Archive - Mar 8, 2012 - Article (News Story)

The Senate yesterday approved in final reading Senate bill (S.B. 32-38) seeking to refinance $2 million under the $20 million loan from the ASG Employees Retirement Fund for LBJ Medical Center operations, but rejected an administration bill seeking an $8 million loan from the retirement fund — also for the hospital.

A federal arbitration in the Marisco Ltd. case against the American Samoa Government has ruled in favor of Marisco with a hearing set for next month at the federal court in Honolulu  to confirm the arbitrator’s decision award, according to federal court records.

According to the proposed judgment, ASG shall pay $811,631.87, plus interest on that amount at the rate of .43% per year from Sept. 1, 2009 until paid.

An older man has sought help from the media after his calls for assistances from the Department of Public Safety were unanswered. Sixty-eight year old Amituana’i Arona Liua contacted Samoa News yesterday stating that his 14-year old granddaughter ran away from home last week Saturday and up to now she has not returned home.

The disappointed grandfather of Fagatogo said, he contacted police starting from Saturday and yet he was told by the police, that either there is no police vehicle available or the police officers are busy with more important issues.

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — The American Samoa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors believes that the government should reduce spending if there is a gap between revenues and approved budgets. The Chamber believes taxes and fees are already too high; increases will hurt families and make it even more difficult to promote economic growth.

MIKE KIM AND MOTAU SAMANI

The jury trial for Mike Kim and Motau Samani is now scheduled for June 6, 2012. The two men are implicated in connection with sexual charges involving a minor in 2010.  

The businessman is facing among other charges conspiracy to commit rape, while Samani is facing five counts, including conspiracy to commit rape.

The trial date was scheduled by Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond, who was accompanied on the bench by Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr.

It’s been three times that Pizza Hut has been broken into, over a period of three years, and no arrests have been made in any of the incidents, with the latest break-in last Sunday. This is according to Pizza Hut General Manager Tusi Fa’afua.

The Pizza Hut Manager said with the latest break-in, the culprits broke the side door and their main door to gain entrance. They “vandalized the cash register, doors, and took off with the surveillance tapes inside the restaurant and car keys of the Pizza Hut delivery vehicle,” said Ms Fa’afua.

The media scene in American Samoa just got a little bigger, with the launch of a new website called Tiotala.com.

Tiotala.com provides “news and views about American Samoa”, according to website owner Lewis Wolman. Tiotala.com will contain original reporting as well as opinionated commentary on the local scene.

Students from the Toa o’le Tai (Ocean Heroes) program, recently visited Tisa’s Barefoot Bar and spoke with ‘Candyman’ (bottom row left) of Tisa’s. He talked to the students about how he had to save some swimmers from nearly drowning in the waters around the area, and what to do when caught up in a ‘Rip Tide’.

One of the most important elements of safety, Candyman said, was to learn how to survey the area before going into the water.

The media scene in American Samoa just got a little bigger, with the launch of a new website called Tiotala.com.

Tiotala.com provides “news and views about American Samoa”, according to website owner Lewis Wolman. Tiotala.com will contain original reporting as well as opinionated commentary on the local scene.

American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Business Department Chairperson Dr. Faofua Fa’atoafe and seven of her students departed this week for the Independent State of Samoa to spend ten days touring factories and businesses big and small in Upolu and Savai’i, as well as to visit the University of the South Pacific (USP).