Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through a May 25 memorandum, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga directed the American Samoa Constitutional Review Committee to resume its meetings early next month after it was suspended in February after the community spread of COVID-19 was first recorded on Feb. 21.

According to the governor, the Committee will resume its session on Tuesday, June 7 until Friday, June 10. And the meetings will be at the Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium starting at 9a.m.

To protect against the spread of COVID-19, the governor set guidelines for all attendees who shall: wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times unless they are eating or drinking; and show proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative test that was administered within the prior 72 hours.

Furthermore, seating arrangements will be made to provide space of six-feet in between attendees.

The Committee was established through the governor’s Feb. 4 executive order, which also announced the membership from the public and private sector, including community members and lawmakers, with the first meeting held on Feb. 9.

The order remains in place until the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention — which Samoa News understands the governor plans to call to convene towards the end of June. The committee is chaired by Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale. (See Samoa News edition Feb. 7 for background on the committee.)

Prior to suspension of its meeting due to the COVID-19 surge, the Committee — through a majority vote — approved two proposed amendments, which will be presented to the Constitutional Convention.

One proposal calls for the “Governor” to appoint the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the High Court “subject to confirmation by the Legislature,” instead of the U.S Secretary of Interior — who has this authority under the local Constitution.

And the second amendment approved proposes reapportionment of the House of Representatives seats, recommending additional faipule for Representative District 12  — Ituau and Representative District 15 — Tualauta (which is referred to as “Ma’upu” under the Constitution), due to their high population counts.

Each of the districts has two faipule in the House and the amendment would change that number. However, the Review Committee decided not to set the number of additional seats at this point and will leave it to the delegates at the Constitutional Convention to deliberate on the numbers. (See Samoa News edition Feb. 17 for details.)