Archive - Mar 2, 2012

The American Samoa Lions Park veterans tennis players brought home two trophies they won in Moamoa, Samoa when they beat the strong Chanel Tennis Club in two of three categories recently.  The local club defeated Chanel in the mixed doubles and the territorial women’s team overwhelmed its hosts during two days of competition at Moamoa.  The Chanel club took the men’s doubles competition.

Dear Samoa News,

Since relocating here to American Samoa in the 90’s, I have rented in several different homes paying rent of $350 to $500 per month. Now imagine my delight when I heard that this 1602 program was to benefit low income people and as such was truly humbled and thankful to those that worked hard to bring this program to Am. Samoa.

At last, the opportunity to live in a brand new house at a reasonable price.

The Federal loan program to build houses for low income families called the “1602” was the subject of a hearing in the House of Representatives yesterday morning.

Head of the Stimulus Office, Pat Galea’i was accompanied by several staff members to testify on the status of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. Among the many subjects discussed was the 1602 loan program which is overseen by the Development Bank.

Two Samoan men were among four people arrested this week in Honolulu during a drug sting operation that netted more than $200,000 worth of methamphetamine and seized some $70,000 in cash, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the federal court in Honolulu.

A business man whose store was burglarized earlier this week is asking the culprits who committed the crime to come forth and make things right before the law steps in. Manu’a Chen, who owns two stores, said his Nu’uuli store was burglarized Monday evening.

Chen spoke to Samoa News on Wednesday evening saying that he wants the young men to come forward and talk to him about the incident. The owner said the incident occurred Saturday evening, however he only found out about it on Monday.

LBJ Medical Center’s plans to implement a reduction of working hours for certain employees over the weekend, has been described by Sen. Galeai M. Tu’ufuli as a “punishment” imposed on employees, who are innocent of any wrongdoing when it comes to the financial crisis faced by the only medical center in the territory.

Motorists — be prepared to once again pay another hike in gasoline prices after the new maximum allowable price (MAP), or wholesale price, for all petroleum products sold in the territory, was released on Thursday by the ASG Office of Petroleum Management (OPM).

As a matter of fact all petroleum products for American Samoa are seeing an increase, including diesel fuel, kerosene and jet fuel, based on the new MAP,  said Petroleum Officer Sione Kava, with OPM.

Human Resources Department director Evelyn Vaitautolu Langford says her off-island trip was planned for more than a month and she had no intention of ignoring requests by the Fono to appear in legislative hearings.

Langford was scheduled to appear Tuesday before the House Government Operations Committee to testify on the ASG hiring process especially with regard to hiring for the Department of Education, which has 50 vacant teaching positions to be filled.

Congressman Faleomavaega Eni has requested the Congressional Research Service (CRS) office to review the Senate Concurrent Resolution that calls on Faleomavaega to have a  congressional review of all issues presented by NOAA’s proposal to add five sanctuary units to the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS).

This is according to the Congressman in a letter yesterday to the Fono with copies to Gov. Togiola Tulafono, Lt. Gov. Faoa Sunia and Attorney General Fepualea’i A. Ripley Jr.

The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) started their Marine Debris Removal project this past Tuesday, in Fagasa Bay, by removing debris and anything else in the deeper parts of the bay’s waters that didn’t belong there.