PAGO PAGO – With the US Federal Government making decisions to protect its interests globally – and consequently contributing to the erosion of the local canneries’ competitiveness – American Samoa’s Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has called on the entire territory to “band together to forge new economic activities to benefit the future of American Samoa”.

Lolo made the call during his special remarks at last Saturday’s graduation ceremony of the local campus of Argosy University Hawai‘i American Samoa where 80 graduates were presented with their degrees.

In his address, the governor recalled that he had remarked recently that the territory’s “economic future is full of uncertainty. The future of our two canneries is uncertain.”

He also said that the territory has “seen the terrible financial impact” to the economy in 2009 when one tuna factory closed down.

“If one or both canneries leave American Samoa our people will experience and witness, not only family displacement, but mass exodus and the acceleration in the number of people living in close poverty,” the governor said.

After 115 years of implementing development pathways relying on the canneries and the US government, Lolo says the current challenging economic circumstances make it clear that a “new economic development strategy must be adopted and implemented”.

“Decisions rendered by the Federal Government to protect its interests around the world has substantially eroded our ability, not only to secure the competitive advantage of our two canneries, but also undermines our ability to develop our own economy,” he said.

Lolo didn’t cite any particular federal decision as an example but among the most recent Federal decisions are its trade agreements and most recently is the closure of fishing on high seas and US EEZ.

“We have started this journey by seeking other financing mechanisms to supplement federal subsidies and other federal programmes,” Lolo said and noted that the new economic pathway is going to require everyone’s commitment “because it may get worse before it gets better”.

He says American Samoa is working to build the proper effective infrastructure system to improve the territory’s probability for success.

“And this is why we call on everybody to take on the attitude that ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going’,” he said. “And this is in line with your theme,” Lolo told the graduating class, “that ‘Success is not the destination but it is the journey’ and all of us will need to get tough and help our economy and our territory through this journey of challenges.”

“It is time for all of us to take hold of our own destiny. This means, we must assume more responsibilities in the development of our territory by establishing activities that lessen our dependence on the canneries that bind us to the level of the minimum wage,” he said. “And this will be our continued journey in life.”

“It is also the challenge for institutions of higher learning to instil in its graduates the skills and the training that they require to facilitate our vision.”

Samoa News reports that the governor is expected to provide specific details about the administration’s new economic pathway for the territory when he addresses the Fono next month in his State of the Territory address.

- Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga was born in 1949 in Ta‘u, Manu‘a, in the Territory of American Samoa.

His father was Moliga Sa’ena Auauan Moliga, a high chief from Ta’u. His mother was Soali’i Galea’i, a native of both Olosega and Fitiuta.

Following his graduation from Manu‘a High School, Lolo enrolled in Nebraska’s Chadron State College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education. He earned his master’s degree in public administration from San Diego State University in 2012.

After his graduation from Chadron, Lolo went back to his native Samoa and accepted a position as a teacher. Later he became the principal of Manu‘a High School.

He also served as the elementary and secondary education administrator for the American Samoan Department of Education.

In addition, he became the director of the ASG Budget Office and served two terms as the chief procurement officer for American Samoa.

Lolo was elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives for four terms and then was elected a senator. While in that governing body, he served as the Senate’s president.

Then-serving Governor Togiola Tulafono appointed Lolo president of the Development Bank of American Samoa. Lolo is also the owner of his own construction firm.

In 2012, Lolo was elected the 57th governor of American Samoa in a runoff election.

Lolo resides in American Samoa with his wife, Cynthia Malala, and their four children.

- PNC /Samoa News