In a letter early this month, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga officially informed Congressman Faleomavaega Eni of his opposition to having a National Guard unit established in the territory under the auspices of the Hawai’i National Guard.

Lolo is also concerned about Faleomavaega’s recommendation to make local Homeland Security Department director Utuali’i Iuniasolua Savusa a member of the federal team which would conduct the feasibility study about setting up of such a unit in American Samoa, due to the HS director’s workload.

Faleomavaega, in an Apr. 3 letter, wrote to U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, saying that he hopes a National Guard unit in American Samoa could be attached to the Hawai’i National Guard, much like the territory’s U.S. Army Reserve troops, which are part of the Hawai’i based 9th Regional Support Command.

The congressman also pointed out that Utuali’i is a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major, and recommended him as a member of the federal team to conduct a feasibility study on setting up National Guard units in American Samoa and CNMI, as cited in a Congressional bill enacted into law last December.

While it’s unclear if Hagel has responded to the Congressman, the governor on the other hand sent an Apr. 9 response, saying that he was pleased with Utuali’i’s recommendation to the study team. However, Lolo says he is concerned because the ASDHS director’s workload necessitates the full commitment of his time and energies to execute the mandate of his agency.

“There are many security issues which must be addressed along with the implementation of required solutions,” the governor wrote, and noted that he supports the Congressman’s statement that “the security of our people takes first precedence and it requires total commitment and dedication to this effort”.

Lolo stressed that he hopes American Samoa is given the opportunity to have its own National Guard unit so that the authority to activate the unit rests with the governor of the territory.

(A unit attached to the Hawai’i National Guard means it’s the governor of Hawai’i who has the authority to activate the unit)

Having the authority rest with the local chief executive, according to Lolo, will provide instant response to a natural disaster or any national emergency because of American Samoa’s remoteness from Hawai’i and the amount of lapsed time for deployment “if our National Guard is made a unit of any other state’s National guard”.

While the territory has its own Army Reserve, activation and mobilization comes from outside of American Samoa, said the governor, adding that “based on our experience in the last tsunami, the Army Reserve was not mobilized until 72 hours after the disaster had struck American Samoa.”

He concluded, “I do recognize that I’m not privileged to the issues which might impede the possibility of standing up an independent National Guard for American Samoa, however, I would implore you to do everything in your power to make it happen for our people, to give us the decision making autonomy, ensuring that immediate help is provided when a disaster strikes.”

Copies of Lolo’s letter were sent to Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, who is also the acting governor, as well as to Utuali’i and the governor’s chief of staff, Fiu Johnny Saelua.

During a video conference with his cabinet this month, the governor voiced his opposition to having a local unit come under the Hawai’i National Guard.

Over the years, Faleomavaega — with the support of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye — has moved federal legislation in the U.S. Congress for setting up a local National Guard. Samoa News archives show the Congressman’s last effort was in late 2012, under H.R. 6294 authorizing the Department of Defense to establish a National Guard unit in American Samoa — independent from Hawai’i.

Even former Gov. Togiola Tulafono was supportive of the move by the Congressman and also sought to establish a local detachment unit attached to the Hawai’i National Guard in an effort to expedite setting up a local unit.

Before he was taken ill and admitted to a Washington D.C. hospital in late February, the governor announced in a news release that U.S. Air Force National Guard Col. Robert ‘Randy’ Huston has offered to help Lolo and Faleomavaega pursue their joint desire for a National Guard unit in American Samoa.

However, “the issue of jurisdiction regarding the performance of this feasibility study remains to be determined,” the release says, adding that the Defense Department has until June 24 this year to complete the study for submission to the U.S. Congress, however, the “process is currently stymied at the Department of Defense because jurisdiction has not been determined.” (See Samoa News edition of Feb. 24 for more details).