Governor establishes Food Policy Council by executive order
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com

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Through an executive order, Gov. Togiola Tulafono established the American Samoa Food Policy Council, which will advise the governor on all aspects of the food system in the territory.

Creation of the council comes on the heels of the “ASIASIGA: a Conference on Food Security in American Samoa” held in February this year in which several issues were discussed including the direction of the future of food security and self-reliance in American Samoa.

It was at the conference that participants supported the establishment of the council because there is a need to strengthen food security in American Samoa. Given the territory’s vulnerability to risk factors related to the Territory’s geographic isolation, the limited opportunities to expand export earnings, declining land available for agriculture, the price of oil and dependency on imported food, it was considered essential.

According to the governor, a territorial food policy that is designed to produce a safe, sufficient, and nutritious food supply must also balance economic, environmental, political and social considerations important to the people of the Territory.

Additionally, there is a need for a lead entity to give sustained attention to food and nutrition issues in a comprehensive manner.

COUNCIL’S PURPOSE

The executive order states that the council advises the governor on all aspects of the food system in American Samoa with the overall objective to advise on the critical issue of access to good nutrition for all the people of American Samoa under all conditions.

Such advice shall include the territory’s baseline agricultural and fisheries production output; vulnerability of the Territory to food and nutritional insecurity because of the many risk factors; importance of food safety; the need to stockpile food supplies and seeds of essential crops; and the need to identify gaps in the territory’s emergency preparedness with respect to food security.

Additionally, rates of non-communicable diseases in American Samoa and their link to food and nutrition; strategies to promote local foods and engage young people; and the importance, in connection with food security, of protecting and maintaining our natural resources such as water quality, soil conservation, forestry health, air quality, and coral reefs will be included.

MEMBERSHIP

The council membership shall include, at the Governor’s discretion, the directors or their official designees from the American Samoa Community College (represented by the Director of the Land Grant program), the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, the Department of Health, the Department of Commerce, the President of the American Samoa Farmers’ Co-operative, and the Governor’s Senior Policy Advisor.

Within the Council are seven working groups: Basic Food Supplies; Nutrition and Health; Special Needs; Food Safety; Emergency Preparedness; Legislation group; and Monitoring and Reporting. The executive order outlines the functions of each working group.

Each group’s jurisdiction may be construed broadly enough to allow for the inclusion of other issues related to the group’s purview and to ensure that each issue is properly addressed, according to the executive order, adding that members may be drawn from the community in accordance with any special interests.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The director of the Land Grant program chairs the council, who elects their vice chair. Staff of the departments cited as council members are to provide support staff for the council, who shall ensure that it provides an effective forum for diverse stakeholders to work together to create positive changes in the local food system. They will do so by seeking common purposes, fostering collaborative decision making, sharing information whether in printed or electronic formats, adopting integrated approaches to local issues, and maintaining appropriate cultural sensitivity.

The council shall issue advisory reports to the Governor, upon request by the Chief Executive and no less than twice a year, on the first Monday of every June and December.

On behalf of the governor’s office, the council shall issue an annual summary report to the Legislature and Judicial branches. The council will, as needed, liaise with the Legislative and Judicial.

The order also states that the council shall identify specific roles that non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, and community entities can play in partnership with the Government with respect to the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and strategies.

It can also explore cooperation with regional, national and international organizations in support of council goals.
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Comments to this story (8)
Positive Handling  wrote:
12 Dec 2009 08:47 AM
Thank you Dan Aga for setting the example for government leaders and connecting with that sector of the public who dissent and responding intelligently. While I am still an opponent of constant "quick fix it" boards, councils etc. without using the public hearing process, I have to admire your reaching out to the public through this blogging medium to explain. You show yourself both intelligent and humble enough to recognize that people are connecting through this medicum and that it can be a powerful medium for garnering support for an idea and for disseminating helpful information.
Dan Aga  wrote:
10 Dec 2009 10:12 AM
Talofa Samoa, Thank you all the critical issues raised. Allow me to respond as the person who been designated as the Chair of the Food Policy Council. 1) The council is not a new bureacracy but a collaboration of existing departments. What is needed is is the synergy among these departments. O le galule faatasi le mea taua. 2) T. T. Manu, the council does not have any authority to issue checks. 3) Yes, Tavita, American Samoa relies heavily on imported foods. We need to do an economic analysis of this significant component of our food security. According to our latest study, American Samoa can last for 15-30 days if all the shipping suddenly stopped. 4) Who will benefit? It's important to look at those who are most vulnerable -- the elderly, children, and low-income families. Not only should they have enough food but the right kinds of food. This will require major, collaborative efforts at nutrition education. How do you change eating behaviors? What are the barriers to healthy living? There are not easy answers to these questions. 5) Frank, no. We are not planning any food inspections or food tasting. The Council is not given any powers outside of the authority of the participating departments. 6) Yes, Linda. We need the counsel of medical professionals. The executive order allows the council to "draw from the community in accordance with any special interests" and "invite presentations and commentary" from experts. 7) The executive order includes a working group on "Emergency Preparedness". We need your input and will be requesting it formally and openly. I look forward to working with our community in the near future. Ma le ava tele, Dr. Dan Aga Chair.
Executive Order Questioned  wrote:
05 Dec 2009 11:16 AM
SO, where's the emergency? This executive order business is getting to be a BAD HABIT of the Governor. As usual it smacks of avoiding input from the fono and the public. GOV STOP MISUSING AND ABUSING your emergency powers to spend federal tax payer dollars WITHOUT THE SCRUTINY OF THE PUBLIC AND THE FONO. Fono, what the heck are you doing? Consult your attorneys at the fono. Do something to scrutinize Executive abuse. You and the public have just as much right to ensure that tax payer dollars spent by executive order are justified. Rely on your legal counsels to advise you of your powers if you don't know. Don't just sit there like lame ducks all the time!
Linda Halderman, MD  wrote:
05 Dec 2009 06:37 AM
A critical perspective to help guide food policy is that of the medical and nursing professionals from LBJ Tropical Medical Center. This includes those in practice on the "front lines" of diet-related disease and its complications. I hope the clinical experts (not only researchers and statisticians) in the following areas are invited to give input: Diabetes Education, Nephrology (kidney disease and failure are epidemic on this island, often related to Diabetes, gout and obesity), Internal Medicine (morbid obesity, gout, hypertension, cardiac and lung disease all have links to nutrition), General and Vascular Surgery (surgical complications of Diabetes and nutrition-related disease seen frequently at LBJ include amputations, infections requiring debridement, joint destruction/arthritis, physical dependence due to inability to exercise, loss of sexual function). LBJ is fortunate to have a licensed Diabetes Educator among the professional nursing staff. I see her fight an uphill battle for the health of patients who would benefit from access to safer, healthier food than imported processed chemical-rich items that are easier to obtain on island than some "real" food items. Even small improvements in nutrition create significant reductions in lost quality of life and health.
frank  wrote:
05 Dec 2009 04:07 AM
What a great idea. Lets provide security for our food supplies. To get this idea to work, lets create a counsel headed by the governor. The governor will, as he see fit, appoint his friends and family to be members. The counsel will conduct inspections and food tasting before the food is stored in the designated secured area. When the governer or a member of the counsel have a "faalevelave" the food from the secured area will be used to accommodated the event. This will eliminate any out of pocket expenses or burden on the governor or counsel member. To fund this project "security for food" funds for education will be utilized. In addition, all village majors will conduct a can food drive in each village. Local business will donate $500.00 of food goods on demand or as needed by the counsel.
TB  wrote:
04 Dec 2009 07:00 PM
I'll put my hand up as volunteer...but, who is going to benefit from it? why now? should've done it lo-long time ago with the amount of all fat frozen goods are coming into our island, If you do your survey and find out, who consume these un-healthy food are the poor low income families. that, they don't have the money to go out and spent on decent groceries. even if you try to educate some ppl how to eat healthy, the minority of ppl will eat what ever they can afford to put on the table. put the weight on those whom are taking advantage of our ppl that,they take the easy way out by bringing inn all the reject craps other countries dont even take a second look at it in the super market. Just look in the KS supermarket selling chicken feet how can anyone eat flaming boneless chicken feet its dogs food.I'll go with that T.T. Manu, why not give out a check of stimulus money so each household will benefit from it money into the economy I'll say.
Tavita  wrote:
04 Dec 2009 01:46 PM
This actually sounds like a good idea. In fact it might not be a bad idea to move it from executive order to law at some point. I would also like to see the major importers and distributors incorporated into this, as the way they conduct business can have a very dynamic affect on supplies.
T. T. Manu  wrote:
04 Dec 2009 12:57 PM
Do you honestly need this council? Or just another non-productive bureaucracy as a way to waste some extra funds!! I think there is just too much federal monies flowing into ASG that the governor feels the urge to waste it away. If you feel compelled to do so, why not waste it on the people (Samoan families) who really need the money?? I'm sure, as the sky is blue, that this council (consisting of those who are already living large) will find ways to decipher as much money as it could for self gratification. And I'm not being judgmental or out-in-left field on this because it has been proven time and time, again and again!! Mr. Governor if you really want to show your compassion for the people, why not issue a check of $1,000 or more to every registered or legitimate household couple in American Samoa, using the stimulus money and all that extras you are about to waste away?? That will go a long way and the people will thank you for it!! Who are your advisors anyway??
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