Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga is welcoming any village aumaga — or untitled men — who want to join the government’s village project where aumaga work with police to monitor and enforce not only current restrictions of the coronavirus declaration but also illegal drugs in the community.

The governor first announced this enforcement program — village aumuga working with police — two weeks ago and it kicked off this week after discussions with traditional leaders of Leone, Faleniu, Nu’uuli and Pago Pago.

At this past Sunday’s government COVID-19 task force meeting, Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson provided an update on the enforcement with the four identified villages. Le’i said contact was made with leaders of the four villages and a meeting was scheduled this past Monday afternoon to discuss enforcement duties and schedules, with the village enforcement to get underway thereafter.

Regarding the governor’s instructions two weeks ago to install telephone lines at the designated “fale” at each village, as the main center for the aumaga, Le’i said the Pago Pago site is the only one awaiting installation because upgrades on the fale to be used are not yet completed and the village is now looking at using another structure.

The governor instructed the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) to ensure that there’s electricity at each structure and for the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority to make sure phone lines are all working properly so there is always communication between police and the aumaga.

Lolo encourage “faiganu’u”, or village councils along with the aumaga, to join this important program saying that before there was a police force it was always the “faiganu’u” that looked after the security and welfare of villages. He also says that some villages, such as Vaitogi and Fagasa have started programs, which include aumaga and youths to ensure village safety.

According to the governor, this enforcement program will continue even after the coronavirus pandemic ends. He said this provides support within villages and also helps protect the community as well as government property.

The governor said two weeks ago that the US Army Reserve would help with COVID-19 enforcement at the airport and on the weekend.

However, Le’i said he has contacted the Commander of the Army Reserve, who informed him that the Army Reserve cannot be involved in any form of “enforcement” in accordance with federal law, only the National Guard can, which American Samoa doesn’t have.

This didn’t sit well with Lolo, who instructed Le’i to contact the Army Reserve again for further clarification on their role, especially in American Samoa, where there is no National Guard.

The governor said that it’s his understanding that one of the reasons why the Army Reserve was established here was to provide support, since there is no national guard or other military units set up on island.

Without solid support, the governor said that perhaps the Army Reserve should relocate their reserve center elsewhere since they can’t help the territory when help is needed.

The police commissioner pointed out that even with road enforcement, the Army Reserve cannot be involved and reiterated that the Army Reserve — as he was told — cannot be involved in enforcement.

Still, the governor was not happy and insisted that the Army Reserve should play a role. Lolo instructed the task force chairman to find specific information from the federal level regarding the Army Reserve’s role here.