Dear Editor,
The dedication of the new — and still unfinished — Maota Fono has passed. Ceremonial envelopes were distributed to dignitaries and members of the Fono, prompting public discussion following my earlier op-ed on envelope culture.
In response, a few House members publicly disclosed that they redirected their envelopes to community projects. That transparency deserves acknowledgment.
But it must be said plainly: what individuals choose to do with the money is not the central issue.
The deeper issue remains.
Our ancestors taught us, E le o le fale, ae o le anofale — it is not the building that matters, but the quality of what emerges from within it. That is where our attention must now turn.
Because while public focus lingered on envelopes, American Samoa continues to face serious challenges: unresolved ASGERF debt and governance weaknesses; persistent ASCC budget shortfalls, including the long-delayed Trades and Technology building; Medicaid matching gaps; ongoing operating subsidies for LBJ Hospital; delayed vendor payments; persistent delayed tax refunds; and procurement failures in federally funded construction projects that risk audits and claw backs.
These are not isolated problems. They reflect misplaced priorities.
Nowhere is this clearer than in the governance of the Retirement Fund. Legislative oversight is essential — but when legislative influence extends into board control, fiduciary independence is weakened, and public confidence erodes. This is a structural issue, not a personal one.
A genuine legislative reset should begin by restoring clear, independent governance at ASGERF while strengthening transparent oversight through law.
As we enter the Christmas season — a time rooted in humility and service — the example is clear. Christ came not to be served, but to serve.
If the Fono wishes to restore trust, it must shift from ceremony to stewardship — and return its focus to the anofale: the quality of decisions that shape the lives of the people it serves.
May this Christmas season renew our commitment to service. Merry Christmas, American Samoa!
Signed,
Fuiavailili Keniseli Lafaele
