Mixed Reaction to Lawsuit Over LVPA

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There’s been mixed reaction to American Samoa’s lawsuit to overturn the rule change by the National Marine fisheries Service which now allows locally owned longliners longer than 50 feet to fish within 12 miles from shore.

Up until last month, this area had been reserved for local alia.

Supporters are happy that local leaders are standing up to the federal government and look forward to a precedent setting decision from the Hawaii federal district court.

They say what the territory is fighting for with regards to protections offered in the Deeds of Cession are similar to what the movement of the Native Hawaiian people have been fighting for in federal court.

But opponents have expressed the view that there are more pressing issues that the government should be focusing attention and money on, than taking the federal government to court.

One observer said this is a frivolous lawsuit and the only people that will benefit are the lawyers.

The critics question why the case is being branded as territory of American Samoa when there was no public discussion prior to the case being filed.

One federal employee told KHJ News he cannot fathom how leaders would jump to legal action without going the full course of federal and congressional avenues to achieve their purpose.

Others have said money that is being spent on legal costs should go to funding medical supplies for LBJ, pay vendors, pay refunds and buy desks and chairs for school children.

The governor s executive assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira says a statement about the lawsuit is forthcoming and preferred not to answer our questions, among them how much ASG is paying in legal costs to the Hawaii firm handling the case, until the statement is issued.

Federal agencies and officials named as defendants in the lawsuit have 60 days to respond to the complaint .

The National Marine Fisheries Service is not commenting citing that the matter is now in litigation.

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