The Chair of the House Retirement Committee, Rep. Trude Ledoux-Sunia, on Tuesday updated House members on the ASG’s debt to the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund.
According to the latest update from the Retirement Office, as of the last pay period ending January 3, ASG owes a total of $21.7 million.
The unpaid employer share totals $21,011,185, while the unpaid employee share is $750,561.
The report also indicated that ASG paid the employer share for only two pay periods, at the rate of just 8 percent, instead of the required 14 percent.
Rep. Ledoux-Sunia is calling a hearing with the Retirement Office next week to discuss the debt.
The House and Senate convened in their chambers in the new Maota Fono on Tuesday.
Several representatives said it was an honor to occupy the seats of their districts’ in the new building.
Rep. Ledoux-Sunia said she was honored to represent her district, knowing the hard work that went into the building and the funding from the territory’s hard-earned money.
“I am humbled to be sitting in the new Fono building, in my district’s seat,” she said. “This seat is my people’s seat, not my own, and I do not take it lightly.”
She expressed gratitude and appreciation, on behalf of her district, to the Speaker, Senate President, and the chairmen of the committee in charge of the dedication of the new Maota Fono, Rep. Vailoata Amituanai and Sen. Olo Uluao Letuli.
