Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has submitted for Fono review and approval, proposed legislation which the governor says is “designed to help protect consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices” in American Samoa.

Currently law establishes the Bureau of Consumer Protection within the Department of Legal Affairs (better known as the Attorney General’s Office) and the director of the bureau reports directly to the Attorney General.

The governor said that the AG’s Office and the Consumer Protection Bureau serves a “critical role” in protecting local consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices.

“Unfortunately, current laws designed to protect consumers are outdated and do not sufficiently project consumers,” Lolo wrote to Fono leaders in an Aug. 6th letter, which included the proposed law.

“Thus, it is in the public interest to update these laws to create causes of action, remedies and to establish procedures that help ensure fair and ethical business practices in commercial transactions with consumers,” he explained.

This proposed law is now being put into bill format before introduction in both the Senate and House.

OTHER ISSUES

Introduced yesterday in both the Senate and House is an Administration bill, amending local environmental laws, as well as a FY 2018 budget supplement for the distribution of the $2.6 million the American Samoa Government received under the federal multi-million settlement payment from StarKist Co., and StarKist Samoa for violating pollution laws in territorial waters. (See Samoa News online July 24th for details)

ASG’s share is part of the $6.5 million in civil penalties proposed by the US Justice Department early this year and approved in March this year by the federal court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania against the cannery.

In the Senate, the bill is assigned to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, whose chairman, Sen. Magalei Logovi’i has called for a hearing next week Monday with witnesses called from the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (AS-EPA) and the ASG Budget Office.

Also yesterday, the Senate approved a House Concurrent Resolution which conveys the “deepest condolences” of the Fono and the people of American Samoa to the widow, Sinataaga Gaoteote Tufele, and the Tufele family over the passing of former Rep. Pulele’iite Li’amatua Tufele, who headed the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority at the time of his sudden passing — May 11, 2018.

“Pulele’iite had vigor for life and for the prosperity of American Samoa and it was witnessed by all who had the pleasure of working with him,” the resolution states and recalled his education, family and work background as well as his private sector businesses.

The resolution was presented during the funeral service in June for Pulele’iite, but due to the Fono being in recess at the time, lawmakers are now going through the usual protocol of official approval for Legislative records.