A Samoa government MP, Tafua Maluelue Tafua, says public money shouldn't be spent on a consular office in American Samoa, if the US territory continues to demand that Samoan visitors need permits.
The MP's call was made in his maiden speech in Parliament during the budget debate.
Tafua says the territory's Tutuila islands are historically part of Atua, a traditional district which includes Aleipata on Upolu and which he represents in parliament.
The MP has told the house the 200,000 US dollars allocated to run the consular office should be spent elsewhere.
