Recent comments

Yep it had to of been an inside job! Why else would they take the surveillance tapes?

This is a classic example of dictatorship. The people cry out passionately AGAINST the expansion for fear of losing control of the ONLY resources they depend on for their livelihood and TOGIOLA SUPPORTS giving these resources and the management of them up to the federal government.
The people have cried out NO and he goes against their cry. But of course this all makes sense. Togiola wants to make a last stake for himself before he leaves office. He wants to be known that he was the ONE who designated these territorial waters to the federal government. Now that he knows the little people says yes, he wants to MANIPULATE the directors and those in his current administration who live in the affected villages to make bogus statements in support when the majority of the village says NO.
Shame on him for wanting to represent "US"..........Thank You to ENI for still supporting the rest of us who TOGIOLA NEGLECTED!
Let's see when his children come back to Samoa (if they ever) and serve village communities to find out they have no say over the management of their adjacent marine resources because their dad got punkd and gave it up to the federal government!

oute le iloa i leoleo pe aia fua latou i fanau a isi tagata... lae sao le mea ua fasi ai le tama lona ia afafine... leoleo tuu tou isu mea e tatau ona tuu ai... le malo tuu pea fanau a tagata e aoao e matua lana fanau..

Is that all you got to say. -_-
He taught your kids. Think of it as corporal punishment in a less aggressive way you Samoan parents usually do with your kids. Believing and not believing in God has nothing to do with the Quality of education your child is receiving.
Hypocrites!

Nice insight to this very sensitive topic from Samoa News. There really isn't a problem with the current 1602 management by DBAS. I think the President of DBAS, Lolo Moliga, did everything he was mandated to do by the book.
A lot of our people seem to forget that this 1602 program was initially started during Utu Abe Malae's tenure as President, prior to resigning for the gubernatorial race in 2008. It's quite funny, but, I do recall a few shortcomings of funds to complete some of these 1602 housing projects during the latter part of Utu's term as President. Why didn't the critics complain or say anything then? Yet, there was no form of malfeasance by Utu or any DBAS official at that time.
Now that Lolo Moliga has taken over the helm at DBAS, and considering it's a gubernatorial election year, it's so predictable that critics like Senator Tulifua Lam Yuen would raise this issue now.
The question I have as a tax paying citizen is "where's the violation" in all this, with the exception of not enough funds to complete some of these 1602 projects, there is "no violation of the law".
The only contradiction I see is that the borrower and perhaps the DBAS loan officials did not have the foresight to budget the loan accordingly to the local housing market and making adjustments as necessary. Even with this vague oversight, there is still no violation of federal or local laws involved. As a matter of fact, Lolo provided the esteemed members of the House with copies to any and all questions regarding this program. There was only 1 house member that asked questions.
Lets not turn this much needed, innocent program into a loggerhead-political sound bite for some to ruin and smear the good reputation of a hard working man like Lolo Moliga. At least Lolo appeared with data and answers, when the Fono requested. It's a lot more then I can say for the rest of the administrations department heads who seem to be on traveling mode everytime the Fono asks questions.
This issue about rent being unaffordable by low income families and individuals is simply a matter of semantics. This can easily be resolved between the landlord and renter. The rent is based on what the 1602 program mandates a low income housing to be, not the landlord or the local government. This program is federal in origin.
We call ourselves Christians and at the first sight of misunderstanding, we start accusing and calling our neighbors names. I hate to see when a real disaster strikes the island.
Lets be civil in our conversations and use some facts to prove your point before deciding to ruin someone's reputation and good name with innuendoes and assumptions of malice.
JR Faaola
[Editor's note: The foundation/ paperwork for the program was initiated under Utu's tenure as DBAS president, but the program or ARRA funds did not become available until Lolo's time as DBAS president. No grant/ loan was made prior to Utu's resignation to run in the 2008 general elections. ra]

Ta'uvalea le Aoga se i gei tagata...E sili ona ave ise motu tu'ufua...

I agree with the termination of Mr. Segi. His actions were totally out of line and unprofessional. His stating that he does not "believe" in a God, was his personal views which he should have been kept to himself. We Samoans are MOSTLY Christians. However, the issue here was his misconduct, not his religious view.

Ua pei o le tu'umusu a le tama i le teine, le faipule ma lana ukulele, i le kovana. Ae ta'atia ai i tafatafa le laulau, tumu i keke suamalie. Sole, se a fai la le lua fa'aeva'evaga, a ua le tu mai o lenei e masofa la'o'ai o le atunu'u? Mose

Negative is Rediculous! Not sure if it is the norm, but we Samoans are full of bad tongues. Even when someone is doing a good deed, never fails, a Samoan will find something negative to say.
Wow!! You must be so bored to your ying yang that you have nothing better to do other than fuzzing. Stop the negative and get a life!!!

Good idea Senator Velega and Mr. Mike Gerstenberger, CEO....Look at our country; we tax payers are struggling with teeny weeny pays. I believe 75% are low income and 25% are those w/good pay. I agree with the issue, but lets have some more moolahs in our paycheck before raising our hospital bills. God Bless you two and the people of American Samoa.

I can remember to the date when dad can back to the village in tears. Said, this is a great day son. We manage to have elected our very own to be a leader. There was so much promise. Anything was possible. Our very OWN he said. A Samoan man with a Samoan promise. We have a FUTURE. We are still waiting for that future.
The politicians we have today are unlike yesterday's, nor any other day. We had a promise! Now, here is the, WE have a promise. Radical change to unsupress the narrative for a better future of our people. New leaders to inspire the next generation will need to step up.

Can someone drag Senatoris Tulifua from the poker table at the Bicycle Club. We need his big mouth to Ask a Question. Any question, just ask one damn question. Like, so Lolo, what did you have for breakfast this morning? Next question, do I raise, fold or declare bankruptcy? Next question, can the spirit of Tauese please show me how to cheat at poker?