The governor told matai of Fagatogo at a meeting in his office yesterday that he wants just compensation for village and family lands that were taken by the federal government.
He said before the year is over the territory will file two major lawsuits against the federal government: one over high airfares, and the other will seek just compensation to repay families and villages whose lands were taken by the government.
The delagtion from Fagatogo which included Afoa Moega Lutu, Taesali, Samia, Tualima, Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi and other chiefs sought an auidience with the governor to discuss the “cementing” of a section of the Fagatogo malae.
The governor told the delegation that his main goal is to build facilities that the village can use and also beautify the village.
Lolo also said it’s good that the “children are demonstrating by the road” so it gets the attendion of the federal government . And he commented that the cement can always be removed.
According to the governor, the federal government keeps blocking projects that would add value and beautify historical buildings in Fagatogo ,
He said the feds wanted plans for removaions fo the DPS Ps building ,and the museum to be apprpoved first by federal agencies.
He told the group he had to implement these projects by force, and he wanted to see what the feds would do,
He said if an indivudal was doing this, instead of the government the feds would take them to jail.
The governor also told the group that attorneys reviewing government land leases will be returning to the territory in two weeks.
He revealed that the government has two suits against the federal government in the pipeline. One for the high airfares to American Samoa and the other is to seek just compensation for all local lands that were taken over by the federal government,.
As for the improvements on the Fagatogo malae Lolo said his intention is to build new facilities and improve existing ones for village residens, churches and the village to use.
He told the Fagatogo chiefs that at no point did any church minister come to him, and he was telling them this with all honesty and “God is his witness”
When KHJ News had asked the governor last week about the playcourts and parking in front of the Fagatogo Pavilion he said that these facilities were in response to a request from village leaders and church ministers.
Lolo said at yesterday;s meeting that the late Governor Tauese Sunia was the only governor who had initiated impriovements for Fagatogo and he could see from records during Tauese’s time what his intentions were. That is for the village to reap some benefits from the use of lands they had given up for the government’s use.
Regarding the paved courts and parking, Lolo said that these will be used by families, churches and the village for their events.
“Families can hold BBQs and kids can play there,” he stated, adding that when the government needs to use the facilities, the village would give its ok.
Lolo pointed out that the government uses the pavilion and facilities in Fagatogo maybe 10 days out of the year.
