LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING BEGINS FRIDAY

Chief Election Officer Tuaolo Vaivao Manaia Fruean issued a memorandum yesterday to the electors of American Samoa, addressing the issue of local absentee voting.

Tuaolo clarified that pursuant to the ASCA, only those who are confined in any hospital or public institution, or at home because of illness or a physical disability, those who are prevented from voting at polls because of religious beliefs, ruling doctrine, etc., and those serving as election officials on Election Day are allowed to vote by absentee ballot, “even though they will be present in American Samoa on Election Day.”

The last day to register to vote for the November elections was this past Monday.

The ASAC authorizes the chief election officer to designate a day or days on which the foregoing qualified electors may cast their absentee ballots. “Therefore, all those individuals who cannot vote at the polls on Election Day because of illness or physical disability, or religious reasons, must submit their requests to the pulenu’u of the village,” Tuaolo wrote. The pulenu’u (village mayor) shall then promptly turn in the requests to the Election Office and all qualified individuals shall cast their ballots starting Friday, October 10 until Monday, November 3, 2014.

Election officials will conduct this task “by going to the qualified electors’ homes or confinements during the period of vote casting,” Tuaolo explained.

“Any qualified elector who fails to submit his/her request for absentee ballot to the pulenu’u must make the request directly to the Election Office and the deadline to request local absentee ballots is 4:30 p.m., Monday, November 3, 2014. No absentee voting will be allowed on Election Day,” Tuaolo emphasized.

Voters traveling off island but returning to the territory BEFORE November 4, 2014 are NOT eligible to vote by local absentee ballot.

LOW NUMBER OF RESIDENTS TURN UP TO TAKE DPS ENTRANCE TEST

Close to 90 local residents interested in becoming a part of the next Dept. of Public Safety’s Police Academy showed up at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium this past Monday to take the entrance test, which is the initial step into becoming a cadet trainee.

Samoa News spoke to the head of DPS’s Training Division, Tauese Vaaomala Sunia yesterday morning, who said the official results are not yet ready, as the tests are still being graded.

The low number of test takers is a huge contrast from earlier this year when over 300 people turned up to take the test when it was offered on two separate occasions.

At that time, only 2% — 10 people— passed. But the DPS is soliciting 20 recruits to be part of the next police academy, set to start on the second week of November.

This is after the start date had to be pushed back three months, after DPS couldn’t find enough recruits to fill the 20 slots being advertised.

According to the job announcement, the salary range for the incoming trainees will run from $10,471 to $23,471.

In addition to the entrance test, trainees will also have to undergo a physical fitness test, a psychological evaluation, an oral interview, and pass a background check. This means those who passed the test may not necessarily pass the other requirements.

KVZK-TV CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY

This past Monday, the Office of Public Information (OPI) hosted a small ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first day KVZK-TV went on the air, back in October 1964.

OPI Director Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde, in an initial interview with Samoa News, stated that they were hoping the KVZK-TV building would be restored this year to coincide with the anniversary but that didn’t happen so “once the building is fully restored, then we will have a big celebration.”

The opening prayer was offered by Monsignor Viane Etuale, Vicar General of the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago, with special musical performances by America’s Got Talent superstar Paul Ieti.

Heads of the different divisions at KVZK-TV, as well as former employees, were recognized for their service. Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Mrs. Cynthia Moliga were both present, along with other cabinet members, and representatives from both the legislative and judicial branches of government.

A tour of the facility, whose exterior was repaired by the Dept. of Public Works specifically for the anniversary celebration, was carried out after the ceremony.

The KVZK-TV building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Everything on it is original except for the roof, which was replaced by FEMA following one a hurricane.

Fagafaga said last month that the interior of the building will be gutted while the outside will be fully restored to preserve its original look. He said the entire staff will move out and “we’re going to re-do it all”. The work will be put out for bid “because it’s such a big job.”

KVZK-TV was the first television station in the Pacific Islands outside of Australia and New Zealand during a time when it was hard to recruit qualified teachers to work in the territory. The official name of the KVZK-TV building is the Michael J. Kirwan Educational Television Center.

AIRPORT JANITORIAL CONTRACT ISSUED TO NANA’S COMPANY

The restroom facilities and overall appearance of the Tafuna International Airport looks better now than it has in a long time, after Nana’s Company took over the contract for the job last week.

Company owner Fiapa’ipa’i Fruean and her crew celebrated their first ‘Flight Night Friday’ last week by decorating the fale Samoa at the airport with coconut leaves, placing fresh flower arrangements throughout the arrival and departure areas, and hiring local musician Ulale Ulale to perform.

Nana’s not only cleaned and sanitized the restrooms, they also painted the facilities and picked up trash in the surrounding area.

For now, it is expected that every Friday night at the airport will be a ‘celebration’ with beautiful decor and live entertainment - courtesy of Nana’s Company.

OCTOBER IS ENERGY AWARENESS MONTH

Governor Lolo Moliga has proclaimed October as Energy Awareness Month and he invites all residents, including non-profit organizations, government departments and agencies, and the private sector “to join in this observance by taking steps to ensure that our energy resources are used more efficiently and wisely.”

According to Lolo, the territory’s renewable energy programs have achieved energy savings, especially by the 13 government departments using photo voltaic systems.

In addition, the LBJ Hospital enjoys its solar hot water system as part of our renewable energy programs; the AS-EPA has become the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building in the territory; and American Samoa’s renewable energy program has provided 24 roof mounted photo voltaic systems to various government departments and private organizations, as well as lighting, insulations and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) retrofits for 18 ASG buildings.

Lolo wrote, “during the month of October through the country and especially in American Samoa, efforts to achieve the common goal of promoting energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy will be spotlighted and showcased for the public.”