The need to maintain control over our own borders, the lack of air transportation along with infrequent ocean transport for Manu’a, and Hawaiian Airlines monopoly on the local market, holding American Samoa “hostage”, were among some of the campaign issues raised by Congressional candidate Paepaetele Mapu Saei Jamias during his official kick off last Saturday.

One of the key voter populations targeted by the campaign committee in its advertisement for the kick off are veterans and active duty military personnel.  Several retirees were in attendance along with their friends as well as supporters, families and others.

Paepaetele — who’s campaign theme is “I Walk the Talk” — told the audience at Maliu Mai Resort, which he co-owns, that there are many issues of importance for him, and he highlighted a few of them.

IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS

“We need to maintain our immigration and customs under American Samoa,” he said, adding that if American Samoa loses these two important departments, it will greatly affect, among other things, “our families” from neighboring Samoa.

He then went on to point out that there is another issue which people have heard about — which claims that previous leaders wanted American Samoa to “pull away” from being part of the American family to become a “free association” or “commonwealth” of the U.S.

He didn’t identify the leader or leaders he was referring to, but Paepaetele did note that he was a member of the American Samoa Political Status Study Commission (charged with looking at all political options for the territory’s future political status and they met both local and off island American Samoans.)

The commission, he recalled, visited Palau (a freely associated state of the U.S.) where he has friends who are part-Samoan/part-Palauan and they told him that they thought free association was a good move several years ago for Palau, which received so many millions of dollars when the island group officially became a freely associated state.

He claims that Palau has regretted the move and their recommendation to American Samoa is, "don’t become like us. We’re sorry, if we only knew.”

Paepaetele told his supporters that as a territory, American Samoa is still getting a lot of benefits from the U.S. as well as our many other freedoms— for example, American Samoans can travel to the U.S. without problems and can became U.S. citizens if they choose to do so.

He says he became a U.S. citizen in order to become an officer in the U.S. Army. “And that's the freedom that we have today—that an American Samoan can travel to the U.S. to live and can become a U.S. citizen if that person wants to be one,” he said.

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

He told the gathering that the airfare between Hawaii and American Samoa is so much higher than that between Hawai’i and New York - where the distance between the two states is double that of the Pago Pago - Honolulu route.

Paepaetele said American Samoa is being held “hostage” due to the monopoly of Hawaiian Air, adding that there is federal cabotage law, and the territory can seek a waiver from the law to allow foreign carriers to land in Pago Pago.

In order to attract other carriers, he believes in reducing landing fees. Additionally, he believes there is enough of a market in American Samoa to attract more airlines and tourists with the development of tourism infrastructure - such as more hotel rooms.

“In order to get something back, you have to pay the price,” he said, referring to infrastructure development.

MILITARY ISSUES

Paepaetele says this is a difficult time in Washington D.c. and shared, for example, that he attended a meeting of the Secretary of the Army in June this year where it was revealed a large number of military personnel cuts are being proposed due to budget sequestration for the new fiscal year 2015. 

The military is also looking at another round of cuts in fiscal year 2016, he said and noted that this means it will be difficult to secure money which usually comes to American Samoa. However, he said, that if elected, he can argue with the right people in Washington D.C. to ensure military cuts do not have a major impact on American Samoa and that the territory continues to get its fair share of funding.

Another military issue raised by the candidate is the possibility of having military flights (MAC flights) to stop over in Pago Pago once again.  Paepaetele said that if American Samoa has a good relationship with the Wing Commander and Secretary of the Air Force  at the Pentagon, there will be MAC flights once again returning to Pago Pago and he wants to make this a reality if elected.

He then pointed out that if there are at least two U.S. Navy frigates or destroyers stopping in the territory for three to four days of rest and relaxation, the crew will “ spend a lot of money and put good money into our economy.”

He also reminded the audience that the U.S. Navy has a long history with American Samoa and built the territory in its early years.  He wondered why there is no U.S. Navy Reserve facility in the territory— similar to that of the U.S Army Reserve.

“I mean there are all kinds of things that we can do. You know [that] without dreams, nothing becomes a reality. It starts from dreams,” he said to applause from the crowd.

OTHER ISSUES

He said the “biggest issue” for him is that residents of Manu’a have suffered for too long due to the lack of air service and infrequency of ocean transportation.  He thanked the Lolo Administration for making economic development a priority for Manu’a and said that, if elected, he will do all possible to provide much needed transport for the island group.

One way to assist in ensuring continued air service for Manu’a is via the Essential Air Service program, in which the federal government provides subsidies for remote and rural communities in the U.S., he said, and believes that Manu’a can qualify for such a program.

Another issued cited by the candidate —an issue that affects everyone— is the “high cost of electricity and water”.  He said renewable energy can bring down such costs, through windmills, wave energy and solar power.

In closing, he thanked  his campaign committee, supporters, family and friends who took part in his official kick off, saying, “I am a team player. My message to all of you, is I will do my part.” Additionally, he can work well with the Lolo Administration, the Fono and others for the betterment of the territory, he said.

At the beginning of the program, he acknowledged the more than two-decades of Congressman Faleomavaega Eni’s public service in Congress and commended him with a round of applause, which was joined by those in the audience.