The Board of Directors of the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce met last week with the ASG Revenue Task Force.
The main function of the task force, which was appointed by Governor Lolo Moliga in January, is to review existing revenue generation laws and recommend amendments to those considered obsolete and irrelevant.
The task force which is chaired by Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale gave a powerpoint presentation to the chamber board, providing an overview of their draft plan as well as anticipated revenue projections.
Chamber Chairman Archie Taotasi Soliai said no details were provided.
He told KHJ News the critical factor their board felt important was what impact this plan would have on the economy.
That question was posed to the ASRTF.
Soliai said, “From our perspective, it did not appear that the proposal was run through an economic model, although ASG has just recruited a senior economist who arrived on island last week.
The chamber highly recommended that the Revenue Task Force consider an economic impact analysis be done before their plans are finalized.
The Chamber also requested that another meeting be held once the analysis is done.
According to Soliai, Task Force Chairman AG Talauega Eleasalo Ale agreed and stated that they would discuss the request for an analysis with the new economist and then call another meeting with the Chamber Board.
