American Samoa’s Weak Economy will be Raised with Federal Officials

A weak American Samoa economy, lack of new investment and work opportunities are some of the issues the local Chamber of Commerce will raise with federal officials during a meeting later this month for this year’s economic census.

The economic census is carried out every five years by the U.S. Census Bureau, with senior officials on island next week to meet with the public and private sector.

Chamber chairman David Robinson says there is a serious weakness in the local economy due to the lack of new investment and new job opportunities.

He says the minimum wage issue will also be raised.

He says the current escalating clause needs to be deleted from federal law and American Samoa become the master of its own destination in determining and introducing wage increases as appropriate to its economy.

Mr Robinson says another issue is rising inflation and a shrinking population.

He says between 2000 and 2010 the population fell by 3 point 1 percent.