By B. Chen blue@samoanews.com Dept. of Human Resources Director Sonny Thompson, in a May 21 letter to all department directors and agency heads, announced that effective immediately, all personnel actions currently submitted for action will be temporary placed on HOLD “until such time the Governor’s review for fiscal year 2015 is completed.” This, according to Thompson, is...
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com The American Samoa Power Authority is preparing for possible drought conditions during the upcoming dry season as well as an active tropical season later this year, according to ASPA executive director Utu Abe Malae. ASPA's drought program and preparations were revealed by Utu last Thursday during a news conference called by the Department of Health...
By B. Chen blue@samoanews.com The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has conditionally approved a $600,000 proposal from the Dept. of Commerce to increase the revolving loan fund, which is administered by the Development Bank of American Samoa. In a media release signed by Keniseli Lafaele, the DOC Director said the EDA “has selected American Samoa’s application for the recapitalization...
By Maria Gayapa The FCPC American Samoa is introducing a Filipino catholic festival for the first time on the island. This Catholic festival held in the Philippines during the month of May, Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) is dedicated to Virgin Mary. Introduced to the Philippines by Spaniards, the festival takes place during the most pleasurable month in the Philippines when the scent of fragrant...
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Faleomavaega is observing Memorial Day by remembering the men and women who died in military service for the United States. “On this solemn occasion, I wish to pay tribute to our military men and women and their families for their great and noble service to our nation,” Faleomavaega said. “Many have paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting...
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com The U.S. Justice Department will “administratively close” audit findings and compliance review of the ASG Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA) after the federal agency is satisfied that American Samoa has put in place sufficient protocol to address federal concerns during a review more than two years ago. As reported by Samoa News in March...
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com American Samoa joins the rest of the nation Monday in observing Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day. Observed on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in military service. Extended to a three-day weekend, it is a federal and local holiday for most of the nation’s workers, with the third day...
By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Australia’s High Commissioner to Samoa, Sue Langford, will be in the territory next week on a two-day visit, which involves meetings with local government officials and members of the private sector. Langford, who has Non-Residential Accreditation to American Samoa, will be on island next Tuesday and Wednesday for “an information and familiarization...
By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Administrative Service Department’s Government House division says no renovations were carried out in fiscal year 2014 second quarter — from Jan. 1 - Mar. 31 2014 — due to the lack of building materials. “The response to trouble-calls were limited in some ways due to the absence of a lot of building materials that we used to...
Childbirthing is one of the important elements incorporated in the training of the Emergency Medical Service academy, which graduated last weekend 14 emergency medical technicians and three emergency responders. It’s the first EMS academy in many years. Academy instructor and EMS official, Jonathan Mageo said there is extensive training involved in first aid and CPR for the academy, as...
By B. Chen blue@samoanews.com Last Saturday, May 17, ranking chiefs of Fagatogo came together to organize a clean-up for the village. Leading the effort are Taesali Lefiti, Samia Tiumalu, Rep. Maugaoalii Anoa’i, Vailiuama Leasiolagi, Punaoa Dan Tofiga and village mayor Tinae. Even the Fagatogo Catholic youth and CCCAS Rev. Iasepi and Leone Ulu are involved, along with the CCCAS choir,...
Trade, investment opportunities, tourism development high on the list By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com The American Samoa/Indonesia Cooperative Committee is now established, and it has been put together to develop new business, investment and tourism training under the Sister City agreement American Samoa signed last year with the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi, whose population...
By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer The American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Alumni Association has announced the recipient of its spring 2014 scholarship as Clarice Cokanasiga of Fagaalu. Cokanasiga was born in Fiji but has made American Samoa her home for the past 11 years. As an ASCC student with an interest in both Business and Nursing, Cokanasiga’s Fijian citizenship precludes...
Also moving forward: teachers salary reclassification By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com Addressing the last two issues dealing with the U.S. Department of Education’s ‘high risk’ designation placed on the local Department of Education (ASDOE) and processing the reclassification of teachers salaries are among the two important matters highlighted in ASDOE’s second quarter...
By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu joy@samoanews.com American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Acting Director Fa’amao ‘Fab’ Asalele has issued a stern warning on the importance of maintaining sanitary living conditions and relying on approved water sources. “In light of the amoebic dysentery outbreak as reported by the Department of Health, I want to emphasize the...
“This can be a dangerous disease for children, the elderly and chronically ill” By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com The Department of Health has revealed that a diarrhea outbreak in the territory that began early this month with more than 150 confirmed cases, includes cases which tested positive for ‘amoeba entamoeba histolytica’, which is a parasite. The revelation was made...
By B. Chen blue@samoanews.com This week is Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week and the festivities kicked off yesterday morning with a wave at the Suigaula ole Atuvasa Beach Park in Utulei where EMS employees lined the side of the main road to wave at passing vehicles. Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga has proclaimed the week of May 18-24 as Emergency Medical Services Week with the theme:...
By B. Chen blue@samoanews.com Work on getting everything squared away for the long anticipated fiber optic cable project is still going strong. Yesterday, the crew from Happy Trucking and Construction were busy laying the ducts for the fiber optic cable system in the Malaeimi area. An official from the Futiga-based company said yesterday that their crew has already laid the groundwork for the...
By Jeff Hayner jeff@samoanews.com With Rip Current Awareness Week coming up in less than two weeks, aside from on-going preparations, there was a meeting this week with some of the partners about a Rip Current scenario that will be put on by the American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA), the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Marine Patrol and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) on the opening day of...
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com With the success of a pilot program started late last year which put debit meters in two public schools, the American Samoa Power Authority has added four more schools to the list, with additional schools to be included over the next two months. The pilot program was first revealed when ASPA executive director Utu Abe Malae testified last September before...