Opinion
Dear Fellow Citizens, Lawmakers, and Guardians of the Public Trust,
The recent House hearing, as reported by Talanei News, on the American Samoa Government’s $13.9 million debt to the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund (ASGERF) marks an essential step in a long-overdue reckoning...
Dear Editor,
As a retiree member of the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund, I would like to applaud the efforts of Kenisele Lafaele to shed light on problems. He has outlined concerns with how our many years of contributions are being misused and mismanaged.
I add my voice to...
Good morning Director Taufete’e,
It has now been nearly a month since I last reached out, and I have yet to receive a response. Given the lack of communication and the seriousness of the issue, I have taken the step of filing a formal complaint and opening a case with the Office for Civil Rights...
For far too long, the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund (ASGERF) has operated without meaningful transparency or accountability. This op-ed presents my final public statement as a trustee, documenting not only institutional decay but also the systemic failures that demand...
Talofa!
The following is a summary of my thoughts given the wonderful news of the American Samoa Governor and Lt Governor taking a unified stand with legislative leaders expressing opposition to the proposed commercial leasing of American Samoa's EEZ. Good to reaffirm that American Samoa's...
In the story, “Update: One man charged so far in gaming room raid in Nu’uuli”, published on Monday, June 23, 2025, Samoa News identified the establishment that was raided by police as being in the village of Nu’uuli, “near the Logoai residence and at a building registered to Tino Logaoai.”
Samoa...
MO: Sui uma o le Polokalame Litaea ale Malo o Amelika Samoa (American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund or ASGERF):
I masina ua tuana’i, sa ou avatua ai i se faasologa o tusi fa’alauaitele (open letters) e fa, e fa’asoa ai ni fa’afitauli i le pulega ma le ta’ita’iga o le ASGERF. E le’i...
To the Members of the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund (ASGERF):
Over the past several months, I have shared with you four open letters detailing the governance and management challenges within our Fund. These letters were not written lightly. They were grounded in documented...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A federal official recently confirmed that seabed mining near American Samoa would take place in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — waters beyond the 3-mile limit, under U.S. federal control.
That may be what the law says. But does that mean American Samoa has no say?...
Dear Director Taufetee,
I am writing as a deeply concerned sister of a minor child (J.M), a 9th-grade student at Voc Tech High School, to formally report and demand immediate action regarding a shocking incident that occurred under one of your institution's (Nuuuli Vocational Technical High...