Manu'a's Off-Island Connection

Letter To Editor_

Dear Editor;

"Manu'a Residents are Fed up with Unfulfilled Promises and Excuses"

It has been over 109 plus years since the signing of the Manu'atele Treaty of Cession with the United States of America. TuiManua ELesera and his high chiefs perhaps, had envisioned the challenges our people in Manu'a would be facing given the political, socioeconomic, health, and the general wellbeing, given the circumstances that unfolded at the time. It was clear as why this submissive gesture came into play at such a critical time. However, the most important element is the provisions of obligation that are contained in the said treaty. TuiManu'a Elisara and chiefs of Manu'atele clearly understood that when a treaty or Feagaiga is entered into, the United States government promised the people of Manu'a protection, economic development and among other things, adequate health care, transportations and improve standard of living and quality of life.

It is sad to say that the United States reneged on its direct obligation to the people of Manu'a pursuant to the provisions of the Manu'atele Treaty of Cession. Equally disappointing is the fact that the bundling of the islands together under the political guise of naming it "Amerika Samoa," became an obvious ploy that languished the significance of the Manu'a Treaty and the process of political relegation of the Manu'a political and economical affairs under the jurisdiction of the Amerika Samoa government. Over the years, we the people of Manu'a have become accustomed to being succumbed to the government of American Samoa's inadequate fulfillment of its surrogate responsibility and obligation to our people on behalf of the United States' promise.

I find it even more disheartening that our ASG leaders have neglected the transportation needs of the people of the Manu'atele which is vital to the economic and social wellbeing to improve their quality of life. Many have questioned the governor's wisdom in purchasing the luxury boat using the money which meant for Manuatele transportation - a boat that does not ferry passengers and or loads of economic goods or building materials. Is the governor acting on his own wit unilaterally, or is he being ill-advised by his cronies? Where is the district governor of Manu'a while in all these haphazard decision making?

Please Mr. Governor Togiola Manu'a people are fed up with hot air promises. The local inter-inland air service has cut their service to Manu'a because of fuel cost, claiming Ofuega has a short run way and it needs to keep both engine run for takeoff. In Faleasao air strip is longer for takeoff it only needs one engine running for takeoff. It sound like the company is trying to save wear and tear on their aircraft engine and fuel. The ASG Segaula airplane, you either park that thing in the hanger or use it to transport people back and forth to and from Manu'a with a reasonable airfare. The funds received from the airfares should pay for the care and maintenance of the airplane, but of course the argument will be we are taking business from the private sector. Hello, inter island is not flying to Ofuega airstrip because of fuel cost and short landing space.

Another problem that needs to be address by the local Fono leaders and the environmental advocates in Tutuila. Should we save the blue coral or the people? I am sure we all agree that the livelihood of our people come first. We can replace and re-grow the blue coral elsewhere. We need to extent the run way airstrip on Ofuega on both sides into the ocean. We have no lights on the airstrips in Ofuega and Faleasao. Many times the proposed funds have been allocated for these many projects in Manu'a and the legislators at the last minutes pull these funds for other projects on Tutuila. This is totally a gross neglect of the people of Manu'a.

Sea transportation has always been a problem for Manu'a because two boats have been dock or dry dock because of maintenance problems. Governor Togiola needs to come up with a solution for Manu'a with a 1.9 million dollar boat (Yacht) that spends more time in Tutuila than in Manu'a as promise. Again, Mr. Governor Togiola which has higher priority; your dignitaries VP's visitors, local government leadership fishing trips or the transportation livelihood for the people of Manu'a? ASG, Live up to your promises for the people of Manua and not just lip service.

Soifua;

Amerika Samoa ia mataala!

Savai'i P. Amito'elau
Olosegia, Manu'a

"Let us aspire to do better"
Friday December 11, 2009
Reprinted from Samoa News

I am saddened Congressman Faleomavaega obscured the thrust of my essay and instead launched a personal attack on me. He knows that "Mommy I Want to Be a Fish Cleaner" was merely a metaphor for lack of career choices that in no way disparaged that noble work. Saying I "demean our fish cleaners, and implying that this is all Samoans are good for and nothing more," frankly strikes me as race-baiting if not racist. He is the one guilty of demeaning fish cleaners and using them as pawns to gain political points. I resent it and so should they.

Let's not turn a commentary on our desperate need for economic diversification into a name calling debate on fish cleaning. I am criticizing the system that has compelled us to rely on their toil for so long. It is a failure of our political leadership, including our congressman.

Faleomavaega complains about overpaid corporate executives and champions the underpaid workers but has little to show for his advocacy over 20 plus years in Congress. He can argue that he had to contend with an unfriendly White House or was in the minority most of that time - but now there are no more excuses. He is in the majority, very senior and, as protégés of the late Rep. Phil Burton, Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Miller and he are longtime friends. Eni is a subcommittee chairman; his party also controls the Senate with 60 seats; he was an early backer of President Obama. So, he will never be more influential in Congress than he is now. If he cannot deliver now, he never will.

We can only hope his influence will lead to quick passage of the ASPIRE bill he says is essential to preserve StarKist jobs and maybe reopen COS. He insisted on local unity behind his bill and got it: the Fono, Governor and Chamber all endorsed it. So the elements should all be in place for quick success.

But I am fearful because we already have seen that his close allies Pelosi and Miller have abandoned him on minimum wage increases. ASPIRE, which calls for subsidies for StarKist to offset future wage raises, recognizes he cannot persuade Congress to stop the increases. With COS's departure and StarKist's downsizing, our economy has been ruined because the House included us in the minimum wage bill. It might never have occurred if he had been at his duty station and not traveling when the Speaker made the fundamental policy decision.

We do not need to be reminded that the tuna industry is 80% of our economy. What is left unsaid is that Faleomavaega has held important government positions directly involving American Samoa policy in over 36 of the 50 years the canneries have dominated our economy. I am hard pressed to name any successful efforts of his to diversify, modernize or otherwise improve our economy during that time.

Instead we have become even more dependent on the canneries, which, in turn, are still dependent on those underpaid fish cleaners. Rather, he makes a feeble attempt to change the subject by belittling my efforts as a private citizen to diversify the economy by establishing Call Centers.

Faleomavaega will point to the Interior economic development study and is quick to criticize ASG for not implementing it, but again I am hard pressed to recall any legislation he even offered to facilitate implementation. He is quick to propose Congressional legislation on citizenship, senate elections, federal court, local election procedures and CIP earmarking, but when it comes to economic development, he begs off because he says that is purely a local matter. He wants it both ways.

At a Chamber meeting last year I asked Faleomavaega "if a congressman knew there was a company anxious to invest in the economic development of his constituency, wouldn't the congressman be interested in that possibility?" He replied "Yes, this is exactly the kind of thing congressmen want to see and they would do anything possible to make sure that company was accommodated." To that, I responded: "Then, where were you?" He offered no incentives or other assistance regarding the Call Center.

Most disappointing is to be instructed to “contribute something first before criticizing the matter at hand.” People know that in my 43 years living here I have employed hundreds of people and trained many in cutting-edge technologies.

Many of my former employees have gone on to excellent positions here and abroad; some have started their own businesses. All were given an opportunity. Anyone can read my background and ideas for a Technology Park, regional port, medical tourism and call centers at http://pagopago.com.

Moreover, people here also know the role I played in founding South Pacific Academy over 33 years ago. SPA is among our best schools if not the island's educational flagship. I did that at great personal sacrifice, with no government assistance and with no expectation of future financial gain. SPA was founded precisely so that none of its students would be forced to say "Mommy, I want to be a fish cleaner" because there was nothing else he or she could aspire to be.

That is why I find the ASPIRE acronym so ironic. It focuses on keeping us on the same economic treadmill we have been on for 50 years. Clearly Congress is not going to pass ASPIRE as it was introduced. Faleomavaega knows that - as does anyone who watched the hearings or read the testimony, in which the Obama administration and virtually every witness but StarKist opposed all or part of the bill.

To save him embarrassment, I am sure Faleomavaega's colleagues want to pass something called ASPIRE. Let's rescue it from the dustbin of bad bills by making it a truly broad based bill that incorporates the best of the economic development study commission so it can genuinely live up to its ASPIRE name by giving our people career alternatives beyond the canneries to which they can aspire.

John Newton

"John Newton's depiction of future fish cleaners is unrealistic, demeaning and condescending"

Dear Editor:

I find John Newton's letter to the editor on the Samoa News November 7, 2009 titled, "Mommy, I want to be a fish cleaner," both demeaning and condescending to fish cleaners in the past, present, and in the future. His speculative assertion that Congressman Faleomavaega�s testimony on the ASPIRE bill tends to advocate for our children to aspire to be fish cleaners when they grow up is totally absurd and wrong.

For Mr. Newton to say that the people American Samoa are above the level of fish cleaning and other laborious jobs is not only inaccurate, but it tends to make mockery of those who had been and those are still working as fish cleaners at Star Kist.

Mr. Newton has interjected another perspective that should be directed at Governor Togiola and Fono leaders regarding the concerns he raised about the irrelevance of ASPIRE to the overall scheme of businesses and human development of our people. Mr. Newton, we are in a state of a crisis intervention � trying to do something to stop the bleeding. Samoa Packing has left our islands and the ASPIRE bill is the most viable effort in place to directly address the probability of keeping Star Kist from leaving and our failure to act immediately, could result in a major setback that would further devastate to our island economy. That is the primary issue at hand and Governor Togiola has realized this and rendered his support to the ASPIRE bill. Our leaders are now dealing with trying to save one of the most critical of our economic lifelines at this time while keeping in mind other viable prospects that you referred to in your letter.

I would have appreciated it if Mr. Newton did not insinuate that "fish cleaning" is demeaning work. Such an insinuation was very condescending and did not sit well with me as son of a fish cleaner. As a businessman, Mr. Newton should at least acknowledge the human resource contribution of our people who worked as fish cleaners for the two canneries for 50 years from the early outset with low pay, long hours, antiquate conditions, and a measly pension benefits paid upon retirement. He may have forgotten that many of the fish cleaners would shop and spent their hard-earned dollars at his once-owned business establishment (Transpac Corp) and other businesses.

Perhaps, one's perspective of the blight our fish cleaners was based on various facets of point of view of whatever appeared on the surface or pass with time and prevailing circumstances. The canneries viewed our islands as a lucrative prospect for business for profit and our people have been grateful for the employment opportunities. The trade off presented a corporate environment where the canneries always maintained the upper hand over many years in setting the competitive labor pay rates in their favor at the expense of our people. Given the lax in educational development and limited job availability at the time, our people gracefully accepted the "beggars can't be choosers" approach in to sustain their families. Like any business with a long history of existence and service to a community for its survivability, the co-dependent relationship between the canneries, local businesses, and our fish cleaners appeared to be a contract for life arrangement. Our own government leaders may have become too complacent or otherwise much could have been done to diversify the economic development of our territory. Now we are facing an urgent dilemma in the wake of Samoa Packing's departure.

From a son of a fish cleaner's perspective, I often wonder if we have ever taken the time to ponder about how we arrive at where we are today from where our people started in decades ago? Yes, we owe it in part to the role of fish cleaners whose sacrifice and dedicated service and the collective impact which enabled the canneries to remain in our territory and provided employment for generations that followed To a larger extent, it was the sacrifice of the fish cleaners that had inadvertently attributed to the thriving business growth of the canneries and secondary businesses in the economic infrastructure and improved the quality life in our islands. We do not need Mr. Newton to remind us of our parents' humble beginning because most of us will not forget our parents' sacrifice of blood and sweat that motivated us to move forward in life and to have access to better educational and employment opportunities. The fish cleaners and the business community of today owe it to their predecessors at the canneries who carried the torch of sustainability and endurance during difficult times throughout.

I will be in remiss if I do not share my own personal experience as a son of a fish cleaner. I have a stark recollection of memories many mothers including my own mother who worked as a fish cleaner at the canneries for many years. I even remember those who died either on line of duty or as a direct result of their work as well as related illness. Fish cleaning is hard work performed in a hazardous and dangerous environment.

To witness my own mother who struggled with her weight and her unwavering desire to continue working to take care of her 12 children, is a testament of her love for her children and family. For other mothers from outlying villages in the outskirts of the islands, the challenge was even greater. They would get up at the dawn of the working day, dressed up in their white uniform and traveled on the bus for an hour to work, and return to the village at days end. I have had to take alternate turns with my siblings to massage our mother�s feet every evening. I could only imagine other fish cleaning mothers asking their children for the same massage favor. It is the realization of my mother�s sacrifice that continues to serve as a reminder to me that I have to show my gratitude and appreciation of her efforts by making sure I achieve the best education possible and get a good paying job. And furthermore, we want the people of today to know that the collective impact of the role of the fish cleaners has been and will continue to be an integral part of our tuna industry and it deserves more appreciation and recognition.

As for Mr. Newton, there will always be a disproportionate disparity in every society and/or community with regards to pay, employment opportunity, and job skills whether you live in a third world or in a developed country. I agree with you that American Samoa has somewhat elevated itself above that of a third world country status. However, I find it disingenuous for you to insinuate that fish cleaning is a demeaning job or that Congressman Faleomavaega is advocating for our children to aspire to be "fish cleaners" in the future. It is a matter of individual choice whether one decides to be a fish cleaner or not. Most of our young people would choose to seek higher education and better job opportunities off island. Why do you think the canneries have had to request ASG for a guest worker program to recruit workers from our neighboring Samoa? For as long as there is a tuna industry here in our territory, there will always be a need for fish cleaners regardless of where they come from.

Respectfully submitted,

J. F.

Son of a fish cleaner

December 3, 2009

Dear Editor;

"Is AS a Third World Country?"

Will American Samoa ever become like a country where society would achieve a high standard of education system, good health care system, flourishing economy, and adequate standard of living where everyone lives in a home with running hot water, good plumbing sewerage system, and a reliable public service to maintain its quality amenities? In my opinion, for as long as American Samoa has been under the wing of the United States' protection, I do not believe the US has ever intended for American Samoa to be in a status similar to a developing third world country. In the last hundred and plus years, American Samoa has brought itself to enjoy federal assistance to develop its economy and to improve its political governance.

As a result, our people have accelerated from a third world standard of living to a much improved quality of life today. Of course, not everyone in American Samoa is economically on the same level of achievement, but I would say at least 95 percent of our children from young age to high school are engaged in our compulsory education program, we provide higher education beyond secondary level, our salary and wages have improved, employment and job opportunities have increased tremendously, we elected our own governor, and more businesses have been established, we elected our own delegate to the US Congress, and the list goes on.

As we continued in our pathway of improvement, we face a new challenge; we slowly witness the slipping away of what attracted companies like Samoa Packing to our island in the first place the exploitation of our human resource at low wages. Now the increase in our minimum wage has become a thorn to prospective companies to either continue or to invest in our island. At the same time we enjoy the blessing of extra dollars. What are we willing to sacrifice to offset such inevitable consequences beyond our control? We all turn to our government leaders as recourse for a promising and positive outcome.

Evidently, we have also come to realize that as we enjoy the political privilege of running our own government with our very own elected leaders, we entrust them with certain expectations given the unwavering commitment of the US to provide monetary assistance and guide us through our newfound transformation. It was only a matter of time before we witness that the integration of our own cultural values, traditions, religion with political tenets of good governance began to unfold what appeared to be unintended consequences that are influenced personal vises and schemes tailored for advancing personal or family gain at the expense of the public good. In the wake of such dilemma, our political leaders would set their priorities and agenda based on such ill-intended and personal premise and we call it "corruption."

As we may have learned over the years, every government leader is entitled to his or her own opinion and many do not see eye to eye with one another unless they a party in cronyism or mutually gain from a proposed transaction. In as much as we have learned about the fate of the siren alert system funds, we have come to accept the fact someone in the ASG administration had not seen this important project as a top and utmost priority. Instead, the money was used on other acquisitions for personal and status enhancement.

A difference in priorities by our local government leadership is causing a lot of problems, suffering and mismanagement throughout our territory. When our leaders are involved in such corruption, it gives us the appearance that either they only care for themselves, or to expect our own people to transform when they accent to political leadership as in recent trends with previous administration seem to suggest. "What is it for me and not for the best interest of our people" is what appears to take precedence in each decision a leader has to make. There is no doubt in my mind that as American Samoa is flooded with all kinds of federal grants and public charitable assistance, there would still be those opportunistic individuals companies that aspire to involve legally for personal gain.

I am certainly pleased that FEMA and local government agencies are making sure that certain building standard and codes are met for new homes and the locations not susceptible to tsunami impact. If compliance is not adhered to, the people would have other ideas on how to spend monies FEMA hands out solely for the intended purpose of building a home. Accountability has always been a problem with our ASG government whether it's a crisis situation or not. We have a long history of lack of accountability with federal grants let alone a failure to materialize projects the funds had been slated for. In the wake of the tsunami aftermath, it's my hope that accountability will improve. It is almost a second nature for our people focus immensely toward taking care of a crisis to stabilize the situation or victims' need and be oblivious to accountability. Such an overzealous premise is not considered import at the time given the traditional and common perspective in a communal setting. However, when federal resources are involved, accountability is very important and required.

Many have raised the issue of whether or not our top government leadership should be held accountable and responsible for what happened during the tsunami because of their failure to act in a preventive posture in advance of the crisis. I can assume that it would be difficult to make a case against those responsible in criminal court. However, a civil law suit might be viable in holding someone responsible for dereliction of duty and/or failure to act in his/her fiduciary responsibility. Given the influence of our traditional forgiveness and our passiveness on such matter, I doubt if anyone would take action. However, a sharp and willing attorney would research the matter to determine if there is any infraction under the oath of office that would apply to the above mentioned premise as the basis for legal action.

I strongly agree with Common Cause the local legislators should be conducting and investigations if there was any dereliction of duty by the local governor and his administration. The local legislature certainly has within its arsenal to exercise its check and balance power to determine if any laws have been infringed upon. If our local legislators will do nothing then they are in complicity as much as the governor and his administration.

Finally, I want to express my sincere condolences and sympathies to all the families

who lost loved ones in the tsunami in American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all those lost homes and material belongings during this difficult time. I remain hopeful that our government leaders will do it right this time to bring comfort, stability, and some sense of normalcy.

Soifua;

Amerika Samoa ia mataala!

Savaii P. Amitoelau
Olosegia, Manu'a