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Committee appointed to explain veto override referendum to public

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has appointed a five-member committee to provide public awareness and outreach programs explaining the veto override referendum that will be on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

 

In a recent memo, the governor said the committee will conduct a public awareness program on the veto override, which seeks to amend the American Samoa constitution. He said panel discussions with invited guests will be aired on TV.

 

Additionally, presentations and Q&A sessions will be held for employees of various ASG departments, semi-autonomous agencies and educational institutions.  They will include voters and residents of various villages, communities, districts and the general public.

 

According to the governor all ASG departments and agencies shall support, and where appropriate assist the Committee in the development and implementation of its goals.

 

The five-member committee are Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale (chairman); Sen. Afoa L.S. Lutu; local attorney Fainu'ulelei L.P. F. Ala'ilima-Utu; Tapaau Dr. Dan Aga the director of ASCC Land Grant; and the governor’s deputy legal counsel Edwin Kamauoha.

 

In a separate letter, the governor informed the Fono leadership that a committee to conduct a public awareness program has been appointed. He also says that Afoa is appointed to the committee, given that he was the executive director of the 2010 American Samoa Constitutional Convention and the Constitutional Review Office.

 

“As a leader of our government’s executive branch, I will be making a brief televised speech in the near future in support of the Veto Override Constitutional Amendment,” Lolo wrote, adding that he hopes that the Fono leaders will also make televised speeches in support of the veto override.

 

During yesterday’s Senate session, Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono called on Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie to have the Fono begin holding public awareness sessions about the veto override to ensure that the community, especially the voters, understand the reason for this amendment.

 

He said the Senate shouldn’t delay in working in a public awareness campaign, because there are now only two months before the election in November.

 

Gaoteote explained that the governor has already appointed a committee and Afoa is one of the members. He also noted that the committee’s work includes a complete public explanation on the veto override.

 

Sen. Galeai M. Tu’ufuli suggested that the committee during their public awareness programs use simple language to explain the proposed amendment, to ensure that it is easy for the public to understand. He said the main reason that two previous efforts on the veto override referendums were rejected by voters was because the community didn’t understand this issue.

 

Gaoteote then thanked the governor for his support of the veto override, adding that this is the only administration which has shown their endorsement of this important issue.

 

Samoa News should point out that Lolo — during his tenure as Senate President in 2008 — was behind an identical referendum which was rejected by voters in that year’s general election. This same issue was on the 2012 ballot, but was lumped together with many other issues pertaining to changes to the amendment, and therefore was rejected.