Ads by Google Ads by Google

Western District traditional leaders meet today to decide District Governor

Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga T. Asuega [file photo]
reporters@samoanews.com

Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga T. Asuega has called a meeting of traditional leaders of the Western District to discuss and hopefully resolve the issue regarding the Western District Governor post, which has been vacant since the passing of Lualemaga Faoa earlier this year.

The public message from Mauga about the meeting, set for 10a.m. today at the Office of Samoan Affairs, has been airing on local radio stations and is delivered in the Samoan language by Samoan Affairs deputy secretary Malemo Tausaga.

When contacted Wednesday afternoon, Paramount Chief Satele Galu Satele Sr., who is also a senator and titular leader of the Western District, told Samoa News that he has not received any official notification from Samoan Affairs regarding the meeting.

Satele said he doesn’t understand why a meeting is being called, as the Western District agreed to his official decision last month, appointing former senator Tuiasina S. Esera as the next Western District Governor, following a meeting of traditional leaders at his Guest House in Vailoatai.

“The Western District has made its decision, whether it’s one or two people during the decision making, but the decision has been made,” Satele said in a brief Samoa News phone interview.

As previously reported by Samoa News, following a district meeting on Apr. 24th, Satele appointed Tuiasina; however the certification document for the appointment was signed by only five traditional leaders, while other traditional leaders opposed Satele’s decision. (Samoa News pointed out at the time that the law does not say how many traditional leaders must sign the document in order for the certification to be valid.)

Then on Apr. 27th, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga attended a meeting with Mauga, regarding the Western District Governor post issue, but no decision was reached at the time. (See Samoa News Apr. 25 and Apr. 28th editions for both Samoan and English stories.)