“This award is for you, the village of Leone,” declared Rep. Andra Samoa.
She was speaking of the award she was presenting at a ceremony, last Wednesday evening, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Coastal Zone Management Act.
The ceremony, hosted by the Department of Commerce recognized various partners in the private sector as well as in the community, who have contributed to safeguarding American Samoa’s coastal resources and environment, land, air and sea.
Samoa was recognized for her work in her village of Leone especially with protection of the wetlands or pala.
“This award came as a surprise with so many years (starting back in 2013) of cleaning our coastal shoreline, coordinating the restoration of our coral reef, our wetland, removing the boat stranded on our reef, giving tours to scientists from all over the world, hosting the Coral Reef Task Force attendees (in 2018), and giving tours to the various schools,” said Samoa.
The two term lawmaker said, a grant of $269,000 benefitted Leone with each foiala or group/section of the village including the women’s group, receiving $5000 each.
In return, the groups adopted a stream to clean. With visible results in the use of the first grant, Leone has been awarded a second one.
“Now, our Leone village is blessed again with another grant which will focus on our wetland and assessing so many of the run-off problems,” Samoa stated.
“I took this plaque and shared with our Healing Garden angels thinking this month of Sept 2022, will mark the 13th year since the 2009 Earthquake/Tsunami. I think of them and so many inspired and visionary leaders of our village whose presence is felt as we enjoy what they have left behind for us to continue to take care—our land, air, ocean, wetland and streams.”
The Healing Garden has the names of the tsunami victims from Leone, to whom Samoa has dedicated her CZM award.
Rep. Samoa thanked the Governor, Lt. Goveror DOC Director Petti Matila, DOC CZM Program staff, the Dept. of Marine and Wildlife Resources, ASCC Land Grant, and all the private and public agency partners.
She said, the award she received is in remembrance of all the 2009 Earthquake/Tsunami angels.
