The Tagata Tutu Faatasi Alliance of American Samoa is reminding Governor Lolo Moliga that their members are people of American Samoa too and they are his responsibility not just the people on island.
The group is reacting to the governor’s statements at the cabinet meeting last week that he has advised Hawaiian Airlines that there will be no flights to American Samoa for the month of October.
In his announcement the governor apologized to the stranded residents saying he understands the difficult predicament they’re in however their main responsibility as leaders is to protect the people in the territory.
Reacting to the governor’s statements, TTFAS said, “No you do not understand governor.
“If you understood you wouldn’t see just the numbers of the stranded, you would see the faces of mothers, fathers, children, elderly middle aged. We permeate every class of the community from the highest to the lowest.
It also said if the governor understood he would say “okay since we cannot help our families who are stranded, here is financial assistance to tide you over while we continue to work out our plan.”
And if the governor understood he would know that Hawaii’s coronavirus data “has been showing a downward trend. Their present positive cases has been below 5% which indicates low transmission.”
TTFAS reminded Lolo, “You are not just the governor of the residents on island. You are the governor of all of American Samoa on island as well as off island.”
And added that the stranded residents carry American Samoa IDs such as check stubs, permanent legal IDs, drivers licenses, Voter IDs, bank statements, ASPA bills. Therefore they are your residents.”
Without saying how they will accomplish their goal, the group says “We will rise because our cause is just. We will not let any injunction turn us around. We, as a people, will get home to our families, to our land, to our jobs, to our churches, to our village, we will get home to where we belong.”
TTFAS tells Governor Lolo, “Although you as governor have a sovereign right to secure our borders, and to determine conditions of entry, you also must never forget you have an obligation to respect human rights law, refugee law and humanitarian law.”
The group urges that the governor and the Coronavirus Task Force to “take up the mantle of responsibilities from all residents and not cower in the face of adversity. Plan with a sense of urgency and execute the repatriation plan with confidence.“
