Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a Sept. 19th letter, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga raised concerns with Fono leaders over the alleged verbal abuse of his cabinet members who appeared for hearings, especially the recently completed Fono Joint Budget Committee hearings for fiscal year 2020.

And the governor warned that continued abuse could force him to invoke his Executive Privilege by prohibiting directors from attending Fono hearings when requested by committees.

“The verbal abuse and demeaning remarks uttered by Senators and Representatives to debase and humiliate my cabinet directors and Executive Branch professionals is very troubling and distressful for me as their leader,” Lolo wrote.

He said this type of verbal assault from “supposed leaders is deplorable and disgraceful” and very unbecoming and “reflects badly on our cultural principle of mutual respect as it works both ways”.

Additionally, the “disrespectful manner” in which “our non-Samoan directors — Lewis Wolman, Wallon Young and others — were treated goes against our very nature of being loving, hospitable, and embracing.”

“To ask these [non-Samoan] directors questions about their personal lives and questioning their motives of being here, while they have dedicated their lives to serve our people is reprehensible and shameful,” Lolo wrote. “It projects the image that we are racist.”

He reminded Fono leaders that his executive assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira is a high talking chief “and to treat him like a little kid is grossly disrespectful.”

Lolo also took issue with the treatment of a senior female aide from his office, who appeared before the joint budget committee during the discussion of the Special Programs, overseen by the Governor’s Office. “To shame a highly competent and professional young lady, who works for my office, for whatever reason, is again abhorrent and distasteful,” he said.

He reminded Fono leaders that one of “our basic endearing cultural tenets is our deep sense of mutual respect.” He said he had expected that Senators and Faipule would accord the same respect that they demand of his cabinet directors.

The governor said that some of the directors and support staff are high chiefs, high talking chiefs, and heads of their respective families. According to him, the Fono is given the stature of reverence and high esteem based on belief that God has blessed it with wisdom.

“Unfortunately, the perpetrated action of abuse, loudly contradicts this conviction. My cabinet directors are not children,” the governor said. “They are educated, cultural, community and family leaders and they deserve the same respect demanded by the Senators and Representatives.”

He said the “pattern of abuse” of his cabinet members at the hands of Senators and Faipule “is giving me pause to evaluate and determine the merits of my policy to avail all of my cabinet directors to appear, at the request of the Fono.”

Lolo said he has never entertained the thought of invoking “my Executive Powers limiting the appearance” of directors at Fono hearings; however, he noted, “if this pattern continues I will have no resource but to consider exercising” his executive authority over cabinet member appearances in the Fono.

To the Fono leaders, the governor wrote, “I look to you to protect my directors when they appear before the Fono for hearings”. He thanked Sen. Magalei Logovii for his efforts to “prohibit questions that are personal in nature and irrelevant questions germane to the subject matter.”

In conclusion, Lolo asked Fono leaders not to allow Senators and Faipule to use their positions and the Fono “as their forum and platform to launch personal attacks against my cabinet directors and executive branch professionals.”

Copies of Lolo’s letter were sent to all lawmakers in both the Senate and House.