Archive - Apr 27, 2012

LBJ Medical Center has defended the proposed fee hike for non-residents, which goes into effect May 21 along with a slight fee hike for individuals considered residents.

Responding to Samoa News questions submitted early this week, LBJ chief executive officer Mike Gerstenberger said yesterday that the “non-resident fee structure has been in place according to the statute, since 1962” and it appears to have been amended in 1968, 1972 and 1998. 

At a time, when the LBJ Medical Center is fighting to keep its doors open, a unified voice from U.S. territorial governors and delegates has failed to block Republicans from reducing Medicaid funding for the territories.

In a 30-21 vote strictly along party lines, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee voted on Wednesday to repeal the Increased Federal Medicaid Funding Cap and Match Rate for Territories, after an amendment to save section 1204 of the health care reform act was offered by Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands).

Senate President Gaoteote Palaie Tofau has responded to Gov. Togiola Tulafono saying that he found “no authority” requiring the return of the original veto bill as part of the “veto override package”.

Togiola earlier this month returned to the Legislature Senate bill (S.B 32-32), which seeks to override the governor’s veto of the $60.37 million supplemental budget for the American Samoa Power Authority through July 31, 2012.

The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) with the Department of Public Safety arrested the former station manager of Dependable Global Express (DGX) Company, Crystal Te’o, who is being held in custody on bail of $25,000.

She is charged with two counts of embezzlement and will make her initial appearance in District Court today.

Each embezzlement charge carries a jail-term of up to seven years and/or a fine of $5,000 or a fine equal to twice the amount gained from the crime which is up to $20,000 — or both fine and imprisonment.

Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond and Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr. have taken under advisement a dismissal motion by the government in a lawsuit naming the American Samoa Government and Henry Sesepasara Jr. as defendants.

Assistant Attorney General Jay Sales is the government lawyer for this matter while the plaintiff is represented by Mark Ude.

The federal court in Honolulu has approved a federal arbitration decision, which awards more than $800,000 in favor of Hawaii based Marisco Limited in the company’s case against the American Samoa Government.

Marisco attorneys filed a motion in March this year saying that the federal arbitration “decision and award” issued last December specifically states that “the ASG is to pay Marisco... $811,631.87, plus interest on that amount at the rate of .43% per year— not compounded—from Sept. 1, 2009 until paid, plus cost of suit.”

Washington, D.C. —Congressman Faleomavaega, who serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and the third most senior Democratic Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, announced  that on April 5, 2012 Amal Al Yusuf of the International Affairs Department of the Al Wefaq Society in Bahrain thanked him for his support during his recent visit to Bahrain on April 2-3, 2012. 

A special guest artist, Hyun Duck Oh is seen here at the Dancing Fingers Spring Concert Thursday evening, April 27 at Calvary Temple AOG in Lepuapua.

Oh was playing a traditional Korean instrument, the gayageum or kayagum.

Pictured at Lepua Mart, Lepua Mart employee JP, with  Mrs. Fia who is the 3rd ASNOC Bingo Winner.

She is unemployed, and says she will use the cash towards her children’s education. Standing on the right is ASNOC Secretary General Ed Imo.

The second cruise ship of the week to visit the territory, the M/S Sea Princess called to port with its 1,950 passengers and 900 crew members yesterday morning after visiting Suva, Fiji.

Some of the sports and leisure that the ship offers are a large fitness area, a swimming pool with a relaxation area, a jogging track, a spa and a virtual golf course. It made its departure  yesterday evening.