Rumbles from Pago Pago. (industrial nations relations with South Pacific)

Economist (US), The, October, 1988

Any visitor to Washington from the Pacific islands of Samoa could be sure of a welcome from Mr Fofo Sunia. He dispensed hospitality on the generous scale his countrymen in American Samoa expected of their delegate in Congress (who sits in the House of Representatives but does not have full voting rights). But Mr Sunia was not wealthy. He boosted his salary by fiddling his expenses. In September he resigned from Congress. On October 4th he was sentenced to five months' imprisonment. Next month his replacement will be elected, along with President Reagan's.

Justice done? That is not how they see things in Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa. "I have made apologies to my people and I hope they will forgive me," Mr Sunia told the judge who sentenced him. In...

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