Archive - Jan 6, 2012 - Article (News Story)

Siaumau Siaumau Jr.— accused in the deadly shooting of Police Detective Lt. Liusila Brown in front of the temporary High Court building in Fagatogo in July 2010— has rejected the plea agreement offered by the Attorney General’s office.

This was revealed during Siaumau’s status hearing yesterday in the High Court. The defendant is facing 14 counts, including one count of murder in the first degree; two counts of attempted murder in the first degree and seven weapons- related charges.

Among the concerns raised by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) over the expansion of the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) is the inclusion of waters surrounding Aunu’u, which would restrict fishing there.

The federal government is proposing Aunu’u Island be divided into two zones: Zone A, where limited fishing would be allowed, and a Research Zone (Zone B), where all consumptive uses would be prohibited to provide a control area as a mechanism for research activities.

Six days after announcing the end of martial law, Fiji's Voreqe Bainimarama has introduced a new military decree controlling public order.

Bainimarama announced on New Year's Day that his three year old Public Emergency Regulations (PER) would be lifted, effective tomorrow.

Today he unveiled a military decree amending the country's Public Order Act.

That act passed in 1969 ahead of Fiji's independence so that any dissent could be controlled during the transition period.

Passengers arriving in Samoa on Wednesday were appalled to be greeted with a sewage stench at the Faleolo International Airport.

But for the people who work at the airport, the stench is nothing new.
It has been there for more than a year.

On Wednesday, one of 20 passengers who arrived on Interisland from Pago Pago, Tracey Williams, said she could not cope with the smell.

The American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition yesterday morning was the recipient of a donation of $2,682.76, given to them by Ace American Industries in Malaeimi.

Presenting the check was Ace Operations Manager Nadine Taufa’asau who said, “The presentation that we are making this morning, we are very happy with, in that we are partnered with the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition for the third year now.”

JUVENILE ACCUSED OF BREAKING INTO STORE

A 15-year old boy accused of breaking into a store in Pago Pago last week and removing a case of beer has been charged with first degree burglary, and misdemeanor charges of stealing and underage drinking. Due to the fact that he is a minor, his name is being withheld.

The defendant appeared before District Court Judge John Ward II on Wednesday, and is scheduled to appear again on January 25, while both parties discuss a plea deal.

(BASED ON PRESS RELEASE) —The American Samoa Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) Prevention FaaSamoa Project is one of five programs that will be highlighted at the 2012 Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Leadership Forum, to be held February 6-9, 2012 in Maryland. The recognition event, called Voices of Prevention, is an opening plenary that will showcase the accomplishments of this year’s honorees in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The low-lying Pacific islands such as Kiribati and Tuvalu are taking little solace from a December alliance between developed and developing nations at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa. The conference concluded with agreement for further talks on a new climate change agreement with ‘legal force’ by 2015, to be ratified by 2020.

For these islands, however, that may be too late. Climate extremes are already threatening their land, cultures and socio-economic survival.

The Nadi weather office has issued a flash flood warning for the whole of Fiji.

The duty forecaster says it has been raining across the country since last night, with rain expected to intensify over the next 48 hours.

Samisoni Waqavakatoga says low lying areas will be prone to flash flooding at high tide, which for the next couple of days is at eight o’clock in the morning and evening.

The chairman of Vanuatu’s Christian Council, the Anglican Bishop James Ligo, has cautioned the government against finalising the country’s accession to the World Trade Organisation.

Last month, the WTO bill was hastily pushed through parliament after the government cancelled all applications by the Vanuatu Christian Council for a peaceful protest against it.

Bishop Ligo says the Head of State has delayed signing the bill because he knows that most people are against it as they have not been given the opportunity to understand what it is all about.