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New Senate president highlights his goals for 37th Legislature

Senate President, Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Eti Tuiletufuga Fruean and his wife, Fiapaipai Fruean
Forefront: Get new Fono building dedicated and in use before end of this Legislature
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The new Senate President, the veteran politician and lawmaker Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Eti Tuiletufuga Fruean said he has a lot of work to do in order for him to serve the Legislature, the government and the people of American Samoa.

During an interview with Samoa News at his Pago Pago residence a few hours after he was elected as Senate President last Sunday evening, Tuaolo thanked all Senators for their confidence in him to lead the Senate for the next four years.

He expressed his sincere thanks to all members of the 36th Legislature and former Senate President, Gaoteote Palaie Tofau for their hard work in the Fono, the government and for the people of American Samoa.

According to Tuaolo, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done and he’s depending on God’s mighty hands to lead his way and to bring him wisdom and knowledge to do what is right for the people.

Tuaolo said he has mixed feelings after he was elected as the new senate president, he was happy but at the same time humbled. “It’s an honor to be the Senate President for the next four years. I’m overwhelmed when all Senators put their trust in me to be their leader.”

“Who am I, Lord. I’m just a humble servant who knows nothing, but it’s my daily prayer that through the power of God, nothing is impossible and I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.”

When asked about some of the challenges he’s now facing as the Senate leader, Tuaolo said that the first thing that came to his mind is the completion of the new Fono building. He said that a few months ago, he looked around at the location where the new Fono building project is located and thought deeply on how Senators and Representatives of the 37th Legislature will conduct their daily work without an office.

He further stated that he thought that the new Fono building was going to be dedicated before the closing of the 36th Legislature, however, that did not happen.

“This does not look good for honorable Senators and Representatives of the Legislature to walk around to find ways how to do their work because there are no offices in place,” Tuaolo said, adding that, “I’m now the President of the Senate and I will do my best to finish the project and dedicate this new Fono building before the 37th Legislature is over.”

Speaking about issues pertaining to the economy, the future of the people, the Constitutional Convention and political status of the territory, Tuaolo said that there’s a lot on his mind that needs to be done for American Samoa while he’s still alive and has the opportunity to serve the territory.

Speaking about the Constitution of American Samoa, Tuaolo said that there are laws on the books that the Fono needs to revisit to make changes while other laws need to be wiped off the books. He said that time is moving forward and there are old laws that are no longer applicable to American Samoa — for this generation. He did not specify what laws he was referencing.

With the issue of calling another Constitutional Convention to determine the future of American Samoa, Tuaolo said that this is one of the issues that many people have advised him to look at it carefully.

He said that there are decisions made by the Federal Government that affected the lives of people in American Samoa and the Constitution needs to be revisited to determine what the right political status is for our people.

“I believe that it’s time for us to have a serious discussion about our political future because if we don’t do it, somebody else is going to do it for us. And we’re not going to like that,” Tuaolo said, adding that, “I disagree that the relationship with the United Stated is all good. It’s great but there are issues that impact our ability to function as a free people such as the mandatory minimum wage law passed by US Congress with absolutely no say by our people, and also the issue of citizenship.”

Tuaolo added, “I believe that our people must choose what our status should be. We have to know what we want. We need to strengthen the legality and stability of our relationship with the United States.”

Speaking of the support from his village, Tuaolo said that this is what his village told him to do, to run for the seat of the senate president. And he did it with the help of God and the support from his village. He said a leader is someone who can serve and lead with good example and he will do.