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The government is under pressure to lease customary land because the country owes so much money to foreign institutions.

The foreign debt is “nearly a billion tala.”

So claimed members of the Tautua Samoa Party during a press conference held at its Matautu headquarters yesterday.

The press conference was called so that members of the Opposition Party could voice their objections against the Customary Land Advisory Commission Bill 2012.

Tabled in Parliament last week, the bill proposes to allow the lease of customary land to foreign companies for economic development.

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) -- Presidential politics reignited in the wake of natural disaster Thursday, with the candidates beginning their full-throttle closing arguments with new vigor on the same pocketbook concerns that have dominated the campaign from the start.

President Barack Obama, Republican rival Mitt Romney, their wives and running mates were blitzing across the country in the busiest day of campaign events yet. The six principals were hitting seven swing states that will help determine on Tuesday which man will occupy the White House for the next four years.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans rail about Congress, giving low marks to the bitterly divided legislature.

Yet next week, when the votes are counted, the nation is poised to resoundingly rehire a big majority of the 535 members of the House and Senate.

One of the main reasons so many lawmakers will return to Washington is the help that many get from the once-a-decade redrawing of congressional districts. Another is the power of incumbency with its name recognition and cash advantages.

Jamie Sanders went to the grocery store in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy with good intentions. Cucumbers and apples were on her list.

But her local supermarket hadn't gotten any new supplies - and with the prospect of working in her Upper East Side apartment for several days ahead, she joined the hordes of East Coast residents holed up in their homes who found comfort in the bottom of a crinkly bag, a brightly colored box or a perfect pint-sized cardboard container.

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There was high flying action this past Saturday during the Islandwide Volleyball Association (IWVBA) Shield League 2012 Championship Finals that were held at the Samoana High School gymnasium.

A crowd of about 400 people gathered early to watch some of the best volleyball players on island battle it out to see who would walk away with this year’s championships in the Men’s A, Men’s B and Women’s Divisions.

Education in American Samoa is an important matter, and if it is not thought of as one of the most serious issues we face, the bright future that our island desires will never be met.

There are debates on our education because of its mistakes and they seem to extend to all walks of life. We need to understand that a well-educated and skilled workforce can be of great use to our island. Education is the most important tool to help us meet the requirements of the first point.

The number of American Samoa households with income of $75,000 or above has more than doubled from 2000 to 2010. (see chart)

There were 916 households in American Samoa that took in at least $75,000 when the 2010 census takers did their work two years. Ten years earlier, only 397 households did so well.

In 2010, households with at least $75,000 in income accounted for almost 10% of American Samoa’s households. Ten years earlier, the households with that much income accounted for only 4%.

Pittsburgh-Based StarKist Co., owner of StarKist Samoa cannery in Pago Pago, has a new leader, who will take over the post effective Thursday this week.

In a company announcement yesterday, StarKist said Sam Hwi Lee, a StarKist board director has been named interim president of the company upon the accepted resignation of In-Soo Cho, the outgoing company president and chief executive officer.

Gasoline will see an increase when the new maximum allowable price (MAP) becomes effective tomorrow (Nov. 1) while the rest of the other petroleum products will get a slight hike in their MAPs.

Data released by the Office of Petroleum Management (OPM) shows that the new MAP for gasoline will be $3.91 per gallon, an increase of 6 cents per gallon, as American Samoa heads into the Nov. 6 general election. The next MAP will be released on Nov. 16.

The hike will put the retail price of gasoline over the $4.40 per gallon mark.