A descendant of one of the signatories of the Treaty of Cession between American Samoa and the United States says the relationship is satisfactory and in good condition.
The Western District governor, Lualemaga Faoa, was commenting on the American Samoan government's planned presentation to the United Nations Committee on Decolonisation in Nicaragua this week.
A draft of the statement, which was released two weeks ago, says American Samoa's status as an unorganised and unincorporated territory of the US is no longer sufficient, that US laws have negatively impacted American Samoa and that the territory is ready to review other options.
Lualemaga says if American Samoa has problems with the US, it should go to the US and discuss them, not to the United Nations.
He says for 115 years the US has been pouring billions of dollars for American Samoa and he thanks the forefathers who deeded American Samoa to America for their foresight.
He says no other nation has provided for the needs of the people of Tutuila and Manu'a but the US.
Lualemaga also calls on the UN to remove American Samoa from the list of non self-governing territories, pointing out the territory has asked for this for decades but the UN has ignored its wishes.
Pago Pago, American Samoa Photo: Wikipedia