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Letters and Editorial Policies
Letters and Editorial Policies
Will make the pain go away. Pay up. Move on and rape your customers more Mobiliere.
Paulo
You say lets ask the 13 year old? My God. Isnt that what the courts did? Then she got busted lieing and Jones was found innocent. You post this to discredit him? How about Lolo and his 1602 housing loan to his Pe'u. Or Faoa getting off on a hung Jury because one Juror wasnt sure. At least Jones was found innocent by 100% unanimous vote.
Someone needs to speak up for Jones on this matter. The Accusor's 13 year old friend came into the court room to testify that the she (the accuser) had been bragging about how she can control a Palagi businessman just by saying he did something to her. Then she got busted again lieing about being to his house.
What really was amazing is a year later when the prosecutor became the Independent prosecutor for American Samoa and was key speaker at a common cause meeting, he told everyone there that the Jones case was a good example of how power and corruption is a major problem in American Samoa. That the Jones case should have never been to court because there was zero evidence and the AG's knew her story had serious flaws. But because the girl was related to the Sunia's, the case was forced to trial.
The thinking was that the media would draw an ugly picture of Jones because any sex related case gets the absolute worst attention by media. That means it would be impossible for Jones to get a fair Jury and convict him with no evidence because he is Palagi and they were angry. You know how I know Prosecutor Moi said this in that public meeting? I was there and so was Jones. I was right there afterwards when Jones approached him and begged him to go public with that information. But Moi said he still worked for the Government and couldnt do it beyond what he just did. He would lose his job.
Also this is the only kind of case that requires no proof or evidence to send a man to jail for 15 years. The Jury only needs to believe the story of the accuser. Nothing more. You know how I know all this? Because I also know one of the Jurors. (Small Island.) And he told me that the Police didnt even investigate this issue at all. Yes. Not one minute was spent investigating this case beyond taking teh girls statement. Can you believe that! They had zero case. It was clear that Jones had been set up after the accusation by political means. He even said the AG's office tried to manufacture evidence because they had none and trained the girl to testify on it. (Something to do with a drawing of where the act supposedly happened). But at 13 she couldnt remember everything they trained her and when she had to answer questions from Jones's lawyer she couldnt. The Juror also said that Jones did something no one every does if they are guilty. He took the stand to testify. He actively fought with his lawyer in the court room about this. His lawyer did not want him to take the stand. Jones demanded from the Judge to be heard and the judge granted it because it was his head on the chopping block.
When you post something like this about a candidate who has overcome the worst our society has to throw at him and he still cares enough about us to do right by us, its shameful. He was found 100% innocent by 100% unanimous jury vote by Samoan Jurors who, thanks to the Media, already hated him and thought he was guilty before they became Jurors.
Our media sucks like that. The media reports anything they see filed in court. Anyone can file anything in court. It doesnt have to be true. There are always two sides. Thats why we have a court to sort it out so Gossip and rumors dont rule our island.
FOr example Sami. I could say I saw you having sex with a chicken and file a court case for animal abuse. Doesnt mean its true. (Also doesnt mean its not. Im suspecting it might be true...haahaha), But once filed in court, the Media will report that you are being tried in court for "Allegedly screwing a chicken". Even if you didnt do it you will have to hire a lawyer and defend yourself. Mean while, the media will make a circus out of it because its sex related. People will be in shock and you will be the worst person on island. The result will be you are humiliated and disgraced and will be on the internet for the rest of you life labeled as a chicken molester because someone accused you. No one will care that you were found innocent by the court. All they will care about is the media report about the accusation. ( Headlines "Sami is a chicken molester").And some idiot like you will post it over and over again to continue bringing pain to your family and friends about something you never did but were accused of.
Shame on you.
Thru Public infrastructure a nation is built. Roads, transportation, ports, and independent business builders is the answer.
Paulo
Financing is the plan---- get an understanding of how it works.
Paulo
The debate I thought was really good but could have been better if all Candidates were there. Why were Lolo and Lemanu not there. Save and Sandra lawyer told them not to come? Thats stupid. Why not? Lawyers are idiots.
I noticed something at this debate. All candidates except Jones and Tuika had prepared answers. Salu and Savusa were reading from Lap tops and Faoa and Lei were reading from prepared papers. I dont know about everyone else but when politicians read stuff to me its the fastest way to put me to sleep. The only time I was able to really stay awake is when Tuika started talking (you know how Tuika is) and when Jones turned on his Microphone.
Jones is a different cut of politician. I hear than man when he talks. One thing he isnt is full of crap like so many others. I dont think I have heard him one time talk about himself or how qualified he is. He is always talking about us and how we can be better. I havent heard him either put down the Government or bad mouth anyone. (Maybe because his partner Tuika is the King of that lol). But Jones still gets a positive message out there even under fire. He has no billboards or banners up. He is not like anyone running for office I have ever seen. Not showing off just being there for us as a matter of choice. I feel pretty good about that.
I want to see another debate. This time with everyone including Lolo, Save and Sandra. Lets do a debate where the candidates have no warning about what questions are asked so no preparation time. Lets see the candidates tell the truth on their feet and not have time to give us the perfect written answers. Too boring. Time for Gov candidates to go LIVE!
Adapt or Die. Ask a Dinosaur when fueling next time.
From Hammurabi, to the toenails of Athens. We Romans, we do mightily Romans.
IF we wish to preserve, we Live longer.
Paulo
Lawyered up candidates usually get what lawyers dispel. You took the shot, you live with it. Follow the law---- let me add. Past practice is an informal law that lawyers calculate decisively.
Lawyers got us all in this jam. From Laufou, to Marisco, to the sullen management of government
That's a Lawyer running this governement. That's why we are in the hole we are in.
Paulo
I agreed with what your saying. It begins from home. Rb8nf
I don't know about you " elevenbravo" but, the message is simple and clear. One of these days a foreign will run our system and where will our culture be standing at? I'm just saying.
This is too true! Thank you Mr. Lafaele for this piece. Finally there is a local brave soul who is able to make some sense on here (*ahem looking over at the general comments*).
It still amazes me how ASG is able to function and operate over the past decade. Your mention of checks and balance and the operatic dance that the two government bodies take during budget reviews and passing hits it right on the head.
It is sad that most faipules, before getting into office, are outspoken and promise to "do right by their constituents". However, as soon as they're voted into office, it is a different story. I guess like one of the faipules said, "it is a different ball game on the inside from what it is looking from the outside".
So in other words, your values and all that you stand for as a "servant for the people" get pushed aside to make room for the political dance needed to survive in the Fono as soon as you're in office? It's a farce. Most budget hearings, most Fono hearings for that matter, are a formality and a presentation to justify the tax-free "bonus" income.
It's sad and pathetic.
If the administration is not effectively doing its job to provide services, and only give vague justifications for its budget, we hope that the faipules that are supposed to represent our interests would stand up to question, thoroughly review and assure that our interests as the 99-percenters are secured. Unfortunately, this is not the case. There is no checks and balance in the government, and there hasn't been in a while.
Sure, there are the sporadic SSIC committees when a faipule (that's representative and senators alike) gets a nudge in their conscience, but its not consistent. Well how can they be? Their house is not so clean either so as far as the administration is concerned, "don't throw the first stone in a glass house", right?
It will be a sad, sad day for American Samoa if the current leaders are voted back in come this November election. The general 99-percenters have gone so complacent and apathetic in what the leaders do in government that people are just now going with what they are used to - incompetence and failure in sound, effective government. I can only hope my generation has better sense.
yes of course, at least Save and Sandra are standing up for what is legal...I totally agree on this statement...so true, very true, definitely true...go team clean, chooohooo!
WHAT DO U MEAN THE APPELLATE COURT MADE THE RIGHT DECISION...THAT'S B/CRAP!!...FYI, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW...THE LAW CLEARLY STATED THAT under ASCA 4.0102 subsections (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of the qualification for governor/lieutenant governor law, “the opinion clearly states that qualified electors cannot make the challenge under subsection (f) which requires employees of the government in whatever capacity to resign before actively campaigning.
I HOPE EVERYONE WILL VOTE FOR MR AND MRS. CLEAN...SAVE AND SANDRA...THESE TWO ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND OUR WHOLE FAMILY OF 100 ARE HOPING AND PRAYING THAT YOU BOTH WILL BE OUR NEXT GOVERNOR AND LT GOVERNOR OF AMERICAN SAMOA...WE NEED CHANGE!
What is wrong with making every effort to do what is right and that includes calling fire when the law is being broken. JR you are just like every corrupt politician out there, when the act of justifying the law is in conflict with your wants or needs, you make fun of the person doing what is right. Believe me though, if someone did something wrong to you by violating your rights, you would yell fire or thank those that did it for you.
It's in plain view that the law was broken. Subsection f prohibits certain activities by the gubernatorial candidates during a campaign (acknowledged by the courts), the very activities done by these candidates. It would be nice if there were some brains behind all them fancy words. We all know that you use fancy words to make up for what you lack. Look hard, what is suppose to happen when the law is broken?
If someone treated you or those close to you unfairly by violating your rights as a citizen......what would you do? What would you expect your fellow citizens to do? The right thing? Would you make fun of them then? Or, would you like it if they made fun of you for doing what's right?
Again, the law was broken.....What's the right thing to do?
Like many Samoan families we all have families holding the fort in the motherland and families abroad. If there is a degree of 'loss' of the culture and fa'a-Samoa then the answer is found in the nucleus or center of the faa-Samoa: The Aiga. Our families. That has never changed in the faa-Samoa. It's where we first learned how to eat and walk, how to love, how to respect. Teachings and practices of culture behavior and knowledge of the culture begins at home and it fails when those beginings fail at home (unless an individual makes bad decisions when they leave the home setting). 'The Aiga' in another form is the village, the church, these groups that made up the structure of Culture and Religious beliefs.
On the same token, the world never remains the same. Samoans, like any other culture in the world, have to find the balance to keep the culture at heart while navigating the changing world and embrace the array of cultures that in their environment. it's waht makes this world such a colorful creation that we live in. The more you know the better you get. Welcome the different cultures and be a master in knowledge of our own. Go back to the beginning -- the nucleus of the family.
So when the law is violated, who upholds it? I mean the judges say that the subsection was intended to prohibit certain activities of the gubernatorial candidates not to establish additional qualification or eligibility requirements. Yet these certain candidates committed the acts under subsection f which the judges acknowledge that are prohibited....so what now?. If subsection f is meant to prohibit certain activities by the candidates and it falls under section 4.0102 QUALIFICATIONS for gov. and lt. gov.......would the candidates qualify if they violated subsection f?
So, it is in the law (subsection f) that these acts done by these certain candidates are prohibited but it cannot be enforced because it does not say "not eligible," in the subsection that falls under qualifications. Doesn't the section "qualifications" determine eligibility and the subsections are meant to clarify it.
Its weird, the court didn't say, that what these people did were not against the law. Instead, by acknowledging that section f prohibits certain activities, the very acts committed by these certain candidates, the court is acknowledging that the law was violated. Question is..... how is it being enforced so that justice, equality, and fairness is ensured? The court decides that a candidate can not challenge the qualifications of the other candidates referring to section f. Ha! If we looked at it plainly.....it goes like this, Save and Sandra did not just challenge the candidates, they did their duty as citizens and reported that certain people were violating the law; certain candidates were committing acts that are prohibited under section 4.0102, qualifications of a gov and lt. gov. It's amazing though how the people turn to the courts for justice and yet we get an fancy explanation that may sound extraordinary but in reality, if you slowly unwrap everything, you find an excuse, an excuse to hide fear, fear of what justice might bring. Well, that's my opinion.
What we see here is an illusion of justice within society so that we feel safe; and so that when we wake up in the morning we can say that our system works. If we don't vote for a leader that has the heart to fix the system instead of adding to its malfunction......where in for trouble. Look at it now, we are borderline broke, funds are being misused, Medicare is still 1970's, and the crime rate is moving up. Kalofae Samoa, who did this to you.....in reality.....we chose them. Let's vote right this time!
Im confused about this 'Shotgun Approach'. Trying to make sense of the keywords: Samoa's future; culture; teachers teaching world history; top of the food chain; what are you trying to say?
What's so normal about creating a law, breaking it, and then brushing it aside because it has been the "practice" for several years? Oh wait...that is normal for the territory.
That's why American Samoa, it needs to stop somewhere and this is the beginning of making things "normal". An "Awareness" is what came out of this ruling...whether it be for Save and Sandra supporters or supporters of any of the candidates everywhere...it is an awareness of the political injustice that exists in our territory.
Why vote for those who claim they are "working hard" for your vote and support when it becomes "null and void" if you have to break the law to do it. Be smart. Vote for Integrity.
Gee
Dr. Tuiolosega is a good man, and a true doctor at heart. I believe what he is saying about the lack of health care in Manu'a. Dr. Tuiolosega is a true professional and loves his people, especially the people of Manu'a.
My grandmother Fa'amalo Lemafa Puailoa has close ties to Manua'a that she even gave birth to my mother Tuitogama'atoe Puailoa Fanene in Olosega, Manu'a March 17, 1936.
The Faipule from Manu'a have been getting their paychecks regularly for the past several decades, yet the healthcare in Manu'a continues to be a very heartbreaking problem. I think the Faipule for Manu'a should work for no pay and that money should go to pay for the medicine, vehicle, etc. needed for the people of Manu'a.
When the healthcare problem in Manu'a is soleved, then the Manu'a Faipule can be put back on the payroll.
Respectfully submitted.
Great wisdom from a veteran public servant. Hurry up and retire from the private sector and render yourself available to the next governor at whatever capacity appropriate. In restrospect, the governor's staff that you were a prominent part of was the best (hasn't been emulated since, and compared to the current one, well...) Your tribute to the late Tuanaitau Tuia says alot about your knowledge of local people, leaders, and government. In short, get back in. We're of age that we need to prepare this place to make it better, then hand it over to our children.
Manuia le aso.
It’s amazing how many amateur legal eagles are out there. There’s no satisfying of some people, despite the Appellate Court’s final ruling on this matter. Of course, one can’t really blame these so-called legal critics, if they were ever versed in the law to begin with, and their opposition to the ruling. I think it’s safe to say that these critics are either supporters of the Save Sandra team or individuals who have disdain and contempt for the defendant’s or plain rejects who failed miserably in law school.
Now that the Appellate Court has ruled against the Save Sandra complaint, the territory can get back to normalcy with it’s political campaigning. Due to the Save Sandra conundrum, every gubernatorial team has lost some votes due to supporters leaving the island on flights to the mainland and elsewhere. It’s quite sad how things worked out for the Save Sandra team in their desperate attempt to nullify and void the candidacy of a few candidates.
So the big question now is “was all this effort worth it?” My response to that is “besides losing a few voters to off-island commitments….absolutely NOT”. All the Save Sandra team managed to do was delay the inevitable for just a few days of inconvenience. Now the reputation and credibility of their campaign has been tarnished and the butt of inner circle jokes.
All their hard work to establish themselves as a viable political force to be reckon with is now new fodder for tabloids and sensationalism journalism. There’s even talk on the coconut wires of renaming their camp the “Campaign for Complainers”. There's no fooling of the people by a team that cries FIRE in a crowded movie theater.
For those supporters of the Save Sandra team that are contemplating elsewhere for a good choice to represent their interest, I say, please take a good hard look at the other gubernatorial teams that are working hard for your vote and support. Be smart. Vote.
JR Faaola
So we have a law mandating that candidates must resign from their government jobs prior to active campaigning, yet there is no penalty for not resigning prior to active campaigning? What happens to you if you break the law? Nothing. Is that what the Legislature intended? What would be the point of such a law? The Justices just didn't want to kick candidates off the ballot.
The challenged candidates violated the law, but suffered no penalty for having done so. That's the Samoan way. We have a law, but if you break that law, there are no consequences. So basically, the Justices are telling us that this law is not really a law. It's more of a recommendation. "Don't violate the law, but if you do violate the law, it's ok." That's an incentive to break the law, not to follow it, because nothing happens to you as a result of your unlawful or illegal activities.
So these candidates could be working for the government right now and still remain on the ballot. Is that what the Legislature intended? Might as well delete 4.0102(f) as it has no affect. Note also that the decision initially refers to the code section in question as 4.0102(f) and then later refers to it as 4.0201(f). Bad call by the Appellate Court.
I just want to commend the Senate and House in American Samoa for taking bold steps in trimming down our government. Kudos to all of you for this courageous work. Continue to work for the people of American Samoa and keep doing positive things like this. The U.S. Treasury is now pumping newly printed U.S. dollars into the economy at the tune of 40 billion dollars a month. People, it's only a matter of time before the U.S. Dollar collapses altogether! In order for American Samoa to avoid this disaster, is to shrink our budget, pay off all of our debts and prepare for a future without the help of the U.S. Government.
American Samoa Code Annotated
Chapter 01. Governor and Lieutenant Governor
4.0101 Election of Governor
4.0102 "QUALIFICATIONS" of Governor & Lieutenant Gov.
(f)Candidates for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor who are employees of the government in whatever capacity and for either the executive, or judicial branches, must resign their position with the government before commencing active campaigning.
So if title 4.0102 says Qualifications for Gov, and Lt Gov, than all the subsections that follow are written according to the title, right? I dont need a Law degree to understand that.
ASCA 4.0201(f)of the code annotated is under Candidate qualifications title. What else could it mean other than a qualification or disqualification? The FONO (legislature) took the time to vote on this ASCA 4.0201(f)and insert it into the law under qualifications for Governor Candidate.
Judge Kruse and the rest of the panel have chosen to ignore it because they have the choice to do so. This is "common sense lost" You gotta love court room foolishness and Cultural Politics. Anything is possible and nothing is as it should be under the Samoan system.
However, while I think the law has just been stepped around by the highest voice in the land, the election will be better for the people as they have more choices. That should not come into play in the courts ruling but the end result I think is best for the greater good. The most popular candidate should be elected.
What we almost had was the most popular candidates disqualified on a law that has never been enforced before and caught everyone off guard. So shame on you Kruse for not following the law as it was intended.
But congratulations American Samoa voters your choices are plenty and all on the ballot. Lets get on with the games!
O la'u faitau ma lo'u loto faanoanoa ile molimau a si alii foma'i mai manu'a ona ole tulaga matuia oloo faafeagai ai lana tautua alofa mo manu'a. O la'u fesili, o fea o iai Faipule a manu'a? Silasila ile molimau faavalevalea ale alii faipule sa vaai mata o savali le foma'i e ave vailaau i fale o aiga ona ua leai se taavale, olea la sau galuega sa fai iai e fo'ia ai lea mea mata'utia sa e molimauina? ona e fesiligia lea ole 30,000 ae leai mase follow up? letioa a le mafai galuega asi foma'i olea ole'a uma le tausaga e pe ai le tupe. okaoka, ile nofonofo male tafafaovale.
Fai lea ose tou fuafuaga. O lena e sa'o le foma'i, ave iai la outou faamanuiaga ma lagolagosua uma iai outou ile mea e manuia ai manu'atele.