Archive - Apr 23, 2012 - Article (News Story)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Social Security is rushing even faster toward insolvency, driven by retiring baby boomers, a weak economy and politicians' reluctance to take painful action to fix the huge retirement and disability program.

The trust funds that support Social Security will run dry in 2033 - three years earlier than previously projected - the government said Monday.

The government’s $20 million loan from the ASG Employees Retirement Fund is the latest target of the Senate Investigative Committee, whose chairman Sen. Lualemaga Faoa is calling today another hearing after a brief one last month where ASG Office of Program Planning and Budget director Malemo L. Tausaga was subpoenaed to testify.

Gov. Togiola Tulafono used his weekend radio program to announce that the LBJ Medical Center will be implementing new facility fees and offered in advance a public apology to the community in the event the move by LBJ happens soon.

Samoa News reported last week, that on  Monday, LBJ chief executive officer Mike Gerstenberger informed hospital personnel the hospital has received the final payment of the $3 million loan from the Workmen’s Compensation Account after the hospital met all of the requirements to get this money from the Executive Branch.

Gov. Togiola Tulafono has directed his office to conduct a complete probe into whether Samoa Shipping Service — owned by the Samoa government — and its local agent, Polynesian Shipping, violated any local laws by leaving behind some 40 members of the the Lano village group, who were in the territory for the Flag Day celebration.

The Department of Education Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability (OCIA), held their 12th Annual Elementary School Music Festival this past Saturday at the Samoana High School Gymnasium with seven schools that included, Mt. Alava (Vatia), Lauli’i, Afonotele, Matafao, South Pacific International Christian Center (S.P.I.C.C.), Coleman (Pago Pago) and Pava’ia’i, participating in this year’s festival.

APRA HARBOR, Guam – The Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue partners, coordinated in the rescue of 10 crewmembers forced to abandon ship due to a shipboard fire 700 miles west of Guam Saturday.

Coast Guard Sector Guam watchstanders received an initial alert from an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon from the Hsin Man Chun, a 70-foot Taiwanese fishing vessel, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

(BASED ON PRESS RELEASE) — Su'ifefiloi Art Studio is the new nickname for American Samoa Community College Art Department, and this coming Thursday, April 26 the Art Department will hold its annual Open House at Su’ifefiloi Art Studio to celebrate the creative endeavors of the Art Students between 4-6 p.m.

Numerous pieces of original student artwork will be on display that show the variety of art forms introduced to students in respective courses.

 “Stealing by young people is just chronic on the island”, said Chief Justice Michael Kruse when he handed down sentencing for two young men convicted of stealing 102 cases of wahoo from the StarKist Samoa warehouse late last year.

Joe Leota and Michael Leatigaga both entered into plea agreements with the government in this matter. Leota pled guilty to the amended charge of burglary second degree and stealing. The second degree burglary was amended from the first degree burglary charge.

Owner of locally based Express Electronics Ltd., believes the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) will rule in favor of the company over a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the CNMI Retirement Fund.

The CNMI based Saipan Tribune newspaper reported on Apr. 5 that the CNMI Retirement Fund has filed a lawsuit against Gerhard ‘Gary’ Sword and his company for the alleged defective pension software that has already cost the Fund $406,060.

BURGLAR ENTERS GUILTY PLEA  

Chief Justice Michael Kruse who was accompanied by Associate Judge Fa’amausili Pomele has accepted the plea agreement between the government and Pio Fagaautau in connection with a burglary last year in December.

Fagaautau was initially charged with first-degree burglary and felony stealing; however in a plea deal with the government, he pled guilty to attempted burglary, which was amended from first degree burglary, while the government moved to dismiss the remaining charge.