15 Apr 2010

American Samoa Manu'a representative urges governor to declare emergency

1:04 pm on 15 April 2010

The representative for Manu'a in American Samoa is urging the territory's governor to declare a state of emergency in the island group.

Manu'a has been without transport since the government ship MV Sili went into dry dock for repairs a couple of months ago.

Fetu Fetui has told the Fono food shortages mean the education department is unable to provide school lunches and has suspended classes.

Our correspondent in American Samoa, Monica Miller, says Mr Fetui has asked both the governor and the lieutenant governor to declare a disaster emergency in Manu'a.

"The point he's making is that this situation has been allowed to deteriorate so bad that livelihood of people in Manu'a is affected. You know, when schools are out because there're no school lunch supplies, school buses are down and they can't get any parts over there to repair them - that's an emergency situation and something has to be done about it."

Monica Miller in American Samoa.