Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has called the first special session of the 35th Legislature to convene tomorrow, Tuesday, to last not more than five “calendar days”.

Lolo’s letter calling the special session, received by the Fono last Thursday morning, outlines the governor’s agenda for the session, which is for confirmation of member to boards and commissions as well as unfinished business of the Legislature from the 1st Regular Session of the 35th Legislature, which closed last Thursday.

Local law gives the governor the authority to call a special session of the Fono and the call letter also includes specific legislation and matters that the governor wants the Fono to address.

Last week Monday and Tuesday, resolutions with names of the governor’s appointments to several boards were introduced in both the Senate and House with committees in both chambers quickly moving to scheduled hearings.

However, senators agreed last Tuesday, during the Senate session, to cancel all hearings after Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie said the new round of board nominations submitted just days before the first regular session closed can be taken up when the Fono convenes in July for the second regular session.

Gaoetote said there is no need to rush the confirmation processes and he doesn’t want senators to have a heart attack due to concerns over the many boards being submitted for confirmation.

The Senate president along with other senators noted that last week also had pre-Flag Day events, such as fautasi races Wednesday and Thursday.

The Senate then agreed and cancelled all board confirmation hearings scheduled for last week Wednesday and Thursday, but the House committees however, proceeded with their confirmation hearings through Thursday.

So far both Senate and House have given their endorsement early last week to the governor’s re-appointment of all five members to the American Samoa Power Authority board of directors: Fonoti Perelini Peter Crispin, Isabel Hudson, Daniel King and Solip Hong. ASPA board nominations were send to the Fono late last month.

Also confirmed by the Senate early last week were three of four members of the Commerce Commission, that among other things regulates public commercial transportation including rates for aiga buses and taxis.

The three confirmed members are Fredrick Suisala, the Western District representative; Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi for the Eastern District; and Rep. Toeaina Faufano Autele for Manu’a District.

The fourth board member, Moeipologa John Pereira, who was to serve as the business representative didn’t make it to the Senate hearing and no information was available at the time, why Moeipologa didn’t make to the hearing.

Under local law, only the Senate confirms nominations to the Commerce Commission board.

Samoa News will report throughout this week on the outcome of other board members following final votes from the Fono.