confirmation hearing
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Retired associated judge, and traditional leader, Lefiti Falelaulii Pese, is American Samoa’s new Police Commissioner, after being confirmed by the Senate yesterday, while the House handed down its approval earlier this week.
The Senate vote followed Lefiti’s...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The fono took an unusual step for voting a Governor’s nominee this week when the House of Representatives approved acting Police Commissioner Lefiti Falelaulii Pese by a public show of hands instead of a secret ballot. The vote was 17-0.
Lefiti appeared before the House...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Despite a lot of criticism before his confirmation hearing, the House of Representatives has given the green light to Muavaefaatasi John Suisala to serve in the Lemanu and Talauega cabinet after they approved his nomination as Director of the Department of Human and...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Before the Director for the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo was approved by the House of Representatives last week, several faipule told her that the changes she had already made within the department affected some of the department’s longest...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo is now the director for the Department of Human Resources after she was approved by faipule yesterday morning by a 16-3 vote. She was confirmed by the Senate last month.
Pulou-Alaimalo appeared before the House Government Operations Committee...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde was confirmed as the new District Court judge by the Senate in a unanimous 15-0 vote yesterday, which requires only Senate confirmation.
The vote followed a Senate Judicial Committee confirmation hearing yesterday morning chair by Sen. Tuiagamoa...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Suicide among juveniles was one of the issues raised by Sen. Fonoti Ta’ifa Aufata during the Senate Judicial Committee confirmation hearing as Public Defender for Michael White — a father of four children.
Young people committing suicide is the latest hot topic issue in...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With an ever increasing case load — both felony and misdemeanor cases — acting Public Defender Michael White plans to petition the governor to increase he number of attorneys with the Public Defender’s Office, which now has only two working attorneys, including White...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — If an incident of “sexual harassment” surfaces within the Commerce Department, “we will address it and we will remove that person, there are no questions asked in that regard,” said Petti Tagipo Matila, who is now fully confirmed by the Fono as the DOC director, and...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It was the high cost of the “change order’ from the construction company doing the repairs for the Amouli Health Center that caused the delay to the work, according to Motusa Tuileama Nua during his House hearing for confirmation as Dept. of Health director.
He said...

![Traditional leader, Lefiti Falelaulii Pese, posed for a Samoa News photo yesterday following his Senate confirmation hearing as Police Commissioner, overseeing the Department of Public Safety. He was later confirmed by the Senate while the House gave its approval earlier this week. [photo: FS] Traditional leader, Lefiti Falelaulii Pese](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lefiti_pese.jpg?itok=3VEUDxMY)
![Despite Lefiti telling the committee that if there was any member with doubts about his nomination, he would try his best to address their concerns, he didn’t have to answer any questions as none were asked during his 15 minute appearance before the House Public Safety Committee. [photo: AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/_dps_lefiti_2232.jpg?itok=j6rCRe70)
![Representatives getting ready for a House Session last week. [l-r] Reps. Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava, Vaioata E. Amituana’I, Titiali’i Kitara Vaiau, Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase, Manumaua Wayne Wilson and Lua’itaua Gene Pan. [photo by AF] [l-r] Reps. Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava, Vaioata E. Amituana’I, Titiali’i Kitara Vaiau, Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase, Manumaua Wayne Wilson and Lua’itaua Gene Pan.](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/faipule_0945.jpg?itok=Ero5ynbo)
![Faipule Ape Mike Asifoa asked Pulou Alaimalo to explain why the governor ordered the roll back for the government workforce and Pulou Alaimalo explained that the roll back was made because of violations of the law. [SN file photo] Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/hr_head_pulou_0152.jpg?itok=EkqGzBnU)
![New Director for the Department of Human Resources Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo appeared before the House Government Operations Committee yesterday morning for her confirmation hearing. [photo by AF] Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pulou_0152.jpg?itok=pfCDGmr0)
![Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono (left) and District Court Judge Pro Tempore, Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde (right) pose for a photo yesterday following her Senate confirmation hearing as a judge of the District Court. She was later confirmed to the post, which requires only Senate confirmation. [photo: FS] Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono (left) and District Court Judge, Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde (right)](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gwen_n_soliai_5710.jpg?itok=0ZbHjOFX)
![Acting Public Defender Michael White during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday this week. Youth suicide — a major issue in American Samoa — was raised during his hearing. White told Senators, “Sometimes it’s easier for someone from the outside, to look in, to help a parent understand what’s going on.” (See story for details elsewhere in today’s issue) “If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed or hopeless and needs someone to talk to, call DoH Suicide Hotline - 220,” the DoH statement says. “Help is available. You are loved and not alone. Talk to someone today.” [photo: FS] Acting Public Defender Michael White](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pd_michael_white.jpg?itok=Has-yAFw)
![Acting Public Defender, Michael White posing for a Samoa News photo following his Senate confirmation hearing yesterday morning. Now awaiting House confirmation. [photo: FS] Acting Public Defender, Michael White](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/public_defender_mike_whitejpg.jpg?itok=QZcBxJul)
![Former Commerce director Fuiavaili’ili Keniseli Lafaele (left) and the now, fully confirmed new DOC director Petti Tagipo Matila (right) pose for a photo yesterday following Matila’s confirmation hearing before a Senate committee. Fuiavaili’ili was among several family members, friends, and co-workers in the Senate gallery during the confirmation hearing. During her testimony, Matila removed her face mask to ensure that senators heard her replies to questions. [photo: FS] Former Commerce director Fuiavaili’ili Keniseli Lafaele (left) and new DOC director Petti Tagipo Matila](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/doc_directors_old_and_new.jpg?itok=WsNWpNhc)
![Current condition at the Amouli Health Center, where the high cost of a change order has delayed the renovation, according to the DoH director. [photo by AF] Photo of Amouli Health Center](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amouli_health_center_0264.jpg?itok=zayUzZ0X)