Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “The 911 system is not only broken and outdated, but it’s nothing but an operator.”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...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A file containing several documents was circulated in the House chamber last week containing allegations of illegal activities and the misuse of federal funding in the Department of Human Social Services (DHSS).
The file allegedly reveals that a non profit organization...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who was arrested during a traffic stop last month when illegal drugs were allegedly found in his possession told police that he bought drugs from the area called “Le Filifili” for his own personal use.
Tufa’aga Laki made his initial appearance in District Court...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A young man convicted of stealing equipment belonging to the government and later violating local drug laws is going to jail. Malaki Sefulu was ordered to serve 28 months in jail as a condition of his 7-year probation.
Sefulu, who has been in custody since his arrest,...