12 Sep 2005

American Samoan governor seeks job protection for reserve soldiers

1:08 pm on 12 September 2005

The American Samoan governor, Togiola Tulafono, has expressed his disappointment to the leaders of the legislature that it rejected the American Samoa Deployed Soldier's Economic Stabilisation Act.

Included in the bill was a legislative authorisation to freeze the positions of soldiers working for the government at their current grade and step in contemplation of the employees return to government employment.

Togiola is now urging the Fono to support re-introduction of the measure, which was rejected by the Senate last week.

About 200 civilian soldiers from the local Army Reserve are currently in Iraqi and their one-year tour of duty ends early next year.