GOV THANKS POLAMALUS FOR DISASTER DONATION

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has expressed appreciation to the Troy Polamalu Foundation for donating $10,000 for the disaster relief assistance following severe storms, flooding and mud slides between July 29 and Aug. 3rd.

The disaster claimed the life of a young woman and caused millions of dollars of destruction to American Samoa’s infrastructure as well as considerable damage to homes and lands in several villages, especially in the Bay Area.

In a statement Thursday, the governor expressed gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Troy Polamalu and their Foundation for their generous donation. Lolo said that since the Presidential Declaration did not include Individual Assistance, these funds from the Foundation would help some of the families to try and restore their homes to livable conditions and address a multitude of other needs.

Lolo encourages and welcomes anyone who may wish to contribute to this effort to contact the Governor’s Office at 633-4116.

FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM SAMOA MEET WITH DMWR

Three officials from the independent state of Samoa arrived in the territory this past week to share ideas and engage in discussions with officials from the Dept. of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) concerning the management and monitoring of vessels in waters around the two islands, with Samoa being the newest Pacific location for cannery operations.

According to a DMWR official, the group traveled to Tutuila to discuss, among other things, the rules, regulations, laws, and fines associated with fishery issues not only in near shore waters in both Samoas but also the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is 200 miles out to sea.

Samoa News understands that it was Samoa that initiated last week’s get together, after they reached out for assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the DMWR as far as sharing difficulties and issues faced by different islands in the Pacific region in managing and monitoring incoming fleets and foreign vessels.

TAMM REPS AWAIT GREEN LIGHT TO RESUME WORK IN HIGH SCHOOLS

The over 150 senior citizens who worked as counselors and mentors for the local Dept. of Education in different high schools and elementary schools during the previous school year are anxiously awaiting notification from Director of Education Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau on when they can resume the same services for the current school year.

During the 2013-2014 school year, a total of 52 seniors from the Toe Afua Mai Matua (TAMM) organization were stationed at different high schools around the territory. Another 106 people under the same program worked at the elementary schools on a voluntary basis, as only those who worked in the high schools were compensated for their services.

The role of TAMM members at the schools is to mentor, counsel and discipline the children, basically assuming the role of parents on campus.

As of yesterday, it was unclear when the TAMM representatives will be recalled to work in the schools, if at all.