United Nations General Assembly
Resolution on American
Samoa
Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on
American Samoa[1] and other relevant
information,
Taking note also of the statement made by the representative of the
Governor of American Samoa at the Pacific regional seminar held in Nadi, Fiji,
from 21 to 23 May 2014 that, while the Territory enjoyed a great deal of
self-government, its current legal status was seen as an anachronism that
exposed the Territory to situations beyond its control and needed to be
remedied,
Noting the constitutional amendment, approved in 2014 and to be put
to the vote at the end of the year, that would give the Fono, the Territory’s
legislature, the authority to override the Governor’s veto,
Noting also, in that regard, the announcement of a voter education
process ahead of the constitutional amendment poll,
Aware that, under United States law, the Secretary of the Interior
has administrative jurisdiction over American Samoa,[2]
Recalling the position of the administering Power and the
statements made by representatives of American Samoa at regional seminars inviting
the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
to send a visiting mission to the Territory,
Aware of the work of the Future Political Status Study Commission,
completed in 2006, the release of its report, with recommendations, in January
2007 and the creation of the American Samoa Constitutional Review Committee, as
well as the holding in June 2010 of the Territory’s fourth Constitutional
Convention,
Noting, in that regard, that, in 2013, the Governor recalled the
recommendation of the Future Political Status Study Commission that American
Samoa continue as an unorganized and unincorporated Territory, and that a
process of negotiation with the United States Congress for a permanent
political status be initiated,
Acknowledging the indication by the territorial Government,
including at the 2014 Pacific regional seminar, that the effects of certain
federal laws on the economy of the Territory give serious cause for concern,
Aware that, in July 2012, the United States passed Public Law
112-149, which includes a provision to delay the minimum wage increases in
American Samoa, as provided by United States Public Law 110-28, until September
2015,
Aware also that American Samoa continues to be the only United
States Territory to receive financial assistance from the administering Power
for the operations of the territorial Government,
1. Welcomes
the work of the territorial Government with respect to moving forward on
political status, local autonomy and self-governance issues with a view to
making political and economic progress and in particular the announcement of a
dialogue, to commence in 2015, among the people of American Samoa on the Territory’s
future political status;
2. Expresses
once again its appreciation for the invitation extended in 2011 by the
Governor of American Samoa to the Special Committee on the Situation with
regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence
to Colonial Countries and Peoples to send a visiting mission to the Territory,
calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission if the
territorial Government so desires, and requests the Chair of the Special
Committee to take all the steps necessary to that end;
3. Requests
the administering Power to assist the Territory by facilitating its work
concerning a public awareness programme, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations,
and in that regard calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to
provide assistance to the Territory, if requested;
4. Calls
upon the administering Power to assist the territorial Government in the
diversification and sustainability of the economy of the Territory and to
address employment and cost-of-living issues;
