“Samoa did not commit but agreed to consider waiving their entry fee. We have not received word from Samoa yet. We remain willing to proceed but will not waive our fee unless Samoa reciprocates. We made a firm offer. They wanted to think about it. We await their response” – American Samoa Attorney General, Talauega Eleasalo Ale
Samoa and American Samoa appear to be in a stand off to see who blinks first about immigration fees both countries had apparently promised to remove during the recent inter-Samoa talks held in Apia.
Asked if the fees on Samoan citizens entering the territory had been removed, American Samoa’s Attorney General, Talauega Eleasalo Ale, said “no.”
On the outcome statement of the meeting, however, “both sides agreed to look at removing all permit fees to allow for free travel between the two Samoas.”
The fees in question are for the 14-day permit and the 30-day permit to enter American Samoa.
So has the American Samoa Government considered removing all permit fees as stated in the official report?
Talauega explained that “Samoa is considering waiving all their fees that target only American Samoans.”
He pointed out “the fee we offer that applies to Samoan citizens only is the 14-day permit.”
He explained that this was put in place to facilitate travel between the Samoas for Samoan fa’alavalave (family obligations) and other emergencies.
Citizens of Samoa are the only travellers to American Samoa who can qualify for this permit — which is cheaper than the 30-day permit.
As for fees charged by Samoa, he said Samoa charges the $10 fee to American Samoans (U.S. Nationals) only.
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“No one else in the world that enters Samoa is charged this fee,” said Talauega.
Talauega further told Samoa News that the Samoan government also charges a $50 transit fee, which he understands targets only American Samoans.
“I am told that this fee has been removed but it is unclear, since airlines are now charging these fees on behalf of the Samoa government,” said the Attorney General.
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. The American Samoa Government is prepared to do the same thing.”
During a press conference last month, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said Samoa was waiting for American Samoa so that the process of removing fees could begin.
“The problem is that there are certain issues that American Samoans have limited authority over, given they have to see if this is in line with federal laws.”
He said American Samoa has yet to come to a conclusion because they have to look at federal laws prior to giving a concrete answer.
Tuilaepa said during that press conference that this is the “problem” with the Samoa talks— there are issues where American Samoa has limited power over.
He said ASG asked Samoa to give them two weeks to get back to Samoa on this particular issue.
Asked if the Samoa government had waived their entry fee for US Nationals along with the transit fee, Tuilaepa said “not yet.”
Further he reminded that “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.”
Talauega does not share the same opinion.
“As you may recall from the report of the meeting, 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.
“We have not received word from Samoa yet. We remain willing to proceed but will not waive our fee unless Samoa reciprocates.
“We made a firm offer. They wanted to think about it. We await their response.”
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.
*Joyetter Luamanu is a Samoa News Reporter who was in Apia for the inter-Samoa Talks
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