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Lolo says Samoa’s entry permit fee is “up to them”

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga says the issue on the fees that target only American Samoans rests with the Samoa Government and it’s their prerogative as to what fees they wish to implement. “It’s up to them… we cannot dictate how the Samoa Government conducts their business, we don’t have the power to do that. All we can do is ask the State Department to make a request… and that’s it,” said Lolo.

 

The governor was responding to comments by Congresswoman Aumua Amata who noted that this issue should be addressed between the two Samoan leaders, Governor Lolo and Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi. The governor told Samoa News, the American Samoa Government should not interfere with Samoa’s operations regarding their fees; “we cannot go against Samoa’s policy fees.”

 

Lolo then stated that this matter should be addressed at the congressional level, and because Samoa is considered a foreign country, the matter is dealt with through the State Department and the Congress.

 

The governor also pointed out that the Samoa Government can do whatever they want, and while there are certain issues that led up to it, Samoa does not need an excuse to justify why they implemented the fee, because it’s up to them to implement the fees and determine the amounts.

 

He reiterated that “we have no power nor the authority to ask Samoa to remove or reduce the fees, and it’s not an issue that should be discussed between the leaders for the two Samoas.

 

Earlier this month, Aumua Amata during her first locally hosted town hall meeting, which some 30 people attended at the Fono Guest Fale, pointed out that the issue on the fees should be addressed between the leaders of the two Samoas. The congresswoman was responding to concerns posed by the public about the fees in Samoa that target only American Samoans.

 

Amata said that it appears that this issue can be resolved between the leaders of the two Samoas, and it’s not an issue for the congressional level.

 

The Congresswoman’s local District Office director Pulu Ae Ae Jr. said he was a lawmaker when the incident occurred that led the Samoa Government to implement the fees. Pulu explained that when a former AG did not allow a rugby team from Samoa to enter the territory without valid entry permits, the rugby team remained on the boat and then returned to Samoa.

 

BACKGROUND

 

During the Two Samoa talks in 2014 Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale told Samoa News that “Samoa is considering waiving all the fees that target only American Samoans.” Talauega said ASG offered to waive our fee for the 14-day permit if Samoa agrees to waive their entry fee which targets only American Samoans. Samoa did not commit but agreed to consider waiving their entry fee.”

 

He pointed out “the fee we offer that applies to Samoan citizens only is the 14-day permit, and he explained that that was put in place to facilitate travel between the Samoas for Samoan fa’alavelave (family obligations) and other emergencies. As for fees charged by Samoa, he said Samoa charges the $10 fee to American Samoans (U.S. Nationals) only. “No one else in the world that enters Samoa is charged this fee,” he stated.

 

Talauega noted that if the Samoa government charges a fee that singles out only American Samoans “we want it removed. If they charge a fee that applies across the board to citizens of all countries that’s okay, we’ll pay. ASG is prepared to do the same thing.”

 

Samoa News asked the Prime Minister if the Samoa government had waived their entry fee for US Nationals along with the transit fee. Tuilaepa said at the time “not yet”.

 

Adding, “Remember — the only reason we imposed the entry fee and transit fee [in the first place] was because they (American Samoa) charged and increased the fee for the 14-day permit.”

 

In 2006 Former Attorney General, the late Sialega Malaetasi Togafau had increased the cost of entry permits for Samoa citizens: From $10 to $40 for the 30-day permit. He also added the charge of $10 for the 14-day permit which had previously been free. This move did not sit well with Tuilaepa, who then moved for “American Samoans only” to pay an entry permit of USD$10 to $40 depending on the length of their stay in Samoa — in addition to a WST$50 transit fee.

 

Samoa News notes Samoa’s transit fee is no longer charged across the board, while the WST$50 is charged if an American Samoan national is entering Samoa without the requisite entry permit from the Samoa Consulate Office in American Samoa — which costs US$10.