Happy Manu’a Day, Low Key Ceremony in Ta’u

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The 112th anniversary of the signing of the deed by which the last remaining islands of Eastern Samoa were ceded to the United States, is being commemorated today with a public holiday for government employees and some businesses,

There’s also a low key flag raising ceremony at Ta’u this morning.

King Tuimanu’a Elisara had held back when the leading chiefs of Tutuila and Aunuu signed the Deed of Cession in 1900 placing their islands under the protection of the United States.

Nevertheless according to the Manu’a instrument of cession, on June 15, 1900 at Tuimanu’a’s request the United States flag was raised on the islands of Ta’u “for the purpose of granting protection” to the people of Manu’a.

Four years later on July 14, 1904, at Faleula, Ta’u, Tuimanu’a and ranking matai of the districts of Manu’a put their signatures to a document ceding to the United States, the islands of Tau, Olosega, Ofu and Rose Island together with all sovereign rights unto the government of the United States.

The wording of the deed is for the United States to erect the Manu’a islands “into a territory or district” of the US Government.

It also goes on to say “there shall be no discrimination in the suffrage’s and political privileges between the present residents of said islands and citizens of the United States dwelling therein, and also that the rights of the chiefs in each village and of all people concerning their property according to their customs shall be recognized. ”

The Manua chiefs who signed the deed along with Tuimanu’a were Tufele, Misa, Tuiolosega, Asoau and Logoai.

The 2016 Manu’a Cession Day program today is short and simple.

Rev Elder Iosefo Autele of the CCCAS Faleasao and Rev Etitoa Sopoaaga, the CCCAS pastor at Tau will say the prayers, the Bible reading will be given by Rev. Taimoto Lifuka of Fitiuta and the combined CCCAS choirs from Ta’u, Fitiuta and Faleasao will sing the hymns.

Miss American Samoa Suluga Tuliau is to recite the Manu’a Cession Day Proclamation and DPS officers stationed in Manu’a will raise the flags.

Governor Lolo Moliga will give an address.

Normally, a leader of Manu’a is on the official program to speak but the one released yesterday by the Governor’s Office does not include any speaker other than the governor.

Reports from Manu’a say that there are no preparations for entertainment or traditional presentations but we should not to be surprised if that all happens at the last minute.

A resident of Fitiuta said they are busy with the annual CCCAS conference and their faifeau and youth have come to Tutuila for the fono tele.

But she understands the ministers who are on the program this morning are returning to Manu’a for the flag raising and afterwards they will be heading back to Kanana-fou.

 

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