Archive - Apr 12, 2012 - Article (News Story)

The Senate in a majority veto yesterday rejected in second reading the amended House version of an administration bill seeking $10 million to fund the LBJ Medical Center off island medical referral program, with opposition senators saying that the funding source of hikes in excise taxes and business license fees will burden both the private sector as well as members of the community.

Four senators voted “yes” to approve the House version; they are Sens. Paogofie Fiaigoa, Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson, Lualemaga Faoa and Fuamatu J.V. Fuamatu.

With the American Samoa government losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cigarette excise taxes to cigarette smuggling, a cigarette tax stamp program would be cost effective and could work in American Samoa, according to the feasibility study conducted by consultant Bryan M. Jackson.

The Tualauta Coalition II is holding a free concert with the theme “Y Not You” on Friday evening, April 13, on the malae in front of the KFC Restaurant in Tafuna.

Petesa Tai CCCAS Reverend Eliasalo Fa’ata’a, the Coordinator for the Tualauta II Coalition, said this concert — which is free for the public — will feature the Manu Samoa international 7s players.

The Vaiala Rugby Team arrived at the Pago Pago International Airport yesterday for this year’s first TMO Marist Pago 7’s International Rugby Tournament that will be held tomorrow and Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Gov. Togiola Tulafono has signed into law an administration bill allocating $50,000 each to fund the completion of the traditional Samoan fale, Faletele at Utulei Beach and to assist the American Samoa National Under 19 Football team.

The Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) against Family Violence is hosting a two day conference beginning today, and it is being held at the Attorney General’s conference room. The conference theme is “Weaving the Foundation of our Families: Culture, Church & Law to End Family Violence”, says MDT Chairperson Mitzie Jessop Folau.

Folau says speakers from key groups — church, the law, and culture will be present.

IPOD CASE

Police officer Si’ufa’alele Sai and Rockshane Siaki made their initial appearances in the District Court yesterday morning in connection with a stealing case that occurred at the ACE American Industries store.

Siaki is facing a stealing count over an incident which allegedly took place iin November 2010.

Court filings say Siaki and her friend Catherine Michaels went to the store and Siaki allegedly took two iPODS — a blue color one and a silver/white nano iPOD.

One may not think of Mahatma Gandhi as an animal activist, but his keen observation on society extended to our domesticated four-legged friends when he noted, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

With that in mind, it is good to know that the American Samoa Humane Society (ASHS) is active, alive and well, and collaborating wherever possible with groups from around the world who have been supportive by bringing humane practices and treatment to the animal population of the territory.

After long months of practice and anticipation, Culture Night brought the nations of BYU-Hawaii together in song and dance. Friday, April 6 has come and gone, and with it BYUH’s annual Culture Night presentation.

Students, faculty and community members filled the Cannon Activities Center to capacity to experience a night bathed in the cultural expressions of representatives from countries around the world. There were 20 student alumni chapters or clubs on campus that participated one of the highlights in the Winter Semester 2012.

PACIFIC OCEAN – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sequoia is delivering humanitarian aid and supplies to the outer Caroline Islands in the Federated States of Micronesia as part of a joint effort by the Coast Guard, the Department of Defense and civilian partners Monday.