7 Jan 2005

Outgoing American Samoa senator hopes anti-corruption probes continue

12:33 pm on 7 January 2005

The former head of American Samoa's high-profile Senate Select Investivative Committee says he wants the new legislature to re-establish the committee so it can continue probing corruption.

The former committee chairman and former senator, Paramount Chief Lualemaga Faoa, had wanted to continue representing his distict of Leasina in the Legislature.

But, early this week he stepped aside in his district of Leasina and was replaced by Tuiagamoa Tavai, ending his four-year term in the Senate.

Lualemaga says he is still working on completing the committee's final report, which should be available in about two weeks' time.

He says it is up to the new legislature whether it reestablishes the committee, but he believes there is a continued for its investigations into corruption at high levels in the Government.

"INI REALLY WANT"

OUTOF THE SENATE

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I really want to see the new legislature introduce another resolution to continue on the SSIC fopr the betterment of this Government. But as I said, it's up to the new members of the Senate.

Lualemaga says he was surprised at the extent of corruption exposed by his committee.