Archive - Jan 5, 2012 - Article (News Story)

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has voiced its opposition to the proposed rule by U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to expand the current Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) to include five additional sites, saying that the proposal would - among other things - “reduce the currently limited fishing grounds” and “likely hamper both commercial and non-commercial fisheries development.”

The government’s plan to enter into a lease agreement with StarKist Co. for a cold storage facility in the main dock area has attracted criticism and strong opposition from Sen. Lualemaga Faoa, who plans to raise this issue in the Senate when the Fono convenes next week for the 3rd regular session of the 32nd Legislature.

American Samoa residents with outstanding traffic and other fines with the District Court will experience delays with their ASG tax refunds as their refund checks can be used to off-set any outstanding debts with the court.

This has been the practice in past years at the start of the New Year, which is also the start of the new tax season as residents file their tax returns.

Theresa Taufau Stowers could not have wished for a better Christmas and start to the New Year.

This is thanks to an email dated 28 December 2011, from the Samoa Commercial Bank’s (SCB) managing director, Lemalu Ray Ah Liki, confirming the release of her property. The email is addressed to Mrs Stowers and her daughter Edwina.

The property had been sold to former MP Toluono Feti Toluono, and mortgaged to SCB. The court case has been ongoing since last month, and continues in the Supreme Court on January 9, 2012.

A two-day certification class on First Aid/Cardiopulmonary (CPR) resuscitation was conducted this past Tuesday and Wednesday at the Department of Commerce conference room for lifeguard candidates who were members of the American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA), as part of the ‘Bruckner Chase Toa o’le Tai’ (Ocean Heroes) program.

The training was conducted by Jim Nimz, Biological Technician of the National Park Service American Samoa, who is also their Safety Officer/EMS Coordinator and Tim Clark, Marine Ecologist of the National Park Service, American Samoa.

Here in Samoa a name can honor a loved one, conjure a beautiful image, or even tell a story! What’s in a Nameis the title of the first book written and illustrated by Jacqueline Slade.

The book was created for Taui, the author's daughter, to teach her about the meaning of her name, and to introduce her to her Samoan heritage. Jacqueline and Taui call Las Vegas home, but there is no better place than American Samoa to launch this children's book — to honor the place and family, which the book depicts.

Honolulu, Hawai‘i —Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) is developing new alliances with partners in New Zealand. Collaborators are working together on technology, educational, and indigenous issues, including the development of a computer network for young people throughout the Pacific that fuels high-tech job creation.

In mid-November, the President and CEO of PREL, Dr. Sharon Nelson-Barber, attended an Intel Computer Clubhouse Stakeholder Delegation meeting held at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, DC. 

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepe Sailele is set to push constitutional amendments through Parliament to create special seats for women.

Under the changes, at least five seats - or ten percent - of the members of parliament will be female.

Prime Minister Tuilaepe has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat that in future, Samoa will ensure those who take the seats are deserving candidates.

The current division in beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists in Samoa over which day to observe the Sabbath has resulted in a request to the Samoa Government to use the Prayer House on Mt. Vaea for church service starting this Saturday morning.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama vowed Thursday the United States will remain the world's pre-eminent military power even as the Pentagon scales back spending, shrinks the Army and Marine Corps and pulls back from Europe.

In a rare appearance at the Pentagon, Obama said the U.S. is "turning a page" after having killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, withdrawn troops from Iraq and begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan. He outlined a vision for the future that would ensure an uncompromised U.S. military strength operating with less money.