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Lolo appoints task force to catalog and identify all gov’t lands

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga
Says ‘it was not done right’ otherwise, there would be no disputes
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an effort to catalog and identify government land as well as ASG leases with communal landowners, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has appointed a five-member Government Land Assessment Task Force, whose co-chairs are Port Administration director, Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele and Commerce director, Keniseli Lafaele.

The Task Force has 30-days from July 25th — when the panel was appointed — to come up with a detailed report, which will also be reviewed by attorneys for ASG, who arrived last Thursday from Washington D.C., according to the governor during last week’s cabinet meeting at the Fale Samoa at Su’igaula o le Atuvasa Beach Park in Utulei.

Lolo first announced the appointment of the commission in a July 25th memo to all cabinet members, saying the task force will identify, catalogue and document all ASG lands along with all government leases with communal landowners.

“This exercise will, for the first time, provide a comprehensive tally of all government lands as well as government leases,” Lolo explained. He added that all of this information is “scattered around through the entire government, hence there is no true and accurate record of these government assets.”

 Lolo asked cabinet members for their support in completing this “critical” work, “given the time limitations and the broad and extensive work connected with this ambitious yet needed assignment,”

According to the governor, the task force “will be working around the clock to ensure that this work is done.”

The other three members of the task force are; Public Works director Faleosina Voigt; Territorial Registrar, Taito Sam White; and Historic Preservation Officer, Tish Peau.

At the cabinet meeting, Lolo reminded cabinet members about the importance of this work and the need to have it completed, so a report is reviewed and provided to ASG attorneys from D.C for evaluation of these lands.

As a Samoan traditional leader, Lolo said he believes there’s no solid and accurate account of government land and this is the reason why there are families who have voiced objections and disagreed — because “our families” are of the belief that there is a problem with  these land matters.

The families also believe that such land deals were not done properly, Lolo said, adding for example, land in the airport area, Fagaloa (bay area), and land where schools and the hospital are situated.

Lolo said families are not pleased either because some lands are leased for $1 a year while others are at $700 or $800 a month.

“There’s a need to catalogue and assess all these lands if the right thing was done” from the start, said Lolo, adding that, “the truth is, we know that it was not done right, because if it was, our families wouldn’t be voicing their objections and disputing government claims.”

He reminded cabinet that there is solid proof of dispute when it comes to land, citing for example, disputes by native Hawaiians.