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84-537: The party won one seat at the 1996 Western Samoan general election . This political party- and liberalism-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a Samoan political party is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . 1996 Western Samoan general election Tofilau Eti Alesana HRPP Tofilau Eti Alesana HRPP General elections were held in Western Samoa on 26 April 1996 to determine

168-583: A Deed of Cession of Tutuila in 1900 and a Deed of Cession of Manuʻa in 1904 on behalf of the U.S. government. The last sovereign of Manuʻa, the Tui Manuʻa Elisala , signed a Deed of Cession of Manuʻa following a series of U.S. naval trials, known as the "Trial of the Ipu", in Pago Pago, Taʻu, and aboard a Pacific Squadron gunboat. The territory became known as the U.S. Naval Station Tutuila . On July 17, 1911,

252-662: A U.S. Department of Interior –sponsored attempt to incorporate American Samoa, was introduced in Congress. It was ultimately defeated, primarily through the efforts of Samoan chiefs, led by Tuiasosopo Mariota. The efforts of these chiefs led to the creation of a territorial legislature, the American Samoa Fono , which meets in the village of Fagatogo . In 1950 the Department of the Interior began to administer American Samoa. By 1956,

336-704: A "protest vote". Following the election, the HRPP and the SNDP began negotiations with independents, who held the balance of power, to form a government. Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva claimed most successful independent candidates were vulnerable to "questionable deals" from both major parties, as they were "broke" due to the depletion of their finances from campaigning; there were no limits on candidates' campaign finances. The HRPP remained in government after winning over ten independents, regaining its 34-seat majority. Prime Minister Tofilau and his cabinet were sworn in by

420-458: A brief but lavish greeting. On January 30, 1974, Pan Am Flight 806 from Auckland , New Zealand, crashed at Pago Pago International Airport at 10:41   pm, with 91 passengers aboard. 86 people were killed, including Captain Leroy A. Petersen and the entire flight crew. Four of the five surviving passengers were seriously injured, with the other only slightly injured. The airliner was destroyed by

504-519: A constituency rather than the one where they reside by right of significant family ties or matai titles. Individuals who wished to vote outside their constituencies on election day were entitled to cast a special vote. As prescribed by an amendment to the Electoral Act in 1990, voters required identification cards issued by the government to cast their ballots. A 1995 amendment to the electoral introduced an inquiry to occur on all enrolled voters during

588-469: A hundred canoes, with more than 500 people in them: but I was afraid of striking the wrong victims; the call of my conscience saved their lives." On December 19, 1912, English writer William Somerset Maugham arrived in Pago Pago, allegedly accompanied by a missionary and Miss Sadie Thompson. His visit inspired his short story " Rain " which later became plays and three major motion pictures. The building still stands where Maugham stayed and has been renamed

672-525: A listing which is disputed by the territorial government officials, who do consider themselves to be self-governing. American Samoa and Pago Pago International Airport had historic significance with the Apollo Program . The astronaut crews of Apollo 10 , 12 , 13 , 14 , and 17 were retrieved a few hundred miles from Pago Pago and transported by helicopter to the airport prior to being flown to Honolulu on C-141 Starlifter military aircraft. While

756-511: A name for their new territory. The traditional leaders chose "American Samoa", and, on July 7, 1911, the solicitor general of the Navy authorized the governor to proclaim it as the name for the new territory. In 1918, during the final stages of World War I , the Great Influenza epidemic had taken its toll, spreading rapidly from country to country. American Samoa became one of the few places in

840-497: A petition alleging bribery. The Supreme Court later upheld the charge and counter-charges against the former speaker. Overall, once the Supreme Court had processed all electoral petitions and all subsequent by-elections had occurred, the HRPP's seat count had increased to 35, the SNDP's remaining at 11, there were three independents and Labour was left with no parliamentary representation. American Samoa American Samoa

924-488: A piece of shrapnel , and "a member of the colorful native Fita Fita Guard" received minor injuries; they were the only casualties. This was the only time the Japanese attacked Tutuila during World War II , although "Japanese submarines had patrolled the waters around Samoa before the war, and continued to be active there throughout the war." On August 24, 1943, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited American Samoa and inspected

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1008-598: A pivotal role in five of the Apollo Program missions . The astronauts landed several hundred miles from Pago and were transported to the islands en route back to the mainland. President Richard Nixon gave three Moon rocks to the American Samoan government, which are currently on display in the Jean P. Haydon Museum along with a flag carried to the Moon on one of the missions. In November 1970, Pope Paul VI visited American Samoa in

1092-452: A remote coral atoll in the Tokelau volcanic island group . The total land area is 77 square miles (199 km ), slightly larger than Washington, D.C. ; including its territorial waters , the total area is 117,500 square miles (304,000 km ), about the size of New Zealand. American Samoa has a tropical climate, with 90 percent of its land covered by rainforests. As of 2024, the population

1176-443: A seat was Labour, whose leader and sole candidate narrowly defeated Parliamentary Speaker Afamasaga Fatu Vaili. Two candidates won their seats unopposed, while four women secured seats. The less-than-ideal showings for the HRPP and the SNDP, along with a rise in support for independents, reportedly reflected much of the public's disillusionment with both major parties, which newly elected independent MP La Tagaloa Pita characterised as

1260-413: A setback due to Chief Auditor Sua Rimoni Ah Chong 's 1994 report, which brought to light government corruption. While the SNDP campaigned on anti-corruption, the party's perceived failure to provide checks on the HRPP meant the governing party faced few obstacles to re-election. In the final results, no party won a majority. The HRPP won 24 seats, down from 34 before the election, the SNDP secured 11, and

1344-510: A significant presence in American Samoa and plays a major role in its economy and society. The territory is noted for having the highest rate of military enlistment of any U.S. state or territory; as of 2021, the local U.S. Army recruiting station in Pago Pago ranked first in recruitment. Tuna products are the main exports, with the U.S. proper serving as the largest trading partner. Tourism

1428-456: A single contestant. The other 55 parliamentary hopefuls were independents. Despite concerns about Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana's health problems, especially as he only returned to Western Samoa just 12 days before the election after receiving treatment in New Zealand, he remained party leader. HRPP insiders viewed the prime minister's continuation as the party head as vital to preventing

1512-452: A stopover in Pago Pago in April 2017. He addressed 200 soldiers here during his refueling stop. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited town on June 3, 2017. On September 28, 2009, at 17:48:11 UTC, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck 120 miles (190 km) off the coast of American Samoa, followed by smaller aftershocks. It was the largest earthquake of 2009. The quake occurred on

1596-502: A teenager from rough seas. On November 8, 2010, United States Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton made a refueling stopover at the Pago Pago International Airport . She was greeted by government dignitaries and presented with gifts and a traditional kava ceremony. Mike Pence was the third sitting U.S. vice president to visit American Samoa (after Dan Quayle and Joe Biden ) when he made

1680-419: A term of up to five years. Amendments to the Electoral Act in 1991 added a seat to two single-member constituencies, increasing the parliamentary seat count from 47 to 49 and extending the parliamentary term from three to five years. Of the 42 constituencies, 35 elected a single member, while six of the larger constituencies elected two representatives and were entitled to cast two ballots. Two members represented

1764-461: Is a controversial topic locally, as the government of American Samoa fears that it would lead to the erosion of traditional customs. It is the only U.S. territory with its own immigration system. Traditional oral literature of Samoa and Manuʻa talks of a widespread Polynesian network or confederacy (or "empire") that was prehistorically ruled by the successive Tui Manuʻa dynasties. Manuan genealogies and religious oral literature also suggest that

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1848-566: Is a nascent but underdeveloped sector, owing in part to the territory's relative geographic isolation, which also accounts for its high rate of poverty and emigration. Residents of American Samoa are politically disenfranchised , with no voting representation in the U.S. Congress. American Samoa is the only permanently inhabited territory of the United States in which citizenship is not granted at birth, and people born there are considered " non-citizen nationals " with limited rights. Citizenship

1932-766: Is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the Polynesia region of the South Pacific Ocean . Centered on 14°18′S 170°42′W  /  14.3°S 170.7°W  / -14.3; -170.7 , it is 40 miles (64 km) southeast of the island country of Samoa , east of the International Date Line and the Wallis and Futuna Islands, west of the Cook Islands , north of Tonga , and some 310 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau . American Samoa

2016-446: Is approximately 47,400 and concentrated on Tutuila, which hosts the capital and largest settlement, Pago Pago . The vast majority of residents are indigenous ethnic Samoans , most of whom are fluent in the official languages, English and Samoan . Inhabited by Polynesians since prehistory, American Samoa was first contacted by Europeans in the 18th century. The islands attracted missionaries, explorers, and mariners, particularly to

2100-490: Is erected on Mt. Mauga O Aliʻi to honor their memory. On November 1, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill which created American Samoa National Park . On July 22, 2010, Detective Lieutenant Lusila Brown was fatally shot outside the temporary High Court building in Fagatogo. It was the first time in more than 15 years that a police officer was killed in the line of duty. The last was Sa Fuimaono, who drowned after saving

2184-629: Is rumored to walk about the grounds at night. On August 17, 1924, Margaret Mead arrived in American Samoa aboard the SS Sonoma to begin fieldwork for her doctoral dissertation in anthropology at Columbia University, where she was a student of Professor Franz Boas . Her work Coming of Age in Samoa was published in 1928, at the time becoming the most widely read book in the field of anthropology . The book has sparked years of ongoing and intense debate and controversy. Mead returned to American Samoa in 1971 for

2268-561: Is the head of government and along with the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa is elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term. The governor's office is located in Utulei . Since American Samoa is a U.S. territory, the President of the United States serves as the head of state but does not play a direct role in government. The Secretary of the Interior oversees

2352-545: Is the southernmost territory of the United States, situated 2,200 miles (3,500 km) southwest of the U.S. state of Hawaii , and one of two U.S. territories south of the Equator, along with the uninhabited Jarvis Island . American Samoa consists of the eastern part of the Samoan archipelago —the inhabited volcanic islands of Tutuila , Aunuʻu , Ofu , Olosega and Taʻū and the uninhabited Rose Atoll —as well as Swains Island ,

2436-461: Is thus directly administered by the federal government. American Samoa is listed among seventeen " non-self-governing territories " but is a member of several intergovernmental organizations, including the Pacific Community , Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), and International Olympic Committee (IOC). Due to its strategic location, the U.S. military has

2520-527: The O le Ao o le Malo , Malietoa Tanumafili II , on 19 May. Some unsuccessful candidates filed electoral petitions after the election against their victorious opponents. Of the 17 petitions, 16 alleged corrupt practices on the part of the winning contestant, including bribery and treatment, while one disputed the validity of the results in a constituency. Seven petitions were withdrawn before any went to trial after petitioners and their opponents held customary meetings, along with their respective supporters. On

2604-589: The H.M.S. Bounty mutineers . Von Kotzebue visited in 1824. Mission work in the Samoas had begun in late 1830 when John Williams of the London Missionary Society arrived from the Cook Islands and Tahiti . By the late nineteenth century, French, British, German, and American vessels routinely stopped at Samoa, as they valued Pago Pago Harbor as a refueling station for coal-fired shipping and whaling. The United States Exploring Expedition visited

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2688-662: The President of the United States . In 1951, with Executive Order 10264 , President Harry Truman delegated that authority to the Secretary of the Interior . On June 21, 1963 Paramount Chief Tuli Leʻiato of Fagaʻitua was sworn in and installed as the first Secretary of Samoan Affairs by Governor H. Rex Lee . On June 2, 1967, Interior Secretary Stewart Udall promulgated the Revised Constitution of American Samoa, which took effect on July 1, 1967. The Governor of American Samoa

2772-464: The Sadie Thompson Building . Today, it is a prominent restaurant and inn. On November 2, 1921, American Samoa's 13th naval governor , Commander Warren Jay Terhune , died by suicide with a pistol in the bathroom of the government mansion, overlooking the entrance to Pago Pago Harbor. His body was discovered by Government House's cook, SDI First Class Felisiano Debid Ahchica, USN. His ghost

2856-761: The outer rise of the Kermadec-Tonga Subduction Zone . This is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire , where tectonic plates in the Earth's lithosphere meet, and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common. The quake struck 11.2 miles (18.0 km) below the ocean floor and generated an onsetting tsunami that killed more than 170 people in the Samoa Islands and Tonga . Four waves with heights from 15 feet (4.6 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) high were reported to have reached up to one mile (1.6   km) inland on

2940-532: The "Manulele Tausala" ("Lady Bird") Elementary School in Nuʻuuli , which was named after her. Johnson is the only US president to have visited American Samoa, while Mrs. Johnson was the second First Lady, preceded by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943. The territory's only hospital was renamed the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in honor of President Johnson. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, American Samoa played

3024-502: The Electoral Act in 1995 required candidates to disclose their party affiliation. Ineligible individuals included those convicted of a crime in Western Samoa and American Samoa and sentenced to at least two years or the death penalty. Civil servants were required to resign to contest the election. With the introduction of Universal Suffrage in 1990, all citizens aged 21 and older had the right to vote. Voters could elect to enrol in

3108-705: The Fita Fita Guard and Band and the First Samoan Battalion of U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at the U.S. Naval Station American Samoa. The fact that First Lady reviewed the troops led to further assurance that Tutuila Island was considered safe. Her presence underscored that World War II had passed by American Samoa. While the Fita Fita band played, Eleanor Roosevelt inspected the guard. On October 18, 1966, President Lyndon Baines Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson visited American Samoa. Mrs. Johnson dedicated

3192-423: The HRPP's popularity. The SNDP pledged to establish an anti-corruption commission to introduce a code of conduct for the government ministries and their heads and investigate government corruption. The party also advocated for the repeal of the value-added tax along with introducing an accountable and transparent government financial system. The perception of the SNDP as an ineffective opposition, shared by much of

3276-435: The HRPP. Following legal cases and judicial recounts in some constituencies, the official results were released on 15 May. The HRPP won 24 seats, down from 27 in 1991, confirming it had lost the majority it enjoyed before the election, although it remained the largest party. The SNDP secured 11 seats, a decrease from 15 in the previous election, while independents saw an increase, winning 13 seats. The only other party to win

3360-515: The Tui Manuʻa had long been one of the most prestigious and powerful paramounts of Samoa. Oral history suggests that the Tui Manuʻa kings governed a confederacy of far-flung islands which included Tutuila, as well as smaller western Pacific chiefdoms and Polynesian outliers such as Uvea , Futuna , Tokelau , Tuvalu and bigger islands like the Samoa in the North. Commerce and exchange routes between

3444-539: The U.S. Army's Hawaii-based Tropic Lightning Parachute Club. The aeroplane contacted the Solo Ridge-Mount Alava aerial tramway cable across Pago Pago harbor, which sheared off its vertical stabilizer. The aircraft crashed, demolishing a wing of the Rainmaker Hotel and killing all six crew members and one civilian. The six skydivers had already left the aircraft during a demonstration jump. A memorial monument

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3528-399: The U.S. Naval Station Tutuila over the next 10 minutes. The first shell struck the rear of Frank Shimasaki's store, ironically owned by one of Tutuila's few Japanese residents. The store was closed, as Mr. Shimasaki had been interned as an enemy alien. The next shell caused slight damage to the naval dispensary, the third landed on the lawn behind the naval quarters known as "Centipede Row," and

3612-458: The U.S. Naval Station Tutuila, which was composed of Tutuila, Aunuʻu and Manuʻa, was officially renamed American Samoa. People of Manuʻa had been unhappy since they were left out of the name "Naval Station Tutuila". In May 1911, Governor William Michael Crose authored a letter to the Secretary of the Navy conveying the sentiments of Manuʻa. The department responded that the people should choose

3696-471: The U.S. Navy-appointed governor was replaced by Peter Tali Coleman , who was locally elected. Although technically considered "unorganized" since the U.S. Congress has not passed an Organic Act for the territory, American Samoa is self-governing under a constitution that became effective on July 1, 1967. The U.S. Territory of American Samoa is on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories ,

3780-532: The U.S. formally annexed its portion, a smaller group of eastern islands, one of which contains the noted harbor of Pago Pago . After the United States Navy took possession of eastern Samoa for the United States government , the existing coaling station at Pago Pago Bay was expanded into a full naval station , known as United States Naval Station Tutuila and commanded by a commandant. The Navy secured

3864-497: The United Nations' decolonization list, arguing that the territory should not be considered a colony. American Samoans have a high rate of service in the U.S. Armed Forces . Because of economic hardship, military service has been seen as an opportunity in American Samoa and other U.S. Overseas territories . The federal Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 started gradual adjustments to the territorial minimum wage to bring it up to

3948-542: The United States mainland, he was prevented from disembarking from the ship that brought him home to American Samoa and was not allowed to return because the American Samoa Mau movement was suppressed by the U.S. Navy. In 1930 the U.S. Congress sent a committee to investigate the status of American Samoa, led by Americans who had a part in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii . Swains Island , which had been included in

4032-562: The aircraft apart. On November 24, 1939, American Samoa's last execution to date was carried out. A man named Imoa of Fagatogo was convicted of stabbing a person named Sella to death and was hanged in the Customs House . The popular Samoan song "Faʻafofoga Samoa" is based on this, said to be the final words of Imoa. On January 13, 1942, at 2:26   am, a Japanese submarine surfaced off Tutuila between Southworth Point and Fagasa Bay and fired about 15 shells from its 5.5-inch deck gun at

4116-575: The composition of the 12th Parliament. The election occurred following constitutional amendments that extended the parliamentary term from three to five years and increased parliament's seat count from 47 to 49. Five parties contested the election, including the governing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), led by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and the main opposition, the Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), led by Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi . The HRPP's popularity suffered

4200-468: The cruelty of its inhabitants than the lair of a lion or a tiger". This incident gave Samoa a reputation for savagery that kept Europeans away until the arrival of the first Christian missionaries four decades later. On December 12, at Aʻasu Bay, Lapérouse ordered his gunners to fire one cannonball amid the attackers who had killed his men the day before and were now returning to launch another attack. He later wrote in his journal "I could have destroyed or sunk

4284-402: The deadly disease. The neighboring New Zealand territory at the time, Western Samoa , suffered the most of all Pacific islands , with 90% of the population infected; 30% of adult men, 22% of adult women and 10% of children died. Poyer offered assistance to help his New Zealand counterparts but was refused by the administrator of Western Samoa, Robert Logan , who became outraged after witnessing

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4368-572: The dedication of the Jean P. Haydon Museum . In 1938, the noted aviator Ed Musick and his crew died on the Pan American World Airways S-42 Samoan Clipper over Pago Pago, while on a survey flight to Auckland , New Zealand . Sometime after takeoff, the aircraft experienced trouble, and Musick turned it back toward Pago Pago. While the crew dumped fuel in preparation for an emergency landing, an explosion occurred that tore

4452-531: The egg cowry ). Contact with Europeans began in the early 18th century. Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen was the first known European to sight the Samoan Islands in 1722, calling them the "Baumann Islands" after one of his captains. The next explorer to visit the islands was Louis-Antoine de Bougainville , who named them the "Îles des Navigateurs" in 1768. British explorer James Cook recorded the island names in 1773, but never visited. The 1789 visit by Lapérouse

4536-447: The election of five successful candidates, including four cabinet ministers and Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva, after finding them guilty of bribery charges brought about by electoral petitions. During the previous election held in 1991, the ruling HRPP, led by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana, won re-election with a simple majority of 27 seats in parliament. The opposition SNDP secured 15 seats, whilst independents won

4620-638: The election. Former Health Minister To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva formed the Western Samoa Labour Party in 1993, which aimed to provide a more "effective" opposition, in contrast to the SNDP. Leota Itu‘au Ale, deputy leader of the SNDP, defected from the party in 1995 over a disagreement with the SNDP's leadership and formed the Samoan Conservative Progressive Party (SCPP). Meanwhile, in March 1996, HRPP MP Matatumua Maimoana left

4704-407: The first woman to cabinet in the nation's history, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa . At the dissolution of parliament, the HRPP had a 16-seat majority. In January 1994, the government introduced a value-added tax on services and goods, sparking widespread protests. This bill also led to demands that Prime Minister Tofilau resign. The demonstration concluded after two months when the government agreed to omit

4788-466: The fourth struck the stone seawall outside the customs house. The other rounds fell harmlessly into the harbor. As one writer described it, "The fire was not returned, notwithstanding the eagerness of the Samoan Marines to test their skill against the enemy   ... No American or Samoan Marines were wounded." Commander Edwin B. Robinson was bicycling behind Centipede Row and was wounded in the knee by

4872-585: The governing party, citing the deterioration of the country's education system and alleged government corruption, and established the Samoa All People's Party (SAPP). She became the first woman to lead a Western Samoan political party since independence. The SAPP was notable for allowing individuals as young as 16 to hold party positions. Another party, the Samoa Liberal Party (SLP), was formed in 1993 by three former HRPP members who had been expelled from

4956-425: The government, retaining the power to approve constitutional amendments, overrides the governor's vetoes , and nomination of justices. The legislative power is vested in the American Samoa Fono , which has two chambers . The House of Representatives has 21 members serving two-year terms, being 20 representatives popularly elected from various districts and one non-voting delegate from Swains Island elected in

5040-555: The highly protected natural harbor of Pago Pago. The United States took possession of American Samoa in the late 19th century, developing it into a major naval outpost; the territory's strategic value was reinforced by the Second World War and subsequent Cold War. In 1967, American Samoa became self-governing with the adoption of a constitution; its local government is republican in form, with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It remains officially unorganized and

5124-494: The impact and succeeding fire. The crash was attributed to poor visibility, pilot error, or wind shear since a violent storm was raging at the time. In January 2014, filmmaker Paul Crompton visited the territory to interview local residents for a documentary film about the 1974 crash. As part of the Flag Day celebrations on April 17, 1980, a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion patrol plane from Patrol Squadron 50 took off with six skydivers from

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5208-537: The island of Tutuila. The Defense Logistics Agency worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide 16 ft × 16 ft (4.9 m × 4.9 m) humanitarian tents to the devastated areas of American Samoa. American Samoa is classified in U.S. law as an unincorporated territory ; the Ratification Act of 1929 vested all civil, judicial, and military powers in

5292-500: The islands in 1839. In March 1889, an Imperial German naval force entered a village in Samoa, and in doing so destroyed some American property. Three American warships then entered the Apia harbor and prepared to engage the three German warships found there. Before any shots were fired, a typhoon wrecked both the American and German ships. A compulsory armistice was then called because of

5376-403: The lack of any warships. At the turn of the 20th century, international rivalries in the latter half of the century were settled by the 1899 Tripartite Convention in which Germany and the United States partitioned the Samoan Islands into two: the eastern island group became a territory of the United States (Tutuila in 1900 and officially Manuʻa in 1904) and is today known as American Samoa;

5460-601: The level for US states. On December 13, 1784, French navigator Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse landed two exploration parties on Tutuila's north shore: one from the ship La Boussole at Fagasa, and the other from L'Astrolabe at Aʻasu . One of the cooks, David, died of "scorbutic dropsy". On December 11, twelve members of Lapérouse's crew (including First Officer Paul Antoine Fleuriot de Langle ) were killed by angry Samoans at Aʻasu Bay, Tutuila, thereafter known as "Massacre Bay", which Lapérouse described as "this den, more fearful from its treacherous situation and

5544-786: The list of guano islands appertaining to the United States and bonded under the Guano Islands Act , was annexed in 1925 by Pub. Res. 68–75, following the dissolution of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony by the United Kingdom. During World War II , U.S. Marines stationed in Samoa outnumbered the local population and had a huge cultural influence. Young Samoan men from age 14 and above were combat-trained by U.S. military personnel . Samoans served in various capacities during World War II, including as combatants, medical personnel, code personnel, and ship repairmen. In 1949, Organic Act 4500,

5628-471: The most contentious aspects of the bill. The same year, Chief Auditor Sua Rimoni Ah Chong released an annual report to parliament that exposed widespread government corruption, including mismanagement of public funds. The HRPP government responded by suspending Sua, and were cleared of any wrongdoing by the Supreme Court in January 1996. At the 1996 general election, Parliament was composed 49 members, serving

5712-429: The nationwide individual voters constituency and were elected by voters with either partial Samoan ancestry or those who were not ethnic Samoans. Eligible candidates were required to hold a Matai title (except for contestants of the individual voters' seats), be a citizen of Western Samoa and be an enrolled voter. Contestants must also have resided in the country for at least 12 months before the election. An amendment to

5796-402: The newly formed Western Samoa Labour Party won a single seat. Independents saw a rise in support, with 13 entering parliament, reportedly due to many voters' disillusionment with both major parties. The HRPP and the SNDP negotiated with independents following the election to achieve a majority. The HRPP won the support of ten independents and remained in government. The Supreme Court later voided

5880-475: The number of quarantine ships surrounding American Samoa. Angered by this, Logan cut off communications with his American counterparts. After World War I, during the time of the Mau movement in Western Samoa (then a League of Nations mandate governed by New Zealand), there was a corresponding American Samoa Mau movement led by Samuelu Ripley, a World War I veteran who was from Leone village, Tutuila. After meetings on

5964-439: The other hand, petitioners who failed to reach an agreement or did not meet with their rivals saw their petitions go to trial. The Supreme Court dismissed five petitions, while the other five were successful. Four cabinet ministers lost their seats after they were found guilty of bribery, brought about by petitions. Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva resigned his seat after his opponent, former Speaker Afamasaga, filed

6048-511: The party after voting against the aspects of the government budget that year. Shortly before the election, the SLP merged into the SNDP, which SLP Leader Nonumalo Leulumoega Sofara said was due to the two parties sharing similar policy views. A total of 163 candidates contested the election. The HRPP fielded 57, while 42 were from the SNDP. The SAPP had seven candidates, while Labour and the SCPP each fielded

6132-413: The possibility of infighting between Tofilau's potential successors, including Deputy Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi and his rival, Agriculture Minister Misa Telefoni Retzlaff , which would, in turn, likely cause the party to fracture. During the campaign, the HRPP emphasised its achievements in government. However, Chief Auditor Sua's report exposing alleged government corruption eroded

6216-418: The promised land" and as a "future prime minister". The dissolution of the 11th Parliament occurred on 22 March 1996, approximately 13 days before it was due to expire. Per the electoral act, voting commenced at 9:00 and concluded at 15:00; however, voters who were still waiting in queues by the time voting officially ended were handed special cards by polling staff, allowing them to cast their votes. Voting

6300-446: The public, undermined the party's chances of ousting the HRPP government. The Labour Party sought to deliver a more "effective" alternative to the SNDP and claimed their "mute" strategies had resulted in the HRPP attaining unchecked power. Anti-corruption and fulfilling the basic needs of citizens were central aspects of Labour's campaign, with Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva describing himself as "Moses leading his people to

6384-407: The remaining five. The election was the first to occur since the passage of universal suffrage in a 1990 constitutional referendum , granting all citizens aged 21 and older the right to vote. SNDP Leader Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi lost his seat; however, after filing a successful electoral petition, he returned to Parliament after winning a subsequent by-election. Prime Minister Tofilau appointed

6468-532: The revision of the electoral roll in the year of a parliamentary dissolution. Electors who failed to sign and return the inquiry forms risked being removed from the roll. A total of 77,964 voters registered for the 1996 election, an increase from 59,299 in 1991. In addition to the governing Human Rights Protection Party, led by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and the opposition Samoan National Development Party, headed by former Prime Minister Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi , three other newly founded parties contested

6552-402: The two Samoas share language and ethnicity, their cultures have recently followed different paths, with American Samoans often emigrating to Hawaiʻi and the U.S. mainland, and adopting many U.S. customs, such as the playing of American football and baseball . Samoans have tended to emigrate instead to New Zealand , whose influence has made the sports of rugby and cricket more popular in

6636-458: The western Polynesian societies are well documented and it is speculated that the Tui Manuʻa dynasty grew through its success in obtaining control and manufacturing goods such as finely woven ceremonial mats "('Ie Konga)" for the Tu'i Tonga, whale ivory " tabua " for their Fijian masters, obsidian and basalt tools, chiefly red feathers, and seashells reserved for royalty (such as polished nautilus and

6720-492: The western Samoan islands. Travel writer Paul Theroux noted that there were marked differences between the societies in Samoa and American Samoa. On August 13, 1999, the United Nations granted American Samoa "observer seat" status. Six days later, American Samoa officially recognized both Samoan and English as its official languages. In 2001 and 2003, the United States unsuccessfully sought to have American Samoa removed from

6804-789: The western islands, by far the greater landmass, became known as German Samoa , after Britain gave up all claims to Samoa and in return accepted the termination of German rights in Tonga and certain areas in the Solomon Islands and West Africa . Forerunners to the Tripartite Convention of 1899 were the Washington Conference of 1887, the Treaty of Berlin of 1889 and the Anglo-German Agreement on Samoa of 1899. The following year,

6888-646: The world (the others being New Caledonia and Marajó island in Brazil) to have proactively prevented any deaths during the pandemic through the quick response from Governor John Martin Poyer after hearing news reports of the outbreak on the radio and requesting quarantine ships from the U.S. mainland. The result of Poyer's quick actions earned him the Navy Cross from the U.S. Navy . With this distinction, American Samoans regarded Poyer as their hero for what he had done to prevent

6972-411: Was ended by an attack , on Tutuila island where Lapérouse's men were trying to obtain water. His second in command Capt. de Langle and several of his crew were killed. La Pérouse named the island "Massacre Island", and the bay near Aasu is still called "Massacre Bay". HMS Pandora , under the command of Admiral Edward Edwards (Royal Navy officer), visited the island in 1791 during its search for

7056-477: Was reportedly orderly and peaceful, although there were delays with the tallying of ballots; the chief electoral officer said this was due to the significant increase in voters on the electoral roll. Preliminary results showed the HRPP losing its 34-seat majority, leading in 23 seats, the SNDP led in 12, while independents led in 13. On the evening of the election, Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana declared victory, claiming that some independent candidates had joined

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