HEADLINES FOR OCTOBER 2007 |
Approved DBAS loan applicants could receive checks as early as Nov. 10
10-31 It will indeed be a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for the score of local applicants whose loans will be approved by the Development Bank of American Samoa for holiday home repair and renovation purposes. |
New primary care clinic opens at the LBJ Medical Center
10-31 Patients visiting the Emergency Room at the LBJ Medical Center may be referred to the newly opened Primary Care Clinic, depending on the seriousness of their condition. |
American Samoa Medical Center Authority extends smoking ban to include parking area
10-31 Smokers who want to light up or take a quick drag in or around the LBJ Medical Center compound beginning Nov. 1, 2007 will be asked to put it out or leave the premises. |
DPS certifies seven of their own to operate police motorcycles
10-29 Seven cops from the Department of Public Safety have been certified to operate police motorcycles after undergoing and successfully passing the mandatory month-long training under Capt. Taase Sagapolutele and Lt. Ray Noa. |
DOH administers free flu shots and basic check-ups for the elderly
10-30 Over 100 elderly folks were able to receive, free of charge, basic medical check-ups and flu shots at the Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA) compound in Pago Pago yesterday, thanks to the unselfish service of the Department of Health. |
Arts Council wants this year’s Holiday Music Festival to be “more traditional”
10-30 The American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and Humanities will be sponsoring the annual Christmas Holiday Music Festival to be held at the Malaeoletalu Fagatogo Pavilion from December 16-18. |
Fono overran budget but cut spending last month compared to same time last year
10-29 Last month, the Fono was scrambling to meet payroll and issue allowance checks for lawmakers using limited funds reshuffled from the operating budgets of other ASG departments and programs to cover their overrun. But surprisingly, the local Legislature actually decreased it spending compared to the same time in the last two years. |
Togiola to the rescue - Mosooi cash prizes awarded
10-28 The Governor’s Office has saved the territory from a lot of heat that could have escalated if the ASG hadn’t stepped in to cover an embarrassing financial mishap during this year’s Mosooi Rugby Tournament. |
Local women gather to brainstorm on ways to revitalize traditional way of living
10-25 The Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs hosted the “Women and Youth Initiative and Brainstorming Meeting” today in the DOC conference room where over a dozen local women were present to offer input on ways to revitalize traditional practices like sewing, weaving, cooking, and planting local trees that are used for such things. |
Application deadline for the Innovations in American Government Awards Program extended for two weeks
10-24 All American Samoa Government department and agency directors and deputy directors are being encouraged by Governor Togiola Tulafono to apply for the $100,000 Innovations in American Government Awards Program sponsored by the John F. Kennedy School of Government on the prestigious campus of Harvard University. |
Korea House in Pago Pago to serve as temporary marketplace
10-24 Long awaited repairs to the deteriorating Fagatogo Marketplace will finally be carried out thanks to a $2.1 million grant from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the US Department of Commerce. |
Togiola creates enterprise fund to maintain newly refurbished Fale Laumei
10-22 Through an executive order issued by Governor Togiola Tulafono on October 4, 2007, an enterprise fund has been created to fund the maintenance and operations of the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium - more commonly known as the Fale Laumei. |
Feleti Barstow Public Library to co-sponsor Peace Poster Contest for fourth year
10-17 As they have done in the past three years, the Feleti Barstow Public Library is partnering up with the Lions Club to sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest.
The contest is open to children between 11-13 years old representing local schools, organizations, or sponsored youth groups. |
ASG shatters record with over $15 million in savings last month
10-20 Call it what you want but the American Samoa Government managed to cut its spending by over $15 million in one month - a truly remarkable performance for the record books.
This year alone, ASG hasn’t been able to reduce its spending by even half that amount compared to last year. |
ASG financial overview for September details over $1 million in savings
10-19 The Treasury Department’s Financial Overview for September 2007 shows that the American Samoa Government collected more and spent less in local funds last month.
According to the report, which was submitted from ASG Treasurer Velega Savali to Governor Togiola Tulafono, for every $1 received, approximately 79-cents was spent. |
ASPA Proud of Procurement Process for Scrap Metal Removal at the
Tafuna Scrap Metal Yard
Mike Keyser, Acting CEO and General Counsel of ASPA said today that “ASPA is very proud
of the way in which the Tafuna Scrap Metal Yard bid was prepared, issued, evaluated, and awarded.”
Andra Samoa, the Planning and Special Projects Officer and former CEO at the time, said that“ASPA had several objectives in preparing the bids. |
ASEPA water lab re-certified for another three years to test drinking water 10-18 The US Environmental Protection Agency has re-certified the water laboratory at the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency in Utulei until 2010. The same lab was USEPA certified twice before in 2004 and 2001. |
Dengue fever numbers at a standstill while flu epidemic takes off
No new cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in the territory over the past two weeks, leading Department of Health officials to be optimistic that the communicable disease, which had reached epidemic levels, is on a downfall. The total number of locals confirmed to have been infected this year with dengue fever had reached 107 two weeks ago but since then, not a single case has been reported. |
Togiola appoints Navy retiree and church minister to the ASPA board
10-16 Governor Togiola Tulafono has appointed Navy retiree and former ASPA employee Va’a Sokelati Fala, and local attorney Rev. Asaua Fuimaono to the board of the semi-autonomous agency. Fala will replace former board member Joseph Yandall who recently resigned, while Fuimaono will replace current ASPA board chairman, Attorney General Fepulea’i Arthur Ripley Jr. |
Velega outlines new and current Treasury policies for ASG 10-15 ASG Treasurer Velega Savali has written a four-page letter to all ASG department and agency heads, addressing matters in internal controls and other procedures which he says involves outstanding audit issues that they wish to clear. |
Get your share of the $200K available from DBAS for home renovation loans 10-13 The Development Bank of American Samoa has announced the availability of $200,000 in direct financing for home renovation loans. The announcement comes just in time for many locals who long to spruce up their homes for the upcoming holiday season. |
Apply for the Gates Millenium Scholars Program and get a free ride to college
10-12 At a time when scholarships are hard to come by and the only sure way to move off island is to join the military, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program is offering aspiring high school seniors the chance to go to college for free. The Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is currently accepting applications, specifically from Asians and Pacific Islanders, for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program for 2008-2009. |
Governor Togiola to visit Samoan soldiers in Korea during two-week trip
10/05 The brave sons and daughters of American Samoa who are serving in the US Armed Forces and stationed in Seoul, South Korea will receive a special visit from Governor Togiola and First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono who departed the territory last night. “While we have the opportunity, our trip there is to say thank you for your commitment to service,” Togiola said. |
ASG and FAA agree to the tune of nearly $2 million for new air traffic control tower 10/04 Having never backed down from the ASG’s position that the Federal Aviation Administration should be responsible for air traffic in and out of the Pago Pago International Airport, Governor Togiola Tulafono is pleased to announce that the FAA, through the Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) executed as of Monday, Oct. 1, has agreed to pay $1.984 million to the American Samoa Government for the construction of an air traffic control tower at the Pago Pago International Airport. |
 DBAS leasing the ‘hottest spots’ in the downtown area
10/02 The Development Bank of American Samoa has available for rent five rooms, beautifully refurbished, totaling
6,888 sq. ft. on the second floor of the Lumana’i Building in Fagatogo.
Of the five rooms, the three facing the main road each have an area of approximately 945 square feet, while the remaining two rooms in the rear of the building facing the mountain are a bit smaller with an area of
756 ... |
Governor Togiola joins the fight against domestic violence
10-03 October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the territory and at the forefront is Governor Togiola Tulafono who attended the opening kick off and offered remarks focused on prevention and early intervention to assist in curtailing uncontrolled anger that leads to violence in the home. |
Togiola to undertake scuba diving training
10/02 Who says the Chief Executive of the American Samoa Government doesn’t have time for a little fun and adventure? Governor Togiola Tulafono has received a copy of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) manual for diving and now all that’s left to do is await the return of the instructor from the US before Togiola squeezes into a wet suit and plunges in to the deep blue sea to explore the beauty and wonders of underwater life. |
Togiola extends Inouye internship applications to Oct. 26 10/01 Because of the high interest in the one-year Inouye internship program, Governor Togiola Tulafono has extended the deadline for applications to 4 p.m. on Oct. 26, adding three weeks to the initial deadline date of Oct. 5 |
