Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a press release issued on Thursday, Gov. Lolo Malatasi Moliga sent out the following message to all candidates who participated in the American Samoa 2020 General Election this past Tuesday:

“As devout and devoted Christians, we firmly believe that the Will of God will always  prevail in all our desires, aspirations, and everything that we do. Accordingly, the recently completed Territorial Wide Elections held November 3. 2020 unveiled through the choices of our people granting High Chief Lemanu Peleti Mauga and High Talking Chief Talauega Eleasalo Ale the leadership mantle to lead and guide our political journey for the next four (4) years reflects God’s Will.

“Let me be the first to offer my hearty congratulations, on behalf of the Government and the people of American Samoa to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor-elect, Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Talauega Ale. for a well-earned victory, receiving the overwhelming confidence of our people in their leadership capacity to address and satisfy their needs.

“The peaceful manner with which the election process was conducted manifests the commitment by all of the candidates to our cultural values of mutual respect and adhering to the rule of law' with the unfettered faith in the goodness and fairness of God. I am, therefore, very yateful to all of you for continuing to uphold the values which distinguish our people.

“I would be remiss if I failed to express my gratitude and gratefulness to High Chief Gaoteote Pala’ie Tofau and High Chief Fai’ivae Alex luli Godinet; High Chief Nuanuaolefeagaiga Sao Nua and High Chief Tapuinanaia Galu Satele, Jr.; Hich Chief I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia and Talking Chief Tapa’au Dan Aga, for sacrificing your time and resources and exposing yourself to public scrutiny compelled by your respective desires to offer yourself as leadership choices for our people. Your respective support teams are to be applauded for their dedication to your visions and purported missions relative to meeting the needs of our people in the next four years.

“I also wish to extend my congratulations and those of our government and our people to High Chief Uifa’atali Auinua Amata Radewagen for a very successful election and again being given the mandate to represent our people in the Congress of the United States. Conyatulations are also expressed to all the returning and new members of the House of Representatives.

“Now that our new leaders are selected by the Will of God expressed through the voices of our people, it is vital, essential and critical, that we all place our full support behind the new Lemanu-Talauega Administration, because it will be through unity that will assure methodical forward movement of our government and our Territory as we navigate these unprecedented times because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Wholehearted and sincere Congratulations to you Governor-elect Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Lieutenant Governor-elect Talauega Eleasalo Ale for your hard-fought victory. May the bountiful blessings of God be upon you as you embark on yow new journey as leaders of the Territory of American Samoa.”