Archive - May 24, 2012 - Article (News Story)

Dear Editor,

It is not that we doubt that God answers all prayers... it is whether or not we are ready for His answers. I think the financial crisis at LBJ is a blessing in disguise. Our prayer for a healthier American Samoa is being answered. Our response has to be one of caring and love for ourselves and each other.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) — recently returned to the LBJ Medical Center — kicked off their EMS week (May 20-26, 2012) with a graduation ceremony wherein 29 men and women received certification as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).

The ceremony was held for the 11th Emergency Medical Technician Academy, at the CCCAS church in Faga’alu under the leadership of Reverend Lalomauga Pa’au F.S.

One of the absolute must things when you cover our Manu Samoa around the planet is to save $50 per trip to spend on something special for yourself.

My USA Eagle buddy and pal photographer, Alan Hamilton, would... and I saw him do it, spend it after the day's work on pints and pints of beer in his European buddy's crazy Hong Kong bar (from which I have bizarre ring toss photos and vids that will never make it out of the Samoa News newsroom).

As an added event to celebrate the week of graduation, the Graduate Banquet has now become a tradition for students at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC). This semester’s Graduate Banquet took place on Wednesday, May 16, two days prior to the regular graduation ceremony, and provided a relaxed social setting for the recognition of outstanding academic achievement from members of the spring 2012 graduating class.

The Manumalo Baptist School, “Home of the Flames” officially saw eleven of its finest students, graduate yesterday morning as the Class of 2012. The graduation ceremony was held at their school chapel in Malaeimi, with a host of friends and families crowding the chapel for the honorable moment.

The graduation was themed “Building Landmarks to Success”.

Governor Benigno R. Fitial of The Northern Marianas on Wednesday night accepted the resignation of Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Executive Director Utu Abe Malae.

Malae submitted his resignation following the governor’s declaration of a CUC state of emergency amid an ongoing protest filed by of one of the renewable energy contractors who did not get the deal.

The trial division of the High Court has ordered the government to pay $260,000 to the Public Defender’s office, which is representing Siaumau Siaumau Jr. charged in the murder of police Lt. Liusila Brown and the attempted murder of another police officer.

This order was issued on Monday morning, and Assistant Public Defenders Leslie Cardin and Mike White are representing Siaumau Jr. in this matter.

An independent audit of the LBJ Medical Center fiscal year 2011 financial statement provided findings and recommendations for corrective actions on billing, receipting, accounting system, and labor and wage compliance — all areas that have been the focus of Fono hearings into the medical center's financial crisis and the governor's comment that the hospital needs to manage its finances better. 

The audit was conducted by Wipfli, LLP, of Spokane, Wash., and covered a wide range of issues, which Samoa News will report on later in the week.

The Criminal Investigation Division with the Department of Public Safety has launched an investigation into the sale of playing cards with pornographic photos of females on the cards, which was confirmed by CID Captain Lavata’i Taase Sagapolutele.

The CID Captain declined to give further details, however, he told Samoa News the investigation is underway and as soon as it’s complete the report will then be forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for prosecution.

VICE AND NARCOTICS DIVISION CONFISCATES MARIJUANA PLANTS

A public peace disturbance call was sent to the Department of Public Safety over an incident in Masefau, and when police responded, they came across four live marijuana plants.

The patrol officers contacted the Vice and Narcotics Division (VND) that then confiscated the marijuana plants.

VND Captain Peau Leuma confirmed that an investigation is underway and no one has yet been arrested, however he declined to further comment on the matter.