Fono approves FY08 budget, with Senate amendments

09/28 A special conference committee made up of three members each from both Fono chambers have agreed that the version of the FY08 budget that includes Senate amendments is the best way to go and apparently, the rest of their counterparts agree. [read more]

Fono overspent budget but decreased spending of local funds last month

09/28 The local Legislature might’ve overspent its budget.
And yes they needed $464,000 to cover an overrun which included payments for the two pay periods (plus expense allowances) left in the current fiscal year.

But according to the Treasury’s Financial Overview Report for August 2007 (local funds), the Fono cut its spending by nearly $90,565 compared to the same time last year. [read more]

FAA agrees to provide millions for Airport Rehabilitation Project

09/27 Nearly five years after the Nov. 1, 2002 project application was submitted, the US Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration has offered and agreed to pay, as the United States’ share, one-hundred percent of the first $2 million of allowable costs and ninety-five percent of all allowable project costs over $2 million incurred in accomplishing the Runway 08/26 - Phase II Rehabilitation Project at the Pago Pago International Airport. [read more]

Local HIV/AIDS program awarded HRSA grant

09/27 The US Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has issued a notice of grant award in the amount of
$51,979 for the local Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS program.

The grant is offered annually, with this specific one covering the budget period from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008. [read more]

ASG collected more and spent less than budgeted in local funds last month

09/27 The ASG Treasury’s Financial Overview Report for local funds last month reveals that for every $1 collected, only 72-cents was spent.

The actual revenue was $8,144,407 and expenditures only added up to $5,876,097 although $6,096,541 was the magic number listed for budgeted revenue and expenditures. [read more]

ASG’s spending last month drops compared to last two years

09/26 Governor Togiola Tulafono has been forwarded a copy of the ASG Treasury Financial Overview Report for last month (local funds), submitted by Treasurer Velega Savali, which shows that expenditures last month added up to $5,876,097 compared to $6,021,450 the same time last year and $6,854,337 in August 2005. [read more]

Territory awarded $140,000 to strengthen flu pandemic preparedness

09/26 American Samoa is the recipient of $140,000 in supplemental funding to spruce up its preparedness for a flu pandemic. The announcement was made earlier this month by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the granting agency. [read more]

Task Force established to look into proposed Economic Integration Agreement

09/25 The leaders of the two Samoas, Governor Togiola Tulafono and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, have agreed to establish a joint Government/Private Sector Task Force to determine the feasibility of an Economic Integration Agreement between the two Samoas for the purpose of establishing a common customs union. [read more]

Togiola issues executive order establishing policy for short-term/temporary contract employees

09/25 Thanks to an Executive Order issued by Governor Togiola Tulafono on Monday, September 24, short-term and contract employees are now permitted to accrue annual and sick leave, according to formulations contained in every short-term contract.

The formulation is to be a permanent part of the short-term/temporary contract form, and be uniform for all such employees. [read more]

Both Samoas agree to consider all options for improved connectivity

09/24 American Samoa has signed a letter of intent to re deploy the PAC RIM EAST undersea fiber optic cable from Hawaii and currently, an environmental assessment study for that reason in underway.

But the capacity of the cable exceeds the needs of the Territory and therefore, the independent state of Samoa is being invited to join the venture which would enable them to enjoy connectivity by mid 2008. [read more]

Restoration of Massacre Bay Monument in Aasu completed

09/24 The American Samoa Historic Preservation Office
(ASHPO) has announced that the two-phase restoration work on the 123-year-old Aasutai monument at Massacre Bay is completed.

The monument, entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, was erected in memory of the
12 French sailors - part of the first European expedition to set foot on Tutuila  - who died during a fatal altercation with locals on December 11, 1787. [read more]

DOI/NOAA contribute $300K for AS Coral Reef Initiative

09/23 The Department of Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have contributed $300,000 to support American Samoa’s Coral Reef Initiative staff positions and projects.

The donation, delivered in form of a check, was presented by the co-chair of the US Coral Reef Task Force Nikolao Pula last month during the 18th USCRTF meeting held at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium. [read more]

Togiola makes the protection of coral reefs, MPA network, and fisheries a top priority

09/22 - During the 18th meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force last month, Governor Togiola Tulafono announced that the Territory’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network strategy had been finalized and adopted.

The MPA Network Strategy was developed to link American Samoa’s MPA programs and agencies together to be more effective in protecting and managing marine resources, and aims to develop regional partnerships to better protect our coral reef ecosystem. [read more]

New ASPA customer service hours effective Oct. 1

9/22 A good number of people are pleased with the recent announcement by the American Samoa Power Authority that, effective October 1, customer service hours for utility payments and all inquiries will be from 7:30am - 4:00pm, at both locations in Tafuna and Satala.

The same offices will also be open on Saturdays from 7:30am - 12:00pm. In addition, ASPA management will be available for all other inquiries from 7:30am - 10:00am at both ASPA locations. [read more]

FHwA and A.C.E. officials visit Tutuila and Manu’a to inspect ongoing and proposed projects

09/21 Territorial representative for the Federal Highway Administration Pat Phung and Harold Nakaoka of the Army Corps of Engineers were accompanied by Public Works director Taeaotui Punaofo Tilei to Ta’u and Ofu, Manu’a earlier this week to inspect the roads there. [read more]

Uiagalelei Iona resigns, Lemanu Mauga appointed to take over

9/21 Acting director of the Office of Property Management Uiagalelei Iona’s resignation has been accepted by Governor Togiola Tulafono, who has since appointed Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Mauga to take over the position.

No reason was given for the resignation. On Aug. 29, Uiagalelei pled guilty to one count of witness tampering at the Honolulu federal court. He will be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2008. [read more]

Road resurfacing from Avau to airport intersection underway

9/21 McConnell Dowell and its workers have taken over the stretch from Avau heading west to the main airport intersection as they begin tackling the first phase of a nine-month contract that requires them to resurface the main highway in that area.

“We’ve moved our stuff out there and we’re going to start off with the drainage work,” said project manager Mark Liersch. [read more]

Dredging of Ofu Harbor complete, Ta’u next in line

9/20 The MV Sili was finally able to sail into and dock at the Ofu wharf last week, two-and-a-half years since it became inaccessible after Tropical Cyclone Olaf ripped through the Tutuila and Manu’a Islands and inflicted serious damage to the waterway.

Since that time, small crafts have had to transport people and cargo to and from vessels traveling in and out of Ofu Harbor. [read more]

Local Legislature passes reprogramming bill

9/19 Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have passed in final reading their own respective versions of an appropriation bill that reprograms $578,500 from five different departments and special programs to cover budget overruns for the local Legislature and the Governor’s Office.

Upon approval by the Governor, the act will be effective immediately “due to the urgent need to assist in providing adequate funding for government operations.” [read more]

Board of Trustees wants curator for local Museum

9/19 The Museum of American Samoa, more commonly known as the Jean P. Hayden Museum in Fagatogo, is in need of a curator to run its daily operations.

Co-chairperson for the Museum Board of Trustees, territorial librarian Cheryl Morales-Polataivao explained that the board members agreed to advertise for a curator, which is a requirement necessary for the facility to become recognized federally, as a museum. [read more]

Vatia seawall first to be built with “Samoan Stones” designed by the A.C.E.

9/18 The new seawall in Vatia is approximately 50% complete and expected to be ready by the end of this year. So what’s the big deal?

The Vatia seawall is special in its own right, as it is the first ever in the territory to be constructed using a new pre cast concrete unit designed by the Army Corps of Engineers specifically for the coastline of American Samoa. [read more]

Togiola takes a stand on greenhouse gas emissions produced by ASG

9/18 Governor Togiola Tulafono has etched in stone the Administration’s commitment to focus in on the adverse impacts of global warming by issuing an Executive Order that addresses everything from the fuel efficiency rating of ASG vehicles to the replacement of incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent ones. [read more]

Fono confirms Leiataua Leuga Turner as DYWA director

9/15 Leiataua Leuga Alaimoana Turner officially became the director of the Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs after the Fono confirmed her appointment yesterday.

Turner received a unanimous vote of 17-0 in the Senate and 17-1 in the House of Representatives . [read more]

PBDC Announces Opening in Senior Fellows Program

09/13 The American Samoa Government is currently recruiting candidates for the senior fellows program under the Pacific Basin Development Council based in the Aloha State.

And joining in on the recruiting campaign trail is Governor Togiola Tulafono, who is also the newly elected PBDC president. [read more]

Four LBJ doctors recognized as associate members of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynecology

09/12 Chief of the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) Clinic at the LBJ Medical Center, Salausa Dr. John Ah-Ching, along with three of his staff members: Dr. Annie Fuavai, Dr. Bethel Muasau, and Dr. Ianeta Timoteo, were recently recognized as associate members of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. [read more]

Fono overruns budget, all payments stopped

09/12 Members of the Senate and House of Representatives were not happy on Wednesday, September 12 after they went home without their usual bi-weekly office allowance checks.

Holding allowance checks and all payments to the Fono is the result of a decision made by the Treasury Department to control the overspending at the local Legislature. [read more]

DOH takes dengue fever awareness on the road, cases reach 103

09/08 As of Friday, September 7, the number of confirmed dengue fever cases had reached 103 so far this year, yet there still hasn’t been an official announcement as to whether or not the communicable disease has claimed any lives.

The continuous increase in the number of confirmed cases has sparked panic amongst local residents, many of whom remember the last dengue fever epidemic which struck the territory in 2001-2002, which affected 1778 locals and killed three people. [read more]

DOH Task Force takes initial step to address worldwide toy recall

09/07 The Department of Health’s newly formed Toy Recall Task Force -set up by order of Governor Togiola Tulafono - has taken a step towards preventing unnecessary injuries and even death by printing photographs of the toys affected by the August 14 world wide Mattel/Fisher Price toy recall in the Samoa News.

Pictures of the recalled toys were featured in the September 7 & 10 editions of the Samoa News. [read more]