Archive - Feb 15, 2012

The Islandwide Volleyball Association has officially kicked off its Flag Day League for 2012. Legae’e Mauga President of the Islandwide Volleyball Association, said for the Men’s A Division a total of six teams are participating and nine teams for the Men’s B Division. He said five teams are playing in the Women’s division.

As in any sporting event of any caliber —when you have two rival teams pitted against one another, especially when both teams are on the top of their game— no doubt there will be sparks flying, with the intensity of a world championship bout.

The Samoana Sharks are back-to-back 2011-2012 ASHSAA Girls Soccer J-V champions after completing the season as the No. 1 team in the standings.

After playing two full rounds they topped it off with a 6-0 win over a short-handed Tafuna Warriors on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Tafuna was only able to field eight players and thus they were at the mercy of Vaiula Afa and Samoana as she walked away with five of Samoana’s six goals scored on that day.

VARSITY

To “alleviate severe” cash shortfall at LBJ Medical Center, Gov. Togiola Tulafono is seeking Fono approval to authorize the American Samoa Government to enter into a loan agreement with the ASG Employees Retirement Fund (ASGERF) for the amount of $8 million.

Illegal drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine and homemade brew exist at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF), according to testimony by the territory’s Chief Probation Officer Silivelio Iosefo, given before the High Court yesterday morning, during the probation review of defendants Tupolo Junior Hodges and Leanava Se’evaetasi.

Presiding over the hearing was Chief Justice Michael Kruse, who was accompanied on the bench by Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr and Associate Judge Fa’amausili Pomele.

Small sections of a short-finned pilot whale, stranded at Fatuvalu, Safune, were all that was left when the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MNRE) team arrived to investigate.

When the Marine and Conservation team arrived on Thursday,portions of the whale had already been cut and parts of it were used for oil, while some eaten. Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Faleafaga Tony Tipama’a said all that was left was the head.

Heroes come in all shapes, sizes and places. One such hero, Vatauomalotetele Fanene, who is a Senior at Nu’uuli VocTech High School, has started a campaign to help a cousin and is calling it ‘Vatau’s Hope Drive’. According to Vatau, she is “supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors, honoring the taken and never giving up hope”, in an attempt to help her cousin Sharring Fa’amalo Fanene Niusulu, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in April 2010.

On Tuesday, February 14 — Valentine’s Day — Matafao Elementary School held a dedication ceremony for their new two story building that had its groundbreaking ceremony 16 months ago.

The building is home to four new classrooms on the second floor, and at ground level, a dining room that can accommodate up to 100 students at a time.

APIA — Demands by the Opposition to hold a national referendum on planned legislation to improve women representation in Parliament has been dismissed by government.

Says Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi; “That is why districts elect their representatives to Parliament. So they go in and make these sorts of decisions without Parliament having to go back to the people again and again. If the Opposition leader cannot make such a decision, then he shouldn’t be in Parliament.”

APIA — Demands by the Opposition to hold a national referendum on planned legislation to improve women representation in Parliament has been dismissed by government.

Says Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi; “That is why districts elect their representatives to Parliament. So they go in and make these sorts of decisions without Parliament having to go back to the people again and again. If the Opposition leader cannot make such a decision, then he shouldn’t be in Parliament.”