Swains Representative Su’a Alex Jennings was removed from the House chamber during Wednesday’s session, and he is indefinitely barred from returning.
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale said, during the session, that Su’a will not be allowed back in chambers until he has gone through proper procedures. Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu told KHJ News the House will discuss and make a decision about the Swains faipule on Thursday.
Su’a stood up while the House was going through the minutes of Tuesday’s session, and said he wanted to protect the constitution. The vice speaker and the speaker told him to sit down, as they were reviewing the minutes. Su’a, then, sat down.
But right after the minutes were approved, Su’a stood up again and said that the Senate has received a letter from Interior confirming the approval of the constitutional amendments.
The Speaker told him that the House has not received an official communication, that the notification goes directly to the Governor who, then, informs the Fono.
But Su’a interrupted while Savali was speaking, and said he was making a point of order and wanted to protect the constitution.
The Speaker told him to sit down and the Vice Speaker, who chairs the House Rules Committee, told the Sgt. at Arms to escort the Swains faipule out.
As the Sgt. at Arms removed him from the chamber, Su’a is reported to have torn his shirt and yelled, “I’m protecting the constitution. Our rights!”
The Speaker asked for a motion to ban the Swains representative from returning to the House until he has gone through the appropriate process.
Vice Speaker Fetui said this was the most embarrassing incident he has witnessed in his years as a House representative, where a faipule has torn his clothes inside chambers. He said the faipule was disrespectful and his behavior was despicable.
Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Allen proposed that Su’a be suspended for 30 days to give him time to recollect his thoughts, but the Speaker let stand his decision to prohibit Su’a from returning to chambers until he has gone through the appropriate process. Effort to find out what that process is have not been successful.
Vice Speaker Fetui only stated they will discuss action regarding Su’a’s behavior on Thursday.
A letter form the Director of the Office of Insular Affairs, John Brewer Jr., that was distributed to senators on Monday, informed Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula that on January 16, the Secretary of the Interior approved the proposed amendments to the Revised Constitution of American Samoa that passed by referendum on November 8, 2022.
The five approved amendments give the Delegate from Swains Island the right to vote in the House of Representatives, provides a process for impeachment of the Governor and Lt. Governor, changes Mauputasi to Maoputasi, and changes Leasina to Leasina ma Aitulagi.
The letter was copied to Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata and Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean.
