HEADLINES FOR DECEMBER 2007

12-26 Gov. Togiola confirms alert order for 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry

Governor Togiola Tulafono has received an alert order from the Department of the Army informing him of possible mobilization of the 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry - which includes Bravo and Charlie Companies in American Samoa - in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

12-14 New Pediatric Ward opens at the LBJ Medical Center

A new, more modern Pediatric Ward had been dedicated at the territory’s only hospital.

The Pediatric Ward is the second one at the LBJ Medical Center to undergo major renovation work. The first ward to get a complete makeover was the Surgical Ward which was rebuilt two years ago.

12-11 Temporary public marketplace in Pago Pago to open next month

Department of Public Works director Taeaotui Punaofo Tilei says that come January 2008, the temporary public marketplace at the former Korea House in the Pago Pago Park will be ready for occupancy.

12-10 Office of Samoan Affairs works hard to prepare for the Pacific Arts Festival

In preparation for the 10th Pacific Festival of the Arts scheduled to be hosted in the Territory next summer, the Office of Samoan Affairs will be actively participating in village beautification projects, the construction of Samoan fales for the festival village in Utulei, and the opening ‘ava ceremony.

12-31 Cash collections last month soar far above the last two years

In Nov. 2005, the ASG collected only $4,741,796 in local funds. The following year in Nov. 2006, the ASG collected a little less than that - $4,479,725 to be exact.

12-31 Local funds revenue exceeds expenditures for Nov. ‘07

Treasury’s Financial Overview report for local funds for the month of November reveals that the American Samoa Government spent 97-cents for every $1 received. At the end of the month, ASG had collected approximately $5,334,213 while expenditures amounted to only $5,188,252.

12-29 Governor Togiola:  “Doctors need to be licensed. It’s the law!”

During his weekend radio program, Governor Togiola Tulafono stressed that local doctors need to be licensed because “it’s the law.”

The Governor explained that doctors, like all medical practitioners, nurses, lawyers and engineers, need to be licensed.

12-28 Biggest road project for the new year breaks ground

The major reconstruction project for the main highway leading from Fagatogo to the Pago Plaza broke ground this afternoon during a brief ceremony held at the Pago Pago Tennis Courts.

12-17 Governor Togiola says church and state compliment each other and must work together

During his weekend radio program, Governor Togiola Tulafono spoke at length about the place of religion in government, saying that the subject needed to be addressed because some people have questioned why the government continuously mentions God during its programs when there should be a separation between church and state.

12-26 Togiola orders DOC to submit copy of cannery impact assessment study to USDOL

During his weekend radio program, Governor Togiola Tulafono announced that he has directed the Department of Commerce to submit a copy of the completed impact assessment study conducted on the two canneries to the US Department of Labor.

12-26 New Election Office to be erected in Tafuna

A grant from the Help America Vote Act will fund the erection of a new Election Office in Tafuna, at the location of what is now the former Territorial Energy Office where demolition work began this past weekend.

12-24 P eter Gurr named acting director of the Agriculture Department

Governor Togiola Tulafono has announced his selection of Peter Gurr as the acting director of the Agriculture Department for an indefinite period of time.

12-22 DBAS working hard to assist the Territorial Registrar’s Office with records

The Development Bank of American Samoa is doing what it can to help the Territorial Registrar’s Office (TRO) with automating its records.

12-21 American Samoa among the five territories to be featured on the US quarter

The Associated Press reports that the Pacific Ocean territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will be featured on the flip side of the quarter.

12-20 Survey reveals alarming numbers of local youth engaging in risky behavior

According to the results of a Youth Risk Behavior survey conducted on local high school students, an alarming number of young people are experimenting with risky behavior that include alcohol and drug use, cigarette smoking, and sexual activity.

12-19 Governor Togiola dedicates new shop building at Nu’uuli Vo-Tech High School

Parents, friends, supporters, faculty, staff members, and students of Nu’uuli Vo-Tech High School witnessed a milestone earlier this week when, over a year after work began, Governor Togiola Tulafono officially dedicated the completed new shop building on the campus of the territory’s only trade school.

12-19 LBJ Medical Center will get $624,000 for dialysis machines and other equipment

The US House and Senate has passed HR 2764, the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill which includes Congressman Faleomavaega Eni’s request for $624,000 for the LBJ Medical Center to purchase additional dialysis machines, supplies, and related needs.

12-17 Territory’s data is crucial as 2007 Economic Census begins

The US Census Bureau of the US Department of Commerce stresses that American Samoa data is crucial as the 2007 Economic Census kicks off.

12-17 First Lady Maryann Tulafono appeals to the general public

This year’s Territorial Christmas Program concluded with First Lady Maryann Tulafono appealing to local residents about preventing domestic violence and drunk driving, especially during this holiday season.

12-16 Additional supply of the flu vaccine is here

The Department of Health’s Immunization Program is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated for influenza, more commonly known as the flu.

An additional supply of the flu vaccine is here and available free of charge to local residents.

12-14 ASEPA staff members complete water safety course

Eleven members of the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency’s (ASEPA) Water Program staff have completed a four-week Water Safety course conducted by the American Samoa Swimming Association (ASSA). The course included eight sessions held twice a week at Utulei Beach.

12-12 DOC releases official estimate of territory’s population

As of July 1, 2007, the official estimate of American Samoa’s population was 68,200. According to the Statistics Division of the ASG Department of Commerce, the territory’s population estimates have increased steadily by an average of about 1,500 people each year in the years following the 2000 census, with the exception of 2007.

ASEPA develops plan to address the need to monitor non-point source pollution

12-14 - The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has developed the ASEPA Nearshore Marine Water Quality Monitoring Plan to address the need to monitor for non-point source pollution in American Samoa. 

DYWA hosts meeting for youth directors and sets Youth Conference for Dec. 28

12-13 - The Department of Youth & Women’s Affairs (DYWA) held a meeting for local youth directors on Wednesday, December 12, at the DOC conference room in Utulei to discuss objectives that include giving youth service providers and agencies the opportunity to present their services to youth leaders and participants.
services.

Community Alliance
In October 2007, the Development Bank of American Samoa (DBAS) began a new endeavor to assist the Territorial Registrar’s office (TRO) automate its records.  The ultimate goal in this effort is to link the GIS database at DBAS (a DOI funded project) with property records at TRO.  To facilitate this goal, DBAS has contributed PCs, software applications and extensive staff time to create a database for TRO, train TRO staff, and to improve this database with the goals of providing accurate and precise information from the DBAS GIS database. The new computerized TRO database will create a reliable source of information that will help the  community avoid potentially costly and protracted court cases.

Recertification of LBJ Mammography Unit set to begin Jan. 3

12-07 - The accreditation process for the Mammography Unit of the LBJ Medical Center is underway and according to Niuatoa Puletasi, a team of five from the American College of Radiology (ACR) will arrive in the territory on January 3, 2008 to begin the recertification process.

YWA hosts second monthly initiative and brainstorming meeting

12-04 - The Office of Youth and Women’s Affairs and its director Leiataua Leuga Turner hosted the second monthly “Women and Youth Initiative and Brainstorming Meeting” on Thursday, November 29th, in the DOC conference room at the EOB in Utulei.

The gathering saw the presence of local women representing different walks of life from nurses and homemakers to retirees and school teachers.

Department of Port Administration draws down $500K for air traffic control tower

12-02 - The Department of Port Administration has received a draw down of $500,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration. The money is a portion of the $1.9 million approved for the construction of an air traffic control tower at the Tafuna International Airport.

Governor Togiola supports idea of establishing fishing co-op

12-02 - Governor Togiola Tulafono strongly believes that because the territory has a high number of local fishermen, exporting fish to Hawaii is something that should be taken seriously as part of local economic development.

DOE honors deserving public school teachers

12-01 - For having maintained and upheld the standards expected of local educators, the Department of Education honored its teachers of the year for school year 2007-2008 during a special banquet held at the Country Club in Iliili on Friday evening.