Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Former American Samoa AG deplores understaffing

Posted at 02:06 on 20 November, 2009 UTC

American Samoa’s former Assistant Attorney General, Lisa Teesch MacGuire, says law enforcement in the territory is plagued by understaffing.

Ms MacGuire, who had been the chief prosecutor, announced this week she would not return to the territory after receiving death threats following the successful conviction of a rapist last month.

She says there are appalling rates of child abuse and children need to be more valued in the territory.

Ms MacGuire also says corruption is rampant and the people deserve better.

She has called for police to be better paid and to receive more training.