American Samoa: no major changes 'yet'

The report of American Samoa’s Political Status Commission, pre sented to the Samoan legislature in March, recommends that American Samoa retain its present association with the United States as an un incorporated and unorganised territory. But it proposes that Samoans elect their own Governor, with exclusive control of local matters, and that both houses of legislature become full-time bodies, elected by popular vote, and with higher salaries. These measures, it says, would put American Samoa “well on the way to complete self-government”.

But the commission adds that while Samoa should not at the moment be thrust into a political position “it is not yet ready to occupy”, and the time for change is “still far off”, other alternatives should not be dismissed. Facts could arise which would make independence, or union with Western Samoa, the wisest course.

The commission wants to see established a joint commission of the Samoan legislature and the US Congress to study every aspect of Com monwealth and Organic Act status for Samoa. It says Samoa cannot finally accept or reject such status without a knowledge of the full consequences.

Others of the commission’s eight major recommendations include proposals to register ownership of all Samoan land and undertake a full re-examination of the education system, and the right to send an official delegate to Congress (which it agrees would be “unique” for an un incorporated territory ).