The government task force that came up with the final draft of the Economic Development Implementation Plan (EDIP) will meet next week with the local Chamber of Commerce for input on the plan, according to Keniseli Lafaele, co-chair of the 16-member task force.

Released early last month, the EDIP outlined numerous recommendations for economic growth in American Samoa. (The other co-chair for the task force is Alfonso ‘Pete’ Galeai, who heads the Territorial Office of Fiscal Reform.)

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Lafaele — who is also Commerce Department director — said the next step now for the task force is to review comments received, then finalize the report about two weeks from now, at the latest.

Asked if the task force has received any comments from the private sector, Lafaele said “yes” and pointed out that the task force will also have an audience next week Monday with the Chamber. “So I’m sure they will weight in on the draft report, among other issues,” he said.

Samoa News points out that over the years there have been several reports about economic development for American Samoa and information from previous reports are included in the EDIP. This is the same issue raised by those in the private sector, who told Samoa News that there is so much talk about economic development, but reports — including one in 2002 funded by the federal government — are “sitting on the shelves collecting dust ”.

“Does the task force plan to recommend [to the governor] setting up a separate office to carry out all recommendations in the EDIP, to ensure that this time around recommendations for economic development are implemented? Is there an estimated budget for such an office?” Samoa News asked.

Lafaele responded that “one of the members of the task force suggested at the first meeting last year that the task force be maintained indefinitely to ascertain that the initiatives [in the EDIP] get implemented.”

He said all in attendance at the time “concurred”; however, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga “will make that call”. As to the budget, he said, “we will cross that bridge when we get there; but let us finalize the product first.”

The governor told lawmakers last year that the EDIP will be sent to the Legislature for formal adoption into law and the approved EDIP will be sent to the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Congress, through Congressman Faleomavaega Eni  thereby “justifying our requests for pure economic development funds.”

Responding to a Samoa News request, Lafaele shared some of the many comments the task force has received from the private sector about the EDIP. One of the comments was  to place " more emphasis on sports fishing as part of tourism development”; another said to  "privatize many of government departments- ASTCA, ASPA, Department of Port Administration, Parks and Rec, DOE, Procurement, LBJ and DBAS."

Other comments received by Lafaele via email (and published by Samoa News, as is):

•            “good report but lacks enough mention of transshipment of fuel and goods as means to make happen our vision of American Samoa as the regional biz hub; Samoa is currently this for the northern Cooks, yet we are cheaper.”

•            “American goods coming in on empty containers for canneries, make for a cheap shopping center to assist tourism”

•            “congrats, very comprehensive however some observations and suggestions: there was no serious plan to implement previous plans, how would this effort be different; there should be an office dedicated to economic development and implementation"

•            “need new investments; aside from tri-marine, no other real new investments"

•            "implement renewable energy considerations in the Renewable Energy Committee Report 2013 to make energy more affordable".

•            need more emphasis on aquaculture and hydroponics- using the waste water from the fish tanks to fertilize the vegetable growing; and the fish grown in tanks are more productive and better quality than in the old traditional ponds; new opportunities for small business with minimum capital outlay and import substitution component"

•            need more emphasis on Pago Harbor Development, shipyard, and Port; extend main wharf, construct new berthing pier for cruise ships, construct new bulk head for international ferry terminal, construct new yacht marina, construct a container facility for the canneries".