With illegal drugs being discovered in villages on the Western District, and other problems such as the shooting of a police vehicle, which injured a police officer last month in Lepuapua, Western District Governor Lualemaga Faoa is now asking: What are village mayors and village police doing to protect their respective villages?

Lualemaga, a former senator, raised the issue during the Western District meeting yesterday at the Office of Samoan Affairs conference room. The meeting followed a call late last month by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga for all traditional leaders to meet with their county councils and districts and to work with the government for the protection of the island community due to the Lepuapua shooting of a police car that seriously injured a police officer.

Lualemaga, who also called the District meeting which was attended by village mayors, traditional leaders and others, told the gathering that there are too many serious problems occurring on island. For example, the shooting of a police car and a police officer was hospitalized, marijuana is being grown on island, and there are also reports of individuals selling crystal meth, or ‘ice’.

“But where are the village mayors and village police who were given the responsibilities and duties of protecting their villages and counties, as well as enforcing village rules?” he asked, and added “why are they not doing the job they were sworn to do — to protect the community?”

Lualemaga went on to allege that in one village, the DPS police found marijuana in the home of a family and again asked, “Where is the village mayor and the village police” to prevent this type of problem from occurring in the village boundary?

According to the District Governor, the reason that these problems continue in the territory is because village police and mayors are not doing their jobs. He says mayors and village police should report to the village council anyone found to be growing marijuana, causing problems, or selling ice, so that not only village punishments are handed down but so these issues can be reported to the Department of Public Safety.

For the entire Western District, Lualemaga strongly advised that if they witness a police officer involved with the selling of marijuana or ice, to report these officers immediately to the proper authorities.

“We need everyone to work together with the government to protect our community and prevent serious problems from occurring in American Samoa,” he said and his statement was supported by several chiefs who spoke during the meeting.

The same chiefs also pointed that there should be full enforcement of village rules by village councils to ensure peace and harmony as well as to protect the community.

House Speaker Savali Talavou, who is also a Western District traditional leader, agreed with enforcement of village rules, but he cautioned that it should not be in conflict with the laws of American Samoa.

Speaking at the beginning of the meeting, Satele Galu Satele Sr., Secretary of Samoan Affairs emphasized the need for the public, including traditional leaders, to work together with the government to protect the territory, following some recently incidents, including the shooting at Lepuapua.

He shared that Samoans have become accustomed to reacting only after something happens, but urged those attending the meeting not to carry on this practice, but to be proactive in the protection of island residents.

Satele says village councils, village leaders and county leaders, must play a vital role in the protection of their individual villages as well as the entire district to enforce village rules.

(See original Samoan stories printed in today’s Lali)