Archive - Dec 29, 2011

The government plans to dedicate at next year’s Flag Day ceremony the “Le Upega Ua Toe Timata” (The net is being renewed) guesthouse, which will be one year from the ground breaking of the project at Su’igaula o le Atuvasa, during this year’s Flag Day.

Dear Editor:

I refer to your Letter to the Editor dated 27th of December titled "Cultural change in local government on the horizon" by Talifaitasi Satele.

Reference was made in paragraph 8 to the acquition of the Ronald Reagan Shipyard "for which the Fono must now allocate a yearly budget of $1.42 million". In your Editor's note you clarified that the current budget is not a "subsidy" but was noted as "start up" funding.

Neither of these statements are quite correct.

Bad news from the American Samoa Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) released earlier this month shows an increase in the use of drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine; the good news is that there has been a slight decrease in alcohol and tobacco use.

Developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 1990 and carried out locally by the Department of Education, the YRBS measures youth behavior in six categories, including tobacco, alcohol and other drug use.

Among the changes proposed by the Department of Commerce to provisions of the law dealing with the issuance of business licenses and fees, the definition of a business would be amended, along with business classifications. It would also repeal an entire provision that deals with the government owned hotel property.

BUSINESS DEFINITION

 The change of Samoa’s position in relation to the International Dateline will be marked with a Public Prayer Serviceat the Government Prayer House, Mount Vaea this Thursday, starting at 11pm. The programme starts with Christmas Carols by the Police Choir and a prayer by the Chairman of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Elder Oka Fauolo.

A traditional apology (ifoga) was presented to the family of a man who was axed to death, Fiti Olomaalii Taope.  The incident occurred last Wednesday at Malie. Mayor of Malie, Si’a Mano’o, told Sunday Samoan that they only knew about the incident yesterday morning.

Samoa Bowl IX —Back to the Roots volleyball competition for both men and women is currently in play, with Day 1 yesterday at the ASCC gymnasium.
Precious Manu struggling to save a kill sent over by Kalala Eletise of the American Samoa All Star team, as they dominated California for the first two sets, to open off this year’s Samoa Bowl IX volleyball competition.

As a prelude the Commencement Ceremony, the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) traditionally hosts a Graduate Banquet during graduation week to in order to recognize academic excellence and community service among the young men and women who will receive their degrees and certificates. This semester’s ASCC Graduate Banquet took place on Wednesday, December 21, at Seafood Restaurant in Tafuna, and a number of students took home awards in various categories.

American Samoa application for full membership on the International Rugby Board (IRB), the governing body of world rugby, will be reviewed by the IRB council when they meet next year and Gov. Togiola Tulafono is hopeful that the territory will be granted its application.

Togiola made American Samoa’s official application presentation when he attended the IRB meeting in Auckland, New Zealand during the World Rugby Cup.

United States Army Second Lieutenant Iakopo Kataferu Seumalo Jr., of Vailoatai, Pago Pago, and Lauli'i, delivering his closing remarks during the ASCC Army ROTC, Fall 2011 Commissioning Ceremony held yesterday, Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at the CCCAS Lauli'i Chapel. Lieutenant Seumalo is the son of Rev. Iakopo and Salamasina Seumalo of the CCCAS in Lauli'i.