Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an Apr. 16th memo to Chief of Customs Elisara Elisara, the ASG Treasurer Ueligitone Tonumaipe’a suspended for 90-days the implementation of the customs declaration entry fee increase of $5, which was effective Apr. 15th.

The memo came 24-hours after Elisara issued a memo last Wednesday, that effective immediately, Apr. 15, 2020, the declaration entry fee increased from $5 to $10 per declaration, per vessel, pursuant to provision of Public Law 36-10.

The public law — an Administration bill earmarking funds for debt service on the American Samoa Government Economic Authority Series 2018 Bonds — was signed by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga earlier this month.

The governor, in an Apr. 3rd letter, informed Fono leaders of his approval of the House version of the bill, which “ensures that revenues will be properly allocated to cover ASG’s obligations for the 2018 Bond Series and is an important step in securing American Samoa’s financial future.”

One of the provisions of this public law increases the processing of the declaration entry forms.

Tonumaipe’a in his Apr. 16th memo notes that all provisions of Public Law 39-10 “were effective immediately and were implemented” Apr. 15th.

“However, due to the current coronavirus pandemic Public Health State of Emergency,” Tonumaipe’a said the following provisions will be suspended for 90-days at which time they will be reevaluated:

•     Two-cents added for every gallon of petroleum sold, removed or drawn out of the government petroleum storage facility;

•     $10 Declaration of Entry fee [which] will remain at $5.

According to the Treasurer, the suspended provisions “are effective immediately” and Elisara was to distribute and display the Treasurer’s Memo as needed at all Customs facilities or operational locations.

“Please apologize for any inconvenience this notification may have caused,” Tonumaipe’a informed Elisara.

Complaints received by Samoa News from some businesses is that there was no advance notice the customs declaration fee was going to be increased, as vendors needed to advise their customers in advance. And some businesses were caught off-guard by the new fee hike when they showed up at Customs last Wednesday and were told about the fee hike.

For those businesses who last Wednesday ended up paying the higher $10 fee, Treasury is working with them to address the matter.

BACKGROUND

As previously reported by Samoa News, the ASG received $50.32 million for the sale of the 2018 bond series issued by the American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA).

In a report early last year, ASEDA says that of the total revenues collect from the sale, $15.36  million is allocated for the new Fono building; over $28.33 million for telecommunications; $4.68 million for the Debt Service Reserve Account; and over $1.48 million for cost of issuance.

Telecommunications referred to in the report deals with American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority and its local operations for the American Samoa branching of the Hawaiki Cable.