PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) — The future success of American Samoa can only be accomplished through “sacrifices,” Gov. Tauese Sunia said.
He used his Flag Day address to ask the people of American Samoa to be willing to make sacrifices just like others Americans, instead of criticizing the government when the increase in the minimum income tax was imposed.
Tauese said the territory has enjoyed a high standard of living because of the foresight of traditional leaders who ceded the islands of Tutuila and Manu’a to the United States. But he reminded residents of the territory that America is a great nation only because of the “sacrifices” of its people.
“We’ve had 102 years of good living. We’ve enjoyed peace and prosperity, although touched a bit by war in the 1940s but so was the whole world. There was actually no fighting on our land,” said Tauese.
The governor said American Samoa has enjoyed over a century of peace and prosperity and should be thankful for it. They should be especially thankful to the Samoan chiefs who willingly ceded these islands to the U.S. government.
“As we stand here reflecting on the past, I want us to remember the Samoan chiefs—our forefathers—who ceded these islands to the care of the United States government, who made us part of this great nation, who forged for us this political partnership that we were able to prove to the world that it can be done and could work,” the governor said.
Tauese said the relationship with the U.S. has worked well for 102 years compared to other territories and colonies that had to fight against their mother countries and shed blood in order to gain independence.
