Archive - May 29, 2012 - Article (News Story)

Methamphetamine that was found in a package that came through the mail over the weekend is believed to be the largest quantity found in the territory within the last five years, said Commander of the Vice and Narcotics Division Captain Peau Paulo Leuma.

The VND Captain said the street value of the methamphetamine is valued at more than half a million dollars, while marijuana, which was also found, is valued at close to $5,000.

Gov. Togiola Tulafono has granted “excused absence with pay” for all government employees who are directly participating in this year’s 50th Anniversary Independence celebration in Samoa, and currently the inter Samoa flights are fully booked with extra flights added.

Samoa’s silver jubilee celebration runs from May 30 to June 2 (all Samoa time) and village groups from American Samoa are participating in the siva and pese as well as the cricket tournament.

The American Samoa Government’s failure to pay required subsidies of more than $2 million in fiscal year 2011 resulted in a loss of $1 million to the LBJ Medical Center at the close of FY 2011, which ended Sept. 30, 2011, according to the independent auditor Wipfli, LLP, of Spokane, Wash.

The auditors say that as of Sept. 30, 2011 the hospital employed 580 workers and had an annual payroll of $19 million, including benefits.

CASE OF MAN ACCUSED OF DISMANTLING GRAVE IN HIGH COURT

A man accused of dismantling a relative’s gravesite has been charged with property damage, and will be arraigned in High Court today.

Edward Avegalio is facing is a class D felony punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

Avegalio is scheduled to enter his plea today after he waived his rights to a preliminary examination last week in District Court.

A broadband provider for American Samoa says internet costs in the territory could be lowered if more subscribers are hooked onto the undersea fiber optic cable that links American Samoa and Samoa to Hawaii.

Representatives of the non-profit organization One Economy, contracted to draw up the broadband map for American Samoa, says one of the reasons why rates are so high is the marine cable cuts off in the Samoas and does not extend anywhere else.

The Maori Party has added their voice to the celebration of Samoan Language Week which features the theme of O le Vafealoa'i (Strong and Respectful Relationships).

"Tangata whenua share with Samoan people the value we place on our mother tongue as a key to our cultural identity' said Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party.

BEIRUT (AP) -- As U.N. officials cited eyewitness accounts of shadowy gunmen slaughtering whole families in their homes, Western nations expelled Syrian diplomats Tuesday in a coordinated move against President Bashar Assad's regime over the massacre of more than 100 people.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- They're throwing granny off a cliff!

That's the not-so-subtle message Republicans and Democrats seem to be converging on for political ads on health care this year, featuring heavy doses of what each side alleges the other will do to wreck Medicare.

From President Barack Obama's overhaul law to GOP Rep. Paul Ryan's privatization plan for future Medicare recipients, there's something about health care legislation that makes it a breeding ground for wild allegations.

The Fa’asao Marist High School, home of the Crusaders, held their ‘Class of 2012’ Graduation ceremony last Saturday morning at the Fatu-o-Aiga Hall, with 65 students receiving their high school diplomas, and a host of family, friends, school faculty and government officials in attendance for their special day. 

This year’s graduation theme was ‘Believe And You Will Achieve’.

 Master of Ceremonies was Vice-Principal Seneuefa Muliagatele and the Commencement speaker was Father Faitau Lemautu.