Local News
President of the local Alia Fisherman Association, Taloloa Howard Dunham voiced his concerns with a federal judge over the US government’s decision early last year, which reduced the Large Vessel Protected Area (LVPA) in waters of American Samoa from 50 to 12 miles from shoreline.
Dunham’s concerns...
The latest data from the Department of Health says the number of suspected Zika cases has increased slightly with one new confirmed case as American Samoa closes out the year 2016.
According to DOH, as of Dec. 15, there were 1,026 Zika suspected case with 61 Zika case confirmed through laboratory...
![Le sa fou o le malo, le MV Manu’atele i le taimi na aga’i mai i taula i le uafu tele i Fagatogo i le taeao ananafi. [ata AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Manuatele-0692.jpg?itok=0P3lAaaM "Le sa fou o le malo, le MV Manu’atele i le taimi na aga’i mai i taula i le uafu tele i Fagatogo i le taeao ananafi. [ata AF]")
The government’s new vessel MV Manu’atele sailed into Pago Pago Harbor after 8:30a.m undera cloudy morning with a little rain, and the main harbor was already packed with VIPS, guests and members of the public.
The main dock was decorated the night before with a “Manu’atele” sign on the wall...
A marijuana shipment estimated to have a street value of $30- $40,000 was confiscated Tuesday afternoon at the Fagatogo Post Office after a young man in his early 20s came by to claim the parcel.
The drugs, according to Samoa News sources, were stashed in four sandwich bags full of protein powder....
![A military man turned lawmaker, Senator Tilo Vasaga and his wife Christine pose for the Samoa News camera after the brief swearing-in ceremony for all faipule and senators of the 35th Legislature yesterday morning. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Senator%20Tilo%20from%20Aua.jpg?itok=Jzf6UiVx "A military man turned lawmaker, Senator Tilo Vasaga and his wife Christine pose for the Samoa News camera after the brief swearing-in ceremony for all faipule and senators of the 35th Legislature yesterday morning. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]")
No disputes occurred yesterday when the 18-member Senate took the oath of office in the ceremony, which was presided over by Chief Justice Michael Kruse, that started just after 11a.m. Additionally, Sen. Gaoteote Tofau Palaie was re-elected Senate President for the next four years.
As reported by...
![Traditional leaders and untitled men of the Manu’a district perform the Ava Ceremony at yesterday’s inauguration for Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga. [photo: AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/inauguration%20Manua%200583.jpg?itok=bAgAs5FV "Traditional leaders and untitled men of the Manu’a district perform the Ava Ceremony at yesterday’s inauguration for Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga. [photo: AF]")
The House of Representatives has unanimously re-elected Rep. Savali Talavou Ale as Speaker of the House for the next two years. As previously reported by Samoa News, in a meeting last month of returning and newly-elect faipule, all endorsed Savali to, again, be the House leader.
At the start of...
TEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY OVER 3-DAY WEEKEND
Only ten individuals were taken into custody over the three-day New Year’s Day weekend and they all made their initial appearance yesterday in District Court, where the majority of them were released on their own recognizance, and are to appear again in...
![Congresswoman Amata and members of her staff with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Swearing in Day for the 115th Congress. [courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/web_swearingin_1224_0.jpg?itok=HfgKrlNS "Congresswoman Amata and members of her staff with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Swearing in Day for the 115th Congress. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata, and the House of Representatives convened the start of the 115th Congress after being sworn in yesterday afternoon by House Speaker Paul Ryan (WI), who was also re-elected by House Members to continue his post as Speaker of the House. “I could not be...
![Catholic Church leader, Bishop Peter Brown (middle) and eight religious leaders in American Samoa from various denominations carried out the Conferment Blessing for Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga (kneeling left) and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga at yesterday’s Inauguration ceremony for the Lolo and Lemanu Administration. [photo: AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/web_swearingin_1224.jpg?itok=9zLYYR7h "Catholic Church leader, Bishop Peter Brown (middle) and eight religious leaders in American Samoa from various denominations carried out the Conferment Blessing for Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga (kneeling left) and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga at yesterday’s Inauguration ceremony for the Lolo and Lemanu Administration. [photo: AF]")
Speaking in Samoan during his inauguration address, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga laid out the administration’s “five critical priorities” in the next four years, while Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga gave a summary of the priorities in English.
The priorities are similar to issues Lolo shared...
![This photo provided by the Port Administration shows the new ASG vessel MV Manu’atele, which is scheduled to sail into the Port of Pago Pago around 9a.m. today, followed by a brief ceremony at the port. [photo: Port Administration]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Manua%20vessel.jpg?itok=8T6qMWB- "This photo provided by the Port Administration shows the new ASG vessel MV Manu’atele, which is scheduled to sail into the Port of Pago Pago around 9a.m. today, followed by a brief ceremony at the port. [photo: Port Administration]")
Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has issued a public invitation to the people of American Samoa to attend a brief ceremony today, for the arrival of the government’s multi million dollar MV Manu’atele, which will service not only the Manu’a island group but in the future other neighboring Pacific islands...