Ads by Google Ads by Google

All

Amata hails new funds for American Samoa in Senate Interior Appropriations Bill

Amata with Chairman Murkowski and flight crew

Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed two significant developments for American Samoa, at Amata’s request, in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill led by Chairman Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

The bill, unanimously approved with a vote of 31-0 by the Appropriations Committee, includes a $718,000 increase for American Samoa Government operations, and mandates an official report to Congress on the needs of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center.

Congresswoman Amata had a series of discussions on American Samoa’s needs, including the impact of Cyclone Gita, personally with Chairman Murkowski in the lead-up to the 2019 Appropriations process, and welcomes these resulting important provisions to this major legislation.

In the report language, the Senate Committee states its concern about the impact of Cyclone Gita on American Samoa’s economy and its ability to recover.

Monthly payment to Computer Services Ltd. from Samoa Govt remains unexplained

CSL Samoa logo

The $1.9 million paid monthly to the Computer Services Ltd (CSL) remained unexplained by the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa despite being questioned in Parliament last Thursday.

The issue was raised by the Member of Parliament for Anoama’a West, Lauofo Pierre Lauofo who quoted the Minister’s Budget speech where the Minister said that the $1.9 million is paid to CSL for the ownership of the domain service name of Samoa.

“On page 17 of the Parliamentary Finance Committee report, it says the $1.9 million is paid to CSL on a monthly basis,” said Lauofo.

Typeface: A contemporary take on Samoan tatau

 Part of a painting by Vaimaila Urale for her project Typeface.

The tap, tap, tapping of a computer keyboard is probably not what you would normally associate with Polynesian design and tattoos.

But it is the chosen tool for Auckland based artist Vaimaila Urale whose contemporary take on tatau involves the use of four traditional Samoan symbols which exist on a standard keyboard as less than, greater than, forward slash and back slash.

Vaimaila was born in Samoa and grew up in Wellington after moving to New Zealand as a child.

She said growing up she was intrigued by her father only ever having western style tattoos on his body.

Her curiosity continues in her current project Typeface which she carefully selected the characters for.

Samoa govt loosens church tax plans

 Congregational Christian Church ministers arriving at government house for a meeting with Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, and his cabinet on Monday.

The Samoa government appears to have made a compromise in their ongoing efforts to implement a new law that will tax all church ministers.

The Congregational Christian Church hit out at the law, saying ministers paying income tax went against its faith and it wouldn't pay.

However this week a bill was rushed through the House which provided that monetary gifts received by ministers during funerals, weddings and other traditional occasions would not be taxed under the new law.

“NEED SOME HELP HERE ASPA”

I have had good water pressure at this house for many years. A guy named Uepa, from Western Samoa, was in charge of water for at least this area. If we had a problem, we called Uepa and it was fixed in a matter of minutes. Alas, Uepa is no more, we know not why, but now we have the mighty sunken ship, “Titanic”. Since Titanic came on the scene, our water pressure has been lousy. Call ASPA, no help.

First Pacific Island child receives help from Save A Child’s Heart Foundation in Israel

Three-year old Abigail Gaunavou and her father

Until a few months ago Abigail Gaunavou’s future for a normal life was gloomy.

The three-year old Fijian girl was born with a congenital heart defect — a hole in her heart. And until earlier this year, her parents Magret Kane and Saimoni Gaunavou Qalokivuiva were in despair. Hope for them was running out after exhausting all possible options available for surgery that may save their daughter’s life.

But divine intervention must have played a hand with the Wolfson Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, Save a Child’s Heart Foundation accepting Abigail as their first ever patient from the Pacific.

And her surgery last week was a success with the young Abigail greeting the Pacific Islanders medial personnel touring Israel this week with a gleaming smile of renewed hope.

23 fanau fa’au’u A'oga Maualuga a Iakina Adventist Academy 2018

A look at some of the 23 graduates of Iakina Adventist Academy class of 2018 during their commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 24, at Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium.
Iakina Adventist Academy class of 2018 Valedictorian, Ingrid Papalii.
Iakina Adventist Academy class of 2018 Salutatorian, Darryl Ulufale Meyer.

I lenei tausaga ua tomuli ai le fa'asologa o fa'au'uga mai Vasega 12 i le atunu'u i le fa'au'uga a le A'oga Maualuga a Iakina Adventist Academy i Iliili. Ma e to'a 23 le ‘au fa’au’u ma o le latou manulauti, "Lo Matou Tala'aga” po'o le “Our Great Legacy".

Ina ua tula'i Pr Uili Solofa mo le tatalo amata ma lana upu fa'amalosi i le 'au fa'au'u, sa matua ia fa'apupula atili le tala'aga e ao ina fa'amau ma fa'amanatu ai pea lenei vasega faai'uaso.

"I lo outou tala'aga ua outou fia faia ma se pine fa'amau, ia manino ma atili fa'amauina ai ni matati'a lelei o mea ua mae'a ona outou faia i totonu o le a'oga i Iakina Adventist Academy. Ae ia silisili ona fa'amatala a'ia'i ai le alofa, o le su'ega sili lea o le ola fa'akerisiano, aua o se fa'anaunauta'iga lea i soo se tagata lava e agaalofa, ia avea ma pine fa'amau sa i inei lava o ia."

American Samoa man guilty of giving meth to kids gets 20 months

American Samoa High Court building

A 29-year-old man who gave methamphetamine to juveniles has been ordered by the High Court to serve a period of detention for 20 months at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF), after he was convicted of unlawful possession of a controlled substance —methamphetamine.

The sentence for Tinojaylann Fa’avi of Pago Pago was handed down by Acting Associate Justice, Elvis P. Patea, who was accompanied on the bench by Associate Judges Su’apaia Pereira and Paepae I. Faiai.
Fa’avi, who is the son of one of the mayors (pulenu’u) from Pago Pago was initially charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to wit; methamphetamine, a class D felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years but not more than 10 years, and a fine of not less than $5,000 but not more than $20,000.

However under a plea bargain with the government, Fa’avi agreed to plead guilty to unlawful possession of a control substance, a lesser class D felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

Pages