A question posed to the candidates vying to become the next governor and lt governor of American Samoa was: “Every day with alarming frequency we hear or read about illegal drugs in the territory. What will your administration do to deal with the endemic drug problem in American Samoa?”
Talauega Eleasalo Ale, the lt governor candidate on the Lemanu/Talauega ticket said just like their team’s goal to address domestic violence, they don’t intend to manage or slow it down but eliminate the drug problem altogether.
“We have confidence that the people of American Samoa can do it,” he declared.
Talauega laid out their five pronged approach to the drug problem.
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Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua, the governor candidate on the Nua/Satele ticket said there was a time when the people and government of American Samoa were able to keep drugs under control. “Ten years ago we noticed that drugs were becoming prevalent and a problem in the territory,” he recalled.
The Senate President Pro Tem said in 2015 he introduced legislation requiring drug testing for ASG employees.
Referring to Talauega’s solutions to curb drug use, he said “I want to see those solutions implemented. Why aren’t they being implemented now?”
Nuanuaolefeagaiga said the best qualified people should work in drug interdiction for agencies such as customs, immigration and quarantine.
He also advocated for a drug rehab center to treat drug users pointing out that all the government is doing now is putting drug users in jail.
“What good does that do?”, he asked. Then answering, “nothing.”
Photos:Screenshots of Blue Sky stream
