The issue of fees charged by the Samoan government for American Samoa residents when they visit Samoa is beyond the government of American Samoa’s control.
So says the American Samoa Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga.
“Its up to them,” he said about the government of Samoa. “We cannot dictate how the Samoa government conduct their business, we don’t have the power to do that.
All we can do is ask the States Department to make a request…. and that’s it.”
The Governor was responding to comments by Congresswoman Aumua Amata who noted that this issue should be addressed between the leaders of the two Samoas, Governor Lolo and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.
According to the Governor, the American Samoa government cannot interfere with Samoa’s operations.
“We cannot go against Samoa’s policy in terms of fees,” he said.
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He added that this matter should be addressed at the Congressional level, because Samoa is considered a foreign country.
The Governor also pointed out that the Samoan government can do what ever it wants.
“We have not the power nor the authority to ask Samoa to remove or reduce the said fees,” he said. “It’s not an issue that should be discussed between the leaders for the two Samoas.”
Earlier this month, Aumua Amata pointed out that the issue on the fees should be addressed between the leaders of the two Samoa.
The congresswoman was responding to a concerns posed by the public about the fees in Samoa that targets only American Samoans.
Uta Dr. Laloulu Tagoilalagi said while he understands why the entry permit fee is implemented; he does not understand why this fee only applies to American Samoans.
The concern that was supported by others at the meeting.
The Congresswoman’s local District Office director Pulu Ae Ae Jr. said it appears as if this is a racist move. He stated at the meeting that there are numerous of complaints by the public about the said fees.
Pulu said he was a lawmaker when an incident occurred that led to the Samoa government implementing the fees.
Pulu explained that when a former Attorney General did not allow a rugby team from Samoa to enter the territory without a valid entry permit, the team remained on the boat until they returned to Samoa.
BACKGROUND
During the Two Samoa talks in 2014, Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale told Samoa News that “Samoa is considering waiving all their fees that target only American Samoans.”
Talauega ASG offered to waive our fee for the 14-day permit if Samoa agrees to waive their entry fee which targets only American Samoans.
Samoa did not commit but agreed to consider waiving their entry fee.”
He pointed out “the fee we offer that applies to Samoan citizens only is the 14-day permit, and he explained that that was put in place to facilitate travel between the Samoas for Samoan fa’alavalaves (family obligations) and other emergencies. As for fees charged by Samoa, he said Samoa charges the $10 fee to American Samoans (U.S. Nationals) only. “No one else in the world that enters Samoa is charged this fee,” he stated.
He noted that if the Samoa government charges a fee that singles out only American Samoans “we want it removed. If they charge a fee that applies across the board to citizens of all countries that’s okay, we’ll pay.
ASG is prepared to do the same thing,” said Talauega. Samoa News asked the Prime Minister if the Samoa government had waived their entry fee for US Nationals along with the transit fee. Tuilaepa said at the time “not yet” furthermore he said “Remember — the only reason we imposed the entry fee and transit fee [in the first place] was because they (American Samoa) charged and increased the fee for the 14-day permit.”
In 2006 Former Attorney General, the late Sialega Malaetasi Togafau had increased the cost of entry permits for Samoa citizens: From $10 to $40 for the 30-day permit, and $10 for the 14-day permit which had been free.
This move did not sit well with Tuilaepa, who then moved for “American Samoans only” to pay an entry permit of USD$10- 40 depending on the length of their stay in Samoa — in addition to a WST$50 transit fee.
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