Seventeen of the twenty-one members of the House of Representatives have introduced a bill that eliminates the requirement that two members of the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) Board of Director be from off-island.
According to the bill, whose lead sponsor is Rep. Malaeoletalu Melesio Gurr, there is a sufficient number of people in American Samoa with the experience and talent to oversee ASPA. The current statute states that at least two directors of the five-member board must have experience in the management of electric utilities; at least one shall have a financial background, and at least one shall have a legal background. In addition, no fewer than two directors shall be from outside American Samoa.
The new legislation proposes that all five board members be residents of American Samoa. It removes the requirement that at least two directors be from outside of the territory is removed. Also eliminated is the provision that travel, lodging, and meal expenses for off-island directors be paid by ASPA.
