Today, May 13th, marks the 99th anniversary of the first raising of the US flag on Swains Island, declaring the island a part of American Samoa.
Swains Representative Su’a Alexander Jennings, in a message to mark the Swains Island Flag Day is appealing “to the United States and all the people of American Samoa and Swains Island, both here and abroad, to please remember on this day, May 13, the rights of every American Samoa Native, which includes lineal descendants of Tutuila, Manu’a and Swains Island.”
Jennings reflects that in the 2022 Constitutional Convention, “after a very difficult and uphill battle for 12 years since the 2010 Convention, Swains Island was finally able to submit on the last minute of the last day, an amendment to seek the right to vote in the Legislature of American Samoa.
He states, “Without a vote, Swains Island could not effectuate the protection of our right to protect our lands and culture, ultimately resulting in our forced evacuation from our island and the near extinction of our culture.”
The amendment was passed by an overwhelming majority of 73 to 43 and was later approved in the 2022 referendum. “For that, we are forever indebted to the people of American Samoa,” said the Representative.
“I am also a descendant of a U.S. Citizen, Eli H. Jennings of South Hampton, New York, owner of Swains Island. In the mid-1800’s Eli Jennings started a plantation on Swains Island with his wife Malia Su’a Jennings, the daughter of a prominent Chief from Lefaga Samoa, Su’a. Swains Island eventually became a Territory of the United States under the Guano Act of 1856; and by the 1900’s, Swains Island was extremely prosperous with the copra trade.”
Jennings said that Swains has contributed economically to American Samoa. “The copra from Swains Island generated tax revenues, jobs, and helped with the economy until the late 1960’s when the copra market collapsed. Around the same time, at the boom of the tuna industry, Swains Island waters contributed some 100,000 sq. miles of ocean to the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EZZ) that continues to feed the Tuna Cannery today. The people of Swains Island became prominent leaders in the Church, Government, Samoan Culture, and businesses. They even became decorated soldiers in the armed forces together with, and alongside of, their brothers and sisters from Tutuila and Manua.”
But he pointed out that, “Unfortunately, we desperately need assurance that we can verify that the rights of every American Samoan Native, are protected and respected by the Department of the Interior and the American Samoa Government. The only way we can do that is by a Congressional Review of our entire Constitution, together with our recent amendments, to determine whether other inconsistencies in our Constitution, like the prohibition of the right to vote for 62 years and counting, discriminates against any class or race of U.S. Citizens or American Samoa Natives.”
