A bill to privatize the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority is to be introduced in the fourth regular session of the 30th legislature.
Governor Togiola Tulafoo said at the opening of the Fono this morning that private phone companies have complained about the advantages that ASTCA has with support from the government. The governor indicated tat ASTCA would be established along the same liens as the Development Bank of American Samoa and he had no doubts that it would be able to function ably on its own. Togiola said the legislation would include a provision requiring all profits of ASTCA to be turned over to the government. ASTCA has paid several loans for ASG over the years. Also on the agenda of the new Fono session will be bill to pay a $ 6 million court ruling against ASG for losses from the Laufou Shopping Center fire. The governor said that the High Court has made its unhappiness known over ASG’s failure to pay the court ruling.
The court ordered earlier this year that ASG must submit a bill to the Fono to pay insurance company Progressive insurers of the Laufou center. The governor also announced that a Constitutional Convention would be called after the general elections and a bill to fund the convention would be introduced in the new session. And good news for home and business owners. The governor said in his address to the Fono that a bill to appropriate local funding for the Development Bank of American Samoa will be introduced. The governor had vetoed a bill that the Fono passed in the last session to appropriate $1 million from the Tax Reserve Account for DBAS. The governor said that the new bill would appropriate $500,000 each year for DBAS to be used for home construction and business loans.
Other legislation that the governor was submitting is funding for the off island referral program at LBJ Hospital and establishing the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security by law. Togiola also appealed to lawmakers to act on an administration bill that has been pending in the Fono to give customs officers more power and establish penalties for importers that break the law, he also asked that they move on the end of life bill which would state their preference in the event they are seriously ill and cannot make decisions for themselves. The governor said the lack of such legislation is continually questioned by the federal government and it may impact on future funding fort the hospital.
