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Funding for Samoan Heritage Week tabled
Friday,
July 17, 2009
The Fono is now on a three week recess and the bill appropriating $200,000 to pay for the Samoan Heritage Week in Honolulu will lie in committee until lawmakers return to work on August 10.
The Samoan Heritage Week is set for August 2-7.
The bill was not well received by some members of the House. Rep. Galu Satele said that he did not think it was appropriate to spend this money to fix problems with Samoans in Hawaii when the territory is faced with some severe problems of its own. For example the loss of thousands of jobs.
Representative Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo said the territory should fix its own problems first. He said young people are committing burglaries, involved with drugs and many are not in school. Young people are shooting homes in Fogagogo and domestic violence is widespread. He said the government should address what’s happening at home instead of trying to address problems in Hawaii. He said Hawaii has its own governor and federal programs to deal with problems involving Samoans. He said spending this money will not deliver the results its intended.
Rep. Maugaoalii Leapai Sipa Anoai said the plan for Samoan heritage Week will not solve the problems encountered by Samoans in Hawaii and he felt there should be a longer term solution. House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale said whenever Samoans anywhere are in trouble it impacts all Samoans. He called for support for what the governor and Honolulu mayor have planned to help resolve problems encountered by Samoans in Hawaii and restore pride in the Samoan identity.
By a vote of 7-5 the House Budget and Appropriations Committee has voted to table the bill appropriating $200,000 to pay for the Samoan Heritage Week in Honolulu.
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