Archive - Jan 11, 2012 - Article (News Story)

There is a “massive increase” in sex crime cases in 2011 compared to past years, a fact revealed during a recent interview with Deputy Attorney General Mitzie Jessop-Folau, when Samoa News asked her for comments on what seems to be rise in such cases in the territory.

Deputy Attorney General Mitzie Jessop-Folau is the lead prosecutor for numerous criminal cases and was appointed to be the Deputy Attorney General in July 2011.

Gov. Togiola Tulafono has described comments by those opposing the expansion of the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) as “selfish” and dismissed claims by opponents that the proposal will infringe on cultural matters in American Samoa.

Togiola has come out publicly in support of the expansion on his radio programs and again during his State of the Territory Address on Monday before a joint Fono session, telling lawmakers that the American Samoa Government is in full support of the proposed rule to add five additional units to the sanctuary.

Manu Samoa Sevens star Paul Perez has joined forces with the Samoa Victims Support group to help stamp out domestic violence SVG spokesperson, lawyer Gafatasi Patu, made the official announcement yesterday.

“We are happy to announce that Samoa Victims Support Group has started to campaign against domestic violence in our country and Paul Perez has volunteered to help with our campaign not only in Samoa but as well as the whole world”. Paul Perez was selected for the Manu Samoa seven’s team squad, while playing for the Vaimoso rugby club.

FEMA personnel conducted a two day workshop called EOC— Emergency Operations Center —“Management & Operations Workshop” this week for government agency ‘first responders’ and ‘point of contact’ persons- those responsible in time of natural disasters for which Emergency Operation Centers will be fully or partially activated.

Conducting the workshop were FEMA Representatives, who will also conduct a two-day seminar for all department directors and their first assistants.

LAIE, Hawaii  — Beauty, grace and tradition come alive as hula halau (hula schools) from across Hawaii and Japan take the stage at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s (PCC) 22nd Annual Moanikeala Hula Festival, captivating crowds in this stunning hoike (festival).

Hawaii’s premiere hula event of 2012, the Moanikeala Hula Festival will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in PCC’s Pacific Theater.

Overfishing of bigeye tuna continues in the western and central Pacific tuna fishery, the world’s biggest tuna fishery, according to the 2010 tuna fishery assessment report released this month by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

Though the species is not at risk of extinction, and is never likely to be, the assessment found that bigeye fishing effort needs to be reduced by at least 32% from the average levels for 2006–2009 to ensure long-term sustainability.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The leader of an identity theft and fraud ring has pleaded guilty in a scheme that federal authorities said operated as a veritable “crime superstore” that reached from northern New Jersey to U.S. territories in the Pacific.

Sang-Hyun “Jimmy” Park admitted in federal court in Newark on Monday that he had helped people fraudulently obtain credit cards, bank accounts and loans using illegally obtained Social Security numbers in a scheme that federal authorities say defrauded various credit card companies, banks and lenders out of about $4 million.

Rep. Alexander Eli Jennings has confirmed that a young fisherman who fell over board a fishing vessel over the weekend and now presumed dead is a relative, but didn’t release his name.  However, Radio New Zealand is reporting that he has been identified as 18-year-old Vaitui Auna’i of Pavaiai.

Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie has called on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee to work with their counterparts in the House to get the rest of the American Samoa Power Authority budget for the current fiscal year approved as soon as possible.

SURPLUS REQUIRES FONO APPROPRIATION

Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie has reminded Gov. Togiola Tulafono that any government surplus at the end of a fiscal year must be submitted to the Fono for reappropriation and this is clearly outlined in local statute.

This was part of Gaoteote’s response on Monday to the governor’s State of the Territory Address, saying that the surplus issue is one of the long standing concerns of the Senate.