Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga says giving the Fono the authority to override a veto by a sitting governor is a positive move forward in self governance for American Samoa and urged voters to support the veto override reference on the Nov. 4 general election.

Lolo’s message was delivered on KVZK-TV earlier this week in a program moderated by Fofo I.F. Sunia. Joining the governor at the table were Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie and House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale.

The governor — who promised last month to make a public speech on television in support of the veto override referendum — had also called on Fono leaders to do the same. The referendum will amend the constitution which currently says that it’s the Secretary of Interior who has the veto override power.

At the outset of his remarks the governor pointed out that the Legislature in all states and territories have the authority to override a veto by their governor, but that is not the case for American Samoa.

He said that currently the veto override power is vested with the Interior Department Secretary, adding that American Samoa is governed as a colony when it comes to such a practice, where the federal level makes the veto override decision.

But giving American Samoa the full authority to govern its own affairs, including giving the Fono the veto override authority, is a clear sign of the territory moving towards self-governance, Lolo said, adding that he publicly declares his support of the veto override referendum. 

The governor went on to point out that American Samoa already has the power to elect its leaders, including the governor and lieutenant governor, and therefore it's time for local leaders to be given the full power to govern and conduct “our own government affairs”.

As it stands now, said Lolo, it's the governor who has full control of affairs in American Samoa but giving the Fono the veto override authority gives the two branches of government — Executive and Legislative — equal share in the handling of territorial affairs.

Lolo says he has confidence in the Fono,  and the proposed amendment to the constitution is a positive move forward for self-government for the territory.

According to the governor, the Interior Department is awaiting a decision by American Samoa on this issue. He also said that removing the Interior Secretary's authority will not affect federal funding, and this has been a concern by some local residents.

Both Gaoteote and Savali said that it's important to the Fono that the governor has come out to publicly support this measure, and the community is now fully aware that the territory’s leaders are standing together in support of this important move in the history of the Fono as well as the territory.

He recalled that when the Interior Secretary years ago appointed the governor for American Samoa, it was the Interior Secretary who also maintained the authority to override any veto by an appointed-governor.

But since the time of the appointed governor, the Fono has come of age and is mature enough to make decisions without having DOI making the final decision on issues that can be addressed locally, Gaoteote said and noted that the veto override authority of the Fono provides a “check and balance” between the Executive and Legislative branches.

He also said that it was not an easy task to secure the 2/3 majority vote in both the Senate and the House to pass the measure which put the veto override on the ballot this November.

In his speech Savali said the measure received unanimous approval in both the Senate and House, adding that this is a clear sign that the Fono is united and stands together on this very important issue for American Samoa.

Savali said this is not a new issue. He said it was first put forth in 1962, but the Interior Secretary at the time felt that the Fono — which was established in 1948 — was not ready and mature enough to take on that important authority.

In closing the trio called on voters not to be afraid of making changes and urged them to support passage of the veto override referendum.