Archive - Feb 16, 2012

The continuation of the American Youth Football of Samoa league is now down to two more weekends of regular season. Week Six had some hard hitting match ups with no surprises,  except for the last game of the day that saw the Buccaneers with an astounding comeback to win over the Bengals in full time, to collect their first ever win of the season.

More than 20 members and supporters of the American Samoa Lions Park Veterans Tennis club will spend the long President’s Day weekend in Samoa playing tennis against the Chanel tennis club at Moamoa.

This is the second leg of this event between the two clubs. Chanel was here last November and the Lions Park club’s weekend trip to Apia is a continuation of the long and friendly relationship between the two tennis clubs.

In a memorandum issued yesterday, Gov. Togiola Tulafono ordered all flags in the territory to be lowered to half staff beginning at sunrise today until sunset Feb. 17 “in remembrance” of the late Sen. Seui Laau Mautonu Sr.’s “outstanding public service and his dedication to building and leading our beloved territory.”

Seui, one of two senators for Ituau county, passed away peacefully at LBJ Medical Center on Jan. 26. He was 69 years old and his two-day funeral service begins today.

The ongoing problems at the Territorial Correctional Facility fall on the shoulders of the police officers’ negligence, and not carrying out their duties as officers sworn to protect and serve the community — that was the explanation from Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Leiseau Laumoli when he appeared before Senators yesterday morning during a hearing regarding the problems encountered at TCF.

The Deputy Commissioner was accompanied by Warden Lt. Maifea Lumana’i before the Public Safety Committee, chaired by Sen. Mauga T. Asuega.

There is a move in the House to overhaul government land transactions through a bill introduced last week that would, among other things, define “public use” of land for eminent domain purposes and for government land acquisition, including not leasing communal lands acquired to private commercial enterprises.

While the Samoa Rugby Union is trying to survive its tarnished reputation following accusations by Manu Samoa players of excessive partying by union officials that led the team to the 2011 World Cup last year in New Zealand, a key figure of Samoa’s coaching staff has been snapped up by the All Blacks.

Aussie McLean, an Australian, has joined the new All Blacks coaching panel.  He was selected over other New Zealand candidates who applied for the All Blacks defense coaching job.

Twenty-two month’s after being diagnosed with the blood cancer Leukemia, local girl now Hawaii resident Sharring Niusulu, continues to beat the odds.

Born & raised in American Samoa, the Aua Elementary-Faga’itua High-ASCC graduate is grateful that she has lived another year since visiting home last February.  Sharring was able to fly home with her husband, compliments of a dear friend, to take part in the American Samoa Bone Marrow Drive 2011. Nearly 900 names were added to the National Bone Marrow Registry from that effort. 

Congressman Faleomavaega Eni has moved forward with introduction of federal legislation (H.R.4021) that would make is easy for U.S. nationals living in American Samoa to apply to the U.S. government for U.S. citizenship.

The bill, introduced Tuesday and assigned to the U.S. House Committee on Judiciary, seeks to amend provisions of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Act and waive certain naturalization requirements for U.S. nationals living in the territory.

LOMITUSI FILIGA

An intoxicated man who allegedly pointed an unlicensed gun at a family member made his initial appearance before District Court Judge John Ward yesterday morning.

Lomitusi Filiga, in his 40’s, is charged with public peace disturbance; however the government is looking into filing additional weapon charges against the defendant.

Na fa’amaualalo le Sui Komesina o le Matagaluega o Leoleo i luma o le Komiti o le Puipuiga o le Saogalemu a le Senate i le taeao ananafi, e fai ai o ia ma sui o le Komesina ma le Matagaluega o Leoleo, ona o le mataupu e fa’atatau i pagota ia na maua o faia a latou pu’ega ata ma tu’u i luga o feso’otaiga tau initaneti, e taua o le “facebook”.