House Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee chair, Rep Vui Florence Saulo is calling on Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale to look at the immigration processing procedures for the MV Lady Naomi after a number of passengers complained about their treatment at the hands of Immigration personnel.

Vui’s raised concerns following an article published in Samoa News’ Saturday Toa’savili last week where passengers were quoted saying how upset they are with the treatment they received and compared it to the way animals are treated. Vui pointed out to Talauega that this does not reflect a very friendly image of American Samoa and the American Samoa Government.

In her letter Vui, says that this issue should have been addressed a long time ago. “As chairperson of the Judicial and legal affairs committee I believe I have an obligation to seek some answers to what happened last week and published by Samoa News.

“I am referring to the arrival of passengers on the MV Lady Naomi from Samoa and the failure of Immigration Office to timely process those arrivals and since the Immigration Office is under your jurisdiction it is only right for me to bring to you my thoughts and concerns,” she said.

Vui said the issue of Lady Naomi passengers being processed for immigration clearance hours after their arrival is nothing new. “In fact I believe it predates your appointment as Attorney General but was never dealt with in the past.”

The Representative referred to the Samoa News article that said the Lady Naomi arrived from Apia at around 6- 7a.m. and then the passengers were made to wait almost another two hours before immigration arrived to clear them off the boat.

“Furthermore one of the passengers was quoted as being very upset with the treatment they were given and compared that treatment to the way animals are treated. I am sure you are aware of what else was said and you will agree with me that it did not reflect a very friendly image of American Samoa and our government.”

She said, “In the past the reason for such a delay was said to be that the Government opened at a certain hour, and therefore every business had to wait until ASG was open.  As a result, if a vessel from Samoa was to arrive at 6 in the morning, the passengers would have to wait on board until ASG was opened at 7:30 or 8 a.m.” The Tualauta faipule called this “sad and immoral” and noted that the passengers who made the long and rough trip from Samoa included elderly men and women, young children, infants, sometimes newborns and the infirm.

“Like anyone who has made a long trip, they would like to see their families and get some much needed rest, not wait until 9 o’clock for the Immigration officers to arrive. We have to do better than that,” she said pointing out “ the fact that the passengers on the Lady Naomi are our own brothers and sisters from Independent Samoa.

“Why then do we not extend to them the ava fatafata or courtesy that one Samoan is obligated to show another?”

Vui strongly said she is not advocating an open-port policy where ASG entry laws and rules are relaxed, but is advocating for the courteous and proper treatment of those who visit our islands simply because they are fellow human beings. She said as members of the Government and leaders of American Samoa, “We are all obligated to work together to do what is right and what is best for our Territory.”

Copies of the letter were sent to Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Directors of the Port, Agriculture, Treasurer and the Chief Immigration Officer.