerika Samoa Bank. Velega was one of its founding investors,” a family member said.

“In recent years, we enjoyed his outspokenness, and often compared notes of our shared desire for a ‘better community’ — a better American Samoa. He will be missed.”

He is survived by his wife, daughters, sons and grandchildren.