Archive - Article (News Story)

The local Treasury Department is working closely with its federal counterpart to meet the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) initiative mandate and has until the end of this month to modify American Samoa’s approved proposal as to how the SSBCI money is to be spent.
 
U.S. Treasury Department had approved $10.4 million for American Samoa under the SSBCI, which was created under the federal Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 in response to concerns that small businesses have been unable to access capital that would allow them to create jobs.

Prior to being placed on Annual Leave as a disciplinary measure, Chief Customs Officer Glen Lefiti informed Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Treasurer Dr. Falema’o Phil M Pili it will cost the government $484,481 to create the shifts within Customs in order to meet the governor’s move to eliminate overtime for Customs Officers.
 

The growing popularity of Le Leo o Amerika Samoa has been overshadowed by negativity and numerous complaints that have come to light since the names of the Top 5 contestants were publicly announced last Wednesday.
 
The local singing competition is hosted by the Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs (DYWA), whose Deputy Director Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr., has been bombarded with harsh criticism from family members and friends of those who have been eliminated from the show.
 

The American Samoa Department of Education is working on a five-year strategic plan that incorporates Common Core Standards it has already accepted as part of its initiative. The standards require high quality teachers and teaching, and concentrated efforts by students and parents, said ASDOE Director, Vaitinasa Salu Hunkin-Finau, during the cabinet meeting held last week, which primarily focused on the ASDOE.  
 

Tri Marine International says the proposed rule changes by the federal government dealing with among other things, change of storage requirements related to dolphin-safe and non-dolphin-safe tuna on board fishing vessels; and, create new requirements for processors, will not have an impact on the company’s American Samoa operations, including its proposed new cannery facility.
 

The author of a new report on China’s role in the Pacific says established powers in the region like Australia and the United States need to put aside some of their suspicions and better co-operate with China.

Jenny Hayward-Jones of Australia’s Lowy Institute says there is little evidence that China is doing anything more than supporting its commercial interests and pursuing South-South co-operation.

She says Chinese influence in the Pacific has grown mainly due to diverse commercial interests and its ability to seriously challenge established powers in the region is limited.

A one-day mental health workshop was held last week Thursday at the ASCC Land Grant Conference Room for local service providers that focused on early identification of signs of mental illness in order to assist our local population who have mental heath issues.
 
 The  ‘Pathway to Wellness’ Mental Health Training was hosted by the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).
 

Manu Samoa’s most successful coach in 15s and Sevens, Stephen Betham, has been drafted in to lead the Samoa Sevens team preparations for the World Cup in Moscow next month.

Betham is the only Samoan Sevens coach to have won the IRB World Series in 2010 and the decision to recall the former sevens coach was made during an urgent meeting of the rugby union last Thursday.

The chairman of the Samoa rugby union and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said Betham has time for the sevens team only for the world cup before he returns to Manu duties ahead of their tour of South Africa.

The Samoa Police Boat, the Nafanua is back in the country, ready to patrol the oceans of Samoa. On Thursday, a brief ceremony was held to welcome back the boat after a refit in Cairns, Australia. This is what Australian High Commissioner Stephen Henningham said during the service:

It is a great pleasure to join you this morning as we welcome Nafanua back to Samoa, after its refit in Cairns. That refit, provided by the Government of Australia, cost A$5 million – over 11 million Tala.

The five local science students, who participated in off-island fairs and symposiums, have done well — for the territory and for themselves. Remarkable, of course, are the two Tafuna High School students, who have made local history by being the first students to place and receive recognition awards in national science and engineering competitions.
 
INTEL ISEF 2013