28 Jun 2010

Plea to give Swains Rep voting rights in American Samoa House rejected

10:43 am on 28 June 2010

The delegate from Swains to the American Samoa House of Representatives, Alexander Jennings has made an emotional plea for Swains to be given the right to vote.

Mr Jennings asked that the subcommittee reviewing the section on the legislature to remove the wording which states that the Swains delegate has all the privileges of a House representative except the right to vote.

He recounted the history of how Swains became a part of American Samoa and detailed the economic contribution is has made through copra and fishing.

Despite his pleas, the subcommittee voted to keep the present arrangement.