Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Batch #2 of the second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIP) — or stimulus checks as part of the federal COVID Related Tax Relief Act, was released yesterday by the ASG Treasury. And those who came to the Disbursing Office don’t have mailing addresses on their 2019 tax...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Project Manager of the Center for Families of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (CFIDD) has strongly denied an allegation that the organization has engaged in a scheme where CFIDD received federal funding to pay for services the organization never provided...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The chairman of the House Human Social Service Committee, Rep. Su’a Alexander Eli Jennings has made it clear that the confidential file containing several documents that was circulated in the House chamber last week will not be part of the confirmation hearing for the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “The 911 system is not only broken and outdated, but it’s nothing but an operator.”
This was the statement by the Director of the Department of Homeland Security (DHL), Samana Semo Ve’ave’a before the House Public Safety Committee hearing last week, which addressed many...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga last Thursday signed into law the American Samoa Government’s fiscal year 2021 total budget of $465.95 million — a 10% increase from the approved FY 2020 budget of $424.20 million.
The budget bill, approved by the Fono more than a...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During a tsunami warning you should move to higher ground or inland before it’s too late, “once you feel the ground moving get your family and move to a safe place.” This was the response from the Director of the Department of Homeland Security Samana Semo Ve've'a when...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Based on a recommendation by Chief Justice Michael Kruse, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga has nominated current District Court Pro Tempore, Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde as a district court judge with the nomination introduced in the Senate last week.
Under local law...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through separate memorandums, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga appointed the acting Commissioner of the Office of Financial Institution, a police commissioner, and continued a panel first establish by the Lolo Administration to — among other things — review...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On Tuesday February 16, 2021, the Territorial Bank of American Samoa (TBAS) announced the start of the new Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund — a business loan program for new and existing small businesses located within the Territory.
Small businesses needing...
Washington, D.C. — Tuesday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata announced she will be Vice Ranking Member for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC), and will serve once again on two key Veterans subcommittees for the 117th Congress — the Health Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigations...

![A view around 8a.m. yesterday of the large crowd standing in line at the atrium on the ground floor of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building, to await their turn to get their stimulus checks from the ASG Disbursing Office. [photo: FS] Crowd at EOB](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eob_crowd_5694.jpg?itok=2KvhurEc)
![“CFIDD was never engaged in such a scheme where we received funding for services that we never provided,” Nellie Faumuina said during an exclusive interview with Samoa News at her office in Utulei on Tuesday afternoon. [photo: WIC program] Photo of WIC office](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/wic_office.jpeg?itok=WvzHa9BS)

![Samana told the committee that the problem with our 911 system is that it is broken and outdated. There is a serious need to fix this problem before it gets worse. “We’re in a technological world and we need to upgrade our 911 system with the new modern technology we have on hand,” Samana told the committee. [photo: AF] Director of the Department of Homeland Security (DHL), Samana Semo Ve’ave’a](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samana_with_notbook_under_arm_0987.jpg?itok=SdGQ7w2H)
![Lemanu expressed his sincere gratitude to the Fono “for your vigilance in preparing and submitting of this budget bill. Your due diligence during this Legislative session is greatly appreciated.” [SN file photo] Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gov_lemanu_at_desk_0493_5.jpg?itok=Af13yFJ2)
![Samana said he’s concerned for the safety of our people when it comes to a local earthquake occurring while the island sleeping. He said whether the sirens are on or not, that’s not enough time to prepare everyone for a locally generated tsunami. [SN file photo] Director of the Department of Homeland Security Samana Semo Ve've'a](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samana_5550_2.jpg?itok=0iTjj-N6)
![Tauiliili-Langkilde returned home in 1996 as an attorney-at-law, after obtaining her Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law and gaining admission to practice law in the courts of Hawaii. [SN file photo] Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gwen_5935wweb_3.jpg?itok=hIhvi6g6)
![In a Feb. 12th memo, the governor appointed Lefiti Falelauli’i Pese as Commissioner of Public Safety and he shall exercise the authority necessary to discharge the duties and general responsibility of the police commissioner. [SN file photo] Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lemanu_head_shot_4.jpg?itok=KLdGi8Xe)
![“Territorial Bank of American Samoa (TBAS) continues to support business in American Samoa through developing new and innovative banking products that assist our future and existing business owners to have the proper capitalization to support profitability,” states David Buehler, President and CEO of TBAS. [SN file photo] Territorial Bank of American Samoa sign](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tbas_sign_16.jpg?itok=vFXumEe8)
![Congresswoman Amata seated by Ranking Member Bost in Committee who after her appointment said of Amata, “She has been a constant advocate for our veterans, especially those in underserved areas like American Samoa. I look forward to continuing our work on behalf of all the men and women who have served in uniform.” [courtesy photo] Congresswoman Amata seated by Ranking Member Bost](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata_n_ranking_member.jpg?itok=14n_w9sO)