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Admin lays out its “five critical priorities” for the next four years

Catholic Church leader, Bishop Peter Brown (middle) and eight religious leaders in American Samoa from various denominations carried out the Conferment Blessing for Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga (kneeling left) and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga at yesterday’s Inauguration ceremony for the Lolo and Lemanu Administration.  [photo: AF]
New administration and legislature sworn-in
fili@samoanews.com

Speaking in Samoan during his inauguration address, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga laid out the administration’s “five critical priorities” in the next four years, while Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga gave a summary of the priorities in English.

The priorities are similar to issues Lolo shared with his cabinet directors during a Dec. 22nd cabinet meeting where the governor spoke about the Samoan culture becoming a burden on families, resulting in the youth not being supportive of the culture; the territory’s future political status; developing a sustainable economy; and education reform. (See Samoa News edition on Dec.  28 and 29 for details.)

During yesterday’s inauguration ceremony, Lemanu said the first of the five critical priorities is “our financial capacity”, which “must be improved establishing methods that will help cautiously manage our limited financial resources and therefore improve the social economic prestige of our people.”

For example, the pursuit of alternative energy with plans to sun-power the rest of American Samoa by the 2020, following the success of the 100% solar power for Ta’u island that was launched in October last year. The Ofu Solar Park on Ofu Island is scheduled to be commissioned in March this year.

Lemanu also said, “We have invested much of our own in the Territorial Bank of American Samoa” (the government owned bank that officially opened its doors on Oct. 3rd). He noted there are many other continuing and developing projects that need further growth.

 In his address in Samoan, the governor said TBAS should have everything in place between six months to one year; and also pointed to other economic and infrastructure projects to address in the next four years, such as roads and seawalls.

The second critical priority “is to resolve our political status and relationship with the United States,” said Lemanu, adding that the “first step to move us towards the implementation of this calculated strategic plan is the establishment of the Office of Political Status, Constitutional and Federal Relations.”

The third priority, said Lemanu, is “our culture and customs” that “must be harmonized and aligned to ensure that contradictions are not created as voiced by our youth and upcoming generations.”

“We should promote and cultivate in the minds of our youth the importance and pride in our culture,” he pointed out.

Regarding the fourth priority, Lemanu said that “given the insufficiency of natural resources and the remoteness of our islands, the knowledgeable resilience of our people, particularly our youth and future generations must be aggressively developed and fostered.”

And the last priority is “our education system”, which “must be transformed to mirror standards adopted outside for expected student performance.”

“It also means that trades training must be given equal attention with adequate funding to accommodate our economic development skills demands,” Lemanu said adding that, “those... are the five top priorities that the administration we’re focusing on in the next four years.”

Lemanu called on everyone to “remember our sons and daughters” serving in the US Army Forces — “fighting for our freedom and our way of life…”

Both Lolo and Lemanu publicly expressed their sincere appreciation and thanks to the people of American Samoa for attending the Inauguration ceremony, and also for re-electing the Lolo and Lemanu administration to serve in the next four years.

Additionally, they expressed thanks to support from Congresswoman Aumua Amata, the Fono and the Judiciary Branch.

Lolo expressed great appreciation to the leaders of Samoa and the Samoa government for their continued support of American Samoa in areas such as ocean and air transportation; he also acknowledged Buka Siaosi of the Tokelau government.

In conclusion, Lemanu said, “Let this inaugural ceremony affirm our collective commitment to continue our efforts to leave a more improved territory to our future generations.”

Speaking on behalf of Samoa’s Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi as well as the people and government of Samoa, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi congratulated Lolo and Lemanu for being re-elected, which he said is a “depiction of the successful developments that you and your government have delivered in the past four years to serve the needs of the people of American Samoa.”

“The government of Samoa is determined to continue our closer social and economic relations and is keen on fortifying our partnership to collectively respond to the challenges we, as a small Island developing states, currently face,” he said. “We look to the future with unwavering faith that our Lord God will continue to lead and direct our paths towards prosperity, peace and harmony.”

Earlier in the ceremony, chief election officer Uiagalelei Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei official announced the certification of the Nov. 8th general election in which Lolo and Lemanu were re-elected to office for a second four-year term commencing from 12noon Jan. 3, 2017.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse administered the oath of office for both Lolo and Lemanu — one at a time, followed by nine religious leaders in American Samoa from various denominations carrying out the Conferment Blessing for the governor and lieutenant governor.

The final activity of the ceremony was the traditional ava ceremony by leaders of the Manu’a District.

The new senators and faipule for the 35th Legislature were in attendance, as they were sworn-in during ceremonies that took place after 11a.m yesterday at the Fono, and were completed before 12noon when Lolo and Lemanu took office.