PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) — The United States military has secured the lease of a six-acre plot here where it will build an Army Reserve headquarters.
The military base, to be constructed next to the Tafuna International Airport, has been leased at $1.06 million for 55 years.
Brig. Gen. Robert Lee, commander of the Pacific Support Command and Army Reserve, presented the check to Gov. Tauese Sunia on Tuesday.
The construction of the headquarters will cost $20 million.
Airport officials had earlier demanded a $7 million lump sum for the lease of the land. This was rejected by Tauese, who said the higher demand would force the U.S. military to look elsewhere in the Pacific.
He argued the $20 million budget for the construction of the new reserve center and new job opportunities the project creates would compensate for the lower lease payment.
At present, the American Samoa Army Reserve number some 440 men and women. There are two infantry divisions and a maintenance detachment.
