A meeting between the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce, held last evening, was requested by the visiting GAO team to gather input from the chamber on climate change.
Those attending includes bankers, farmers, construction managers, architects and small business owners.
The four member GAO team is led by Latesha Love-Grayer, Director, International Affairs and Trade.
Play AudioGAo-lead
The handful of people who shared their views brought up a variety of issues they felt the feds should know about:
- A general lack of enforcement of regulations, local and federal
- No accountability to ensure that funds are spent on intended purposes
- Lack of support from ASG for the private sector
- Delays in government processes and systems for such things as obtaining business licenses, and permits
- The territory becoming a welfare state
- Need for more federal oversight and audits
- Need for new investment to diversify the economy
- Attitudes of officials and government employees which slow down progress
The GAO team, which departs tonight, held meetings with ASG earlier in the week concerning fiscal matters as well as climate change. Their report will be made public. 
