Candidates platforms, the citizenship issue, veto override and the importance of the youth and the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) in the community were among the issues discussed during the forum hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA) at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC gymnasium.

Attending the forum, which was less than an hour, were incumbent Aumua Amata and challengers Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman, Paepaetele Mapu S. Jamais, Vaitinasa Salu Hunkin-Finau and Tim Jones.

Of interest in particular was the question about their platform and why people should vote for them.

AUMUA AMATA (INCUMBENT)

Aumua Amata said that while other candidates are making promises of what they will do if they get into office, that’s not her assignment, since she’s in office.

Amata pointed out that for the first time American Samoa has become part of the House leadership in the United States Congress and therefore a very strong connection has been established — with the House leadership, Speaker, Majority leader, Conference chairman and Committee and Subcommittee chairman.

According to the incumbent congresswoman, she chairs subcommittees, yet she’s a freshman congressional delegate.  She pointed out that it took her predecessor 18 years before he became a subcommittee chair — while it took her 18 days  — “and I say that with all humility and its all God’s work.” 

VAITINASA SALU HUNKIN FINAU

Vaitinasa noted the need to work closely with ASCC to help in terms of additional funding.

“We need to change and revamp the registration process and create an online process for students so they don't have to stand for long hours to get registered. I’d like to see satellite community centers where you don't have to come on campus but you can attend classes either at the east or west of the island, instead of trying to commute. We can’t continue to have one campus for the entire community,” the former AS-DOE director said.

Vaitinasa said she’d like to see the college move to be a full fledge four-year college; and, the two-year college needs to be beefed up not only for full time students but also for the workforce of the government.

“There’s a lot of training, adult education that should be going on for the community to help in terms of economic development and healthcare, infrastructure.”

TIM JONES

Jones spoke of the long-term solution that starts with job creation and improving the economy. He said his platform is how to get a job once out of school. This is a long-term solution that starts with job creations and improving the economy.

“If you go to the stores around town, most of them are not owned by Samoans, most of them are not employing Samoans, there’s really no legal path for a lot of these things to start, there’s corporate laws but that’s all local, the congressman doesn’t really have much to do about that. But what the congressman can do is utilize the federal resources to improve the economy down here, through helping us manage our money better. Keep money local, keep money from going off island,” the local businessman said.

Jones gave an example: “When you go to the store to buy a bottle of water, you have two local choices, Vaimalu or Island’s Choice — but many choose an off-island brand, not because it costs more or it’s any better — it’s just that you’re not thinking about your choice, of what you did when you bought water from off-island, that you're supporting someone else’s manufacturing job, a job overseas, and tossing the local jobs back to the trash. We need to rethink how we spend our money,” Jones said.

PAEPAETELE MAPU JAMAIAS

Paepaetele’s three pillars, includes improving the lives of the people, the hospital and room care programs for senior citizens. He’s also looking at establishing creative programs to service the needs of the disabled and to be independent in all aspects of the community. Also to encourage the utilization of non-governmental organizations to serve children, senior citizens and those with special needs in our community.

According to Paepaetele, he would seek the support of active and retired military personnel and petition the Department of Defense to support the troops and their families and also request for the Veterans Affairs to establish a 24-hour medical center, as well as lobby the US Congress and the VA to fund a VA hospital in the territory. (Currently the VA has a health clinic in the Territory, with the majority going off-island for major medical issues.)

MELEAGI SUITONU-CHAPMAN

Suitonu-Chapman noted that her platform is to serve the interest of all and not a few, to ensure the territory needs are heard and resolved, to achieve security full production, and full preparedness in readiness by improving our relationship in Washington DC with efficiency transparency and responsiveness.

Regarding the future of the youth, she said she has structured a plan to alleviate the language barriers. According to the congressional candidate there’s more she knows that will help the students teachers, and parents.

“As to efficiency and transparency, I will speak honestly about our needs, and responsiveness I know that the force of democracy is by using the internet and technology and this is the 21st century and we have really taken a step to the future.”