c m y k us post office

TO OLYMPIC COMPETITION, WINS BRONZE ON BEAM

by Fili SagapoluteleSamoa News Correspondent

While construction of the new airport jet-fuel tank farm is complete, it has yet

to be commissioned to be used, with ASG waiting for off-island specialists to carry out tests and have the facility cer-tifi ed, says Port Administration director

Christopher King. The new Jet-A Fuel Tank Farm, relo-

cated from the area next to the Pago Pago International Airport parking lot, to just

outside of the airport fence across from ANZ bank — near Pala Lagoon, was dedicated in late 2019 during the Lolo

LAWMAKERS CONCERNED ABOUT WHY NEW TANK FARM IS NOT OPERATIONAL YET

AMATAAMATAAMATAAMATAAMATAAMATAAMATA GETS AN EARFUL AT IMMIGRATION BOARD CONFIRMATION

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CONFIRMATIONCONFIRMATION

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TO OLYMPIC TO OLYMPIC TO OLYMPIC TO OLYMPIC TO OLYMPIC TO OLYMPIC TO OLYMPIC TO OLYMPIC BILES RETURNS

C M

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C M

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These were among the recent photos posted by Peter Leiataua Ahching on his Face-book page, with the message, “Congratulations to my son Rocco Leiataua Ahching for win-ning the 2021 Advanced Space Academy Top High School Stu-dent ‘The Right Stuff ’ award (ages 15-18yo) at the United States Space & Rocket Center, Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, July 29th.

The posting has received several congratulatory mes-sages from relatives, friends and others. Rocco’s local rela-tives forwarded the posting to Samoa News earlier this week.

[photos: US Space Camp]

HOUSE SPEAKER CHIDES SENATE PRESIDENT OVER PARAMOUNT BUILDERS STATEMENT…

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PAGE 7

AMATAAMATAAMATAAMATAAMATAAMATAAMATAAMATAEXPRESSES CONCERN TO AIRLINE ON DISCRIMINATION ALLEGATION

PAGE 4

The new jet-fuel tank farm while complete and dedicated is yet to be commissioned for use, Port Administration director Christopher King told the Fono Joint Budget Committee, during the Port Administration Department’s fi scal year 2022 budget hearing on Monday. [photo: FS]

(Continued on page 15)

Red Department of Health signs informing the public that the U.S Post Offi ce in Fagatogo is closed down until further notice — it’s the rat problem.

After weeks of negotia-tion and waiting, the U.S Post

Offi ce at Fagatogo was closed down by the Department of Health yesterday morning due to the rat problem inside the post offi ce building. Samoa News observed mem-bers of the public coming to check their mail and fi nding

out that the post offi ce area was surrounded with yellow caution tape with red DoH signs attached to every door of the post offi ce, informing the public that the building has been closed down by the Department of Health.

[photos by AF]

US POST OFFICE CLOSED BY PUBLIC HEALTH

MARMARIS, Turkey (AP) — Wildfires burned for a sev-enth day in Turkey’s Medi-terranean region Wedneday, prompting the evacuation of at least one more neighborhood.

Scorching heat, low humidity and strong winds have fed the fires, which so far have killed eight people and count-less animals and destroyed for-ests. Villagers have had to evac-uate their homes and livestock, while tourists have fled in boats and cars.

Observers worry that fires in the seaside province of Mugla could jump to two thermal power plants. Flames came within a kilometer of the Kemerkoy thermal power in the district of Milas late Tuesday before the wind changed direc-tion, helping avert a crisis there for the moment.

Firefighters and police water cannons, usually used during political protests, fought back the flames at night as other rescue officials dug ditches around the plant, according to reporters at the scene. Milas Mayor Muhammet Tokat said Wednesday that the fire was under partial control and efforts to put out the flames in the thermal plant area continued. Tokat added that the much needed air support had finally arrived. He said he hoped their

assistance would continue throughout the day to bring the fire under full control.

Videos from an adjacent neighborhood in Milas showed charred, decimated trees while firefighters continued dousing the area with water hoping to prevent another spark from reigniting the fire.

The defense ministry said it had sent two ships to the area to be used for sea evacuations, if needed.

Fires continued on in six locations in Mugla, local for-estry officials said. Another neighborhood in Antalya province was evacuated as of Wednesday morning.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s govern-ment is under criticism for its inability to put down the fires but the minister of agriculture and forestry, Bekir Pakdemirli tweeted that 160 fires in 34 provinces had been brought under control as 14 continued in five provinces.

Thousands of firefighters and civilians are trying to douse the flames. Turkey’s foreign min-ister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said late Tuesday that Turkey had hired four new helicopters that would be able to firefight after dark. They would be arriving from Ukraine. Planes sent from Spain and Croatia joined air-

craft from Russia, Iran, Ukraine and Azerbaijan on Tuesday.

Authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the fires, including possible sabotage by Kurdish militants. Experts, however, mostly point to climate change as the culprit, along with accidents caused by people.

A heat wave across southern Europe, fed by hot air from North Africa, has led to wild-fires across the Mediterranean, including in Italy and Greece. Temperatures in Marmaris, in Mugla, reached an all-time high of 45.5 C (114 F) on Tuesday.

The Turkish meteorology authority warned that tempera-tures would rise between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius above sea-sonal norms around the coun-try’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.

Across the sea, in neigh-boring Greece, firefighting planes resumed operations at first light to tackle a major forest fire on the northern outskirts of Athens that forced thousands to flee their homes the previous day amid the country’s worst heat wave in decades.

The fire in two suburbs of the Greek capital was the worst of 81 wildfires that broke out around the country in 24 hours from late Monday to late

Wildfires burn for a 7th day in coastal areas of Turkey

samoa news, Wednesday, August 4, 2021


While very supportive of increasing salaries of public school teachers, many senators voiced their concern and dis-pleasure that an Administration bill for this proposal failed to provide details of the new salary hikes, which has been in effect for over a month — since July 1st, per a June 30th directive issued by Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga.

With important details missing in the legislation, the Senate Education Committee at the conclusion of a hearing on Monday, agreed to table the measure until such time that the appropriate revision is provided by the Administration as well as a report from Human Resources Department (DHR) on its review of the entire government workforce pay schedule that included the new pay schedule for teachers.

DHR director Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo, Education director Talauega Dr. Asaeli Sama-soni and ASG Budget Office director Catherine A. Saelua appeared Monday morning for the committee hearing, which

started with Sen. Malaepule Saite Moliga pointing out that the bill seeks to repeal the current teacher pay-scale but without any other information or explanation.

That statement was echoed by all senators who spoke during the hearing, saying that the Administration wants to repeal current law, but “where is the replacement” provision or the new pay schedule?

Senators also informed the witnesses that with the Lemanu Administration, being new, it is best that the right-way of doing things is implemented now, instead of having to deal with problems down the line.

Responding to a committee question, Pulou-Alaimalo explained that pay scale for teachers has already been adjusted to reflect the new one, effective July 1st — as per the governor’s memorandum, which covers the entire ASG workforce including blue-collar workers, white-collar workers and teachers with degrees.

As previously announced by the Administration, under the new pay-plan, the starting

salaries for teacher degree holders with an AA degree is at $20,635; BA at $31,560; MA at $41,074 and PhD at $50,233. (See Samoa News edition July 6th for details including a copy of the governor’s July 1st memo, that also covers pay grades and step increments, adopted for career service employees.)

The governor’s June 30th memo on the new pay scale for ASG was then distributed to senators — some of them saying that this information should have been provided together with the draft copy of the bill sent to the Fono or included in the bill.

Sen. Utu Sila Poasa informed the witnesses that it’s not the Fono’s job to correct Admin-istration bills or make neces-sary amendments. He said the Fono should have been properly informed in advance so that the committee has all the necessary information.

Asked about the funding source for the new teachers’ sal-aries, Saelua said it comes from federal COVID money.

The Governor’s Office said last month — responding

to media queries — that the US Department of Education (USDOE) has given approval for use of the COVID-19 Edu-cation Stabilization Fund (ESF II) to pay for salary adjust-ments for public school educa-tors, while the local Education Department (ASDOE) already has a plan to cover the adjusted salaries when the grant money expires in about 3-years. (See Samoa News online July 21st for details.)

During the hearing, Sen. Togiola Tulafono asked if a study was conducted first before implementation of the new ASG pay scale, because it covers the entire workforce, as well as degree holders not only for teachers but other professionals. Pulou-Alaimalo, responded “yes” and there were also con-sultants from New Zealand involved in the process.

The committee requested a full-detailed report of the results of the study, who was involved, and the process involved in reaching the government’s new pay scale.

The study came under the purview of the governor’s

Compliance Review Com-mittee (CRC), established ear-lier this year, which was tasked to review all expenses related to COVID-19 as well as all government and employment actions from January 1, 2019. They were also tasked with the review of the general pay scale for the workforce.

During a brief committee discussion, after the ASG wit-nesses left the hearing, a con-sensus among senators was reached to table the bill for further consideration and also await the reports requested from DHR.

Mentioned briefly by the committee is whether or not the Attorney General conducted a full review of the draft legisla-tion before it was submitted to the Fono in early July, or if everything was done by the Governor’s chief legal counsel.

So far the Senate has rejected two Administration bills and tabled at least four other mea-sures for further review because the proposed laws, were “incomplete” — missing perti-nent information.

SENATE TABLES ANOTHER “INCOMPLETE” ADMIN BILL — THE TEACHER PAY RAISE

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NOTICE FOR SEPARATION AGREEMENTTO Members of the ALOE PAGOFIE, FAAOLATAGA FUSITUA Family and to all whom these present may come!NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that VIOLETI & LAIFAI SAUMANU has offered for recording in this office an instrument in writing which seeks to separate a certain structure which is or to be erected, on land FOAGA allegedly belonging to ALAIASA FAMILY of the village of FALENIU in the County of Tualauta, Island of TUTUILA, American Samoa. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that any interested person may object to the recording of such instru-ment by filing in the Territorial Registar’s Office in Fagatogo, a written objection to the recording of said instrument. Any objections thereto must be filed with in 30 days from the date of posting of this notice.NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that if no such objections are filed within the said 30 day period, the instrument will be recorded and shall be valid and binding on all persons. The said instrument may be examined at any time at the Territorial Registrar’s Office.

POSTED: July 06 2021 thru Aug 05, 2021 SIGNED: Devine Iuli Falaniko, Territorial Registrar

FA’AALIGA O LE FEAGAIGA MO SE TU’U’ESEI I tagata o le aiga sa ALOE PAGOFIE, FAAOLATAGA FUSITUA , ma i latou uma e silasila ma lauiloaina lenei fa’aaliga!O le fa’aaliga lenei ona o VIOLETI & LAIFAI SAUMANU o le nu’u o FALENIU ua ia fa’aulufaleina mai i lenei ofisa se feagaiga tusitusi e fa’ailoa ai se mana’oga fia tu’u’eseina o se fale ua/po o le a, fa’atuina i luga o le fanua o FOAGA e fa’asino i le aiga sa ALAIASA, o le nu’u o FALENIU itumalo o Tualauta, ile motu o TUTUILA, Amerika Samoa.O le fa’aaliga fo’i e fa’apea, so o se tasi e iai sona aia i lenei mata’upu e mafai ona fa’atu’i’iese ile fa’amauina o lenei feagaiga pe a auina mai i le ofisa ole Resitara o le Teritori of Amerika Samoa i Fagatogo, sana fa’atu’ese tusitusia. O fa’atu’iesega uma lava e ao ona fa’aulufaleina mai i totonu o aso e 30 faitauina mai i le aso na faíaalia ai lenei fa’aaliga. Afai ole a leai se fa’atu’i’esega e fa’aulufaleina i totonu o aso 30 e pei ona ta’ua i luga, o le a fa’amauina loa lenei feagaiga e taualoaina ma ‘a’afia ai tagata uma. 07/09 & 08/04/21

DESPITE ‘SUPPORT’ FOR INCREASING TEACHER SALARIES — THERE ARE QUESTIONS



NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s monthslong fall from grace reached a nadir Tuesday, when investigators said they substan-tiated sexual harassment alle-gations against him from 11 women, many of whom have worked for him.

Cuomo, once widely beloved for his telegenic response to the coronavirus pandemic, con-tinues to deny the allegations and maintains he isn’t going anywhere — but his political future might soon be out of his own hands.

Here are the takeaways from the report and Cuomo’s response, along with what hap-pens next:

WHAT WAS CUOMO ACCUSED OF DOING?Multiple women accused

Cuomo of sexual harass-ment and assault. The public allegations, which started in December and cascaded over the winter, ranged from inap-propriate comments to forced kisses and groping.

DID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S PROBE FIND

CUOMO GUILTY?Well, no. A probe can’t

fi nd anyone guilty — that’s for a judge and jury to decide. Plus, the probe was civil, not criminal, in nature. But inves-tigators did fi nd the 11 women were telling the truth about Cuomo’s behavior and that Cuomo created a hostile work environment “rife with fear and intimidation.”

BUT WILL CUOMO BE CHARGED?

State Attorney General Letitia James, who oversaw the probe, said there would be no criminal referral but local police and prosecutors can use the evi-dence and fi ndings to build their own cases. The district attorney in New York’s capital, Albany, said Tuesday he was requesting James’ investigative materials and encouraged victims to come forward.

CUOMO TOLD THE PUBLIC TO WAIT TO

JUDGE HIM UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION WAS

COMPLETE. WHAT DOES HE SAY NOW?

Cuomo is more defi ant than ever, refuting allegations in a taped response and saying “the facts are much different than what has been portrayed” and that he “never touched anyone inappropriately or made inap-propriate sexual advances.” He also alleged that the investiga-tion itself was fueled by “poli-tics and bias.”

HOW IS CUOMO EXPLAINING HIS

BEHAVIOR?Cuomo apologized for

making staffers feel uncomfort-able, but chalked up some of the allegations to misunderstand-ings caused by generational and cultural differences (he’s

Italian American) while fl at-out denying the more serious allega-tions. Accompanied by multiple slideshows of Cuomo and other politicians embracing members of the public, the governor said the gesture was inherited from his parents and meant to convey warmth.IS ANYONE PRESSURING

CUOMO TO RESIGN?Lots of people. President

Joe Biden — once Cuomo’s close ally — said Tuesday that, while he hadn’t read the report, he thought Cuomo should quit. Both U.S. senators for New York, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, say he should resign. So does U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the governors of neighboring New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and many other Democrats.

OK, SO WHAT’S NEXT IF CUOMO DOESN’T

RESIGN?The state Assembly has

the power to bring impeach-ment charges against Cuomo and aims to wrap up its own probe “as quickly as possible,” according to Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat who said it was clear Cuomo could no longer remain in offi ce. The Assembly could theoretically vote to launch impeachment proceedings before the probe is fi nished.

WHY CAN’T NEW YORKERS JUST RECALL

CUOMO?This isn’t California. New

York has no mechanism to remove elected offi cials via recall.

FINE. HOW DOES IMPEACHMENT IN NEW

YORK WORK?New York impeachments

start in the Assembly, and if a majority of members vote to impeach Cuomo, the matter moves to the Impeachment Court. In this case, that court would comprise the state Senate — minus its majority leader — and the seven judges of the state’s highest court. Two-thirds of the court would need to vote to convict to remove Cuomo.

HAS A GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK EVER BEEN

IMPEACHED?Once, in 1913. Gov. Wil-

liam Sulzer was ousted after less than a year in offi ce. He claimed his impeachment was retribution for turning his back on the powerful Tammany Hall Democratic machine.

IF CUOMO LEAVES OFFICE, WHO WOULD BECOME GOVERNOR?Kathy Hochul, the 62-year-

old lieutenant governor. The Democrat from western New York once served in Congress, but has a limited public profi le in the state.

EXPLAINER: Where does harassment report leave

Andrew Cuomo?

In this image taken from video provided by Offi ce of the NY Governor, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes a statement on a pre-recorded video released, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in New York. An investigation into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has found that he sexually harassed multiple current and former state government employees. State Attorney General Letitia James announced the fi ndings Tuesday. (Offi ce of the NY Governor via AP )

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITYPURCHASING SUPERVISOR

by Ausage FausiaSamoa News Reporter

A man accused of breaking into a home in Ottoville and stealing several items including a white F-150 Ford truck is now in custody after he was arrested by police last month. When questioned by investigators, the man, Corey Taga said he used the money and smartphone he stole in exchange for drugs from Logotala — a known drug site in Vaitogi.

Taga made his initial appear-ance in District Court last month.

He is charged with 7 crim-inal charges including 2 counts of 1st degree burglary, a class B felony punishable by a term of

imprisonment of not less than fi ve years nor more than fi fteen years; 1 count of 2nd degree burglary; 3 counts of stealing and 1 count of resisting arrest, all class C felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of for up to seven years, a fi ne of up to $5,000, or both.

Bail is set at $35,000.THE CASE

On May 31, 2021 in the afternoon around 1p.m, a man walked into the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to fi le a police report regarding his stolen Ford F-150 truck. The man was later identifi ed as the victim in this case.

The victim also claimed that his home was broken into

some time between Saturday night and Monday morning. He further stated to police that his truck keys, a PS4 console with 2 remote controls, a Fire TV stick, Samsung smartphone, and a pair of work boots were stolen from his apartment.

While fi ling his complaint at the TPS, the victim was noti-fi ed by his co-worker that he had just observed the victim’s truck passing his home heading southbound on the Vaitogi public highway. Shortly after, the victim notifi ed the offi cers of that information.

Two police units with sev-eral police offi cers responded, proceeding to the Turtle and Shark overlook in Vaitogi — in an effort to locate the truck, which they did. When the police were seen, the truck immedi-ately reversed and fl ed the area heading northward towards Fogama’a, where it stopped and the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fl ed on foot into the mountains.

The truck was recovered, and the victim informed of the situation.

One week later on June 6th, the lead investigation offi cer completed his preliminary report and the said case was transferred to the CID (Crim-

inal Investigation Division) for further investigation. Two days later on June 8, a police captain was assigned to follow up on the matter.

The preliminary report pro-vided a list of possible suspects including a person by the name of Corey Taga, the defendant in this matter.

Investigators from the CID followed up on every lead and interviewed several people pos-sibly connected to the matter, including Taga.

On June 28th, Taga agreed to speak with investigators regarding the matter and he was Mirandized and voluntarily waived his rights and made a verbal statement and later pro-vided his written statement.

According to Taga, on Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 5p.m, he saw a group a people out-side of the victim’s apartment at Ottoville. He proceeded to an incomplete apartment structure, which was later identifi ed as Tumu’s apartments across from the victim’s apartment.

According to Taga, he went to Tumu’s apartments and scouted the area and he saw a white F-150 truck parked in the garage and made a plan to steal it.

Around 8p.m, Taga saw the

victim and the group of people enter the home, then he snuck up to the garage and stood next to the truck.

According to Taga, he opened the rear door on the driver’s side and successfully gained entry inside the truck. Taga explained that he saw golf clubs and a black bag. Upon opening the black bag, he saw a laptop inside.

Taga allegedly stole the black bag containing the laptop and returned to the Tumu’s apart-ment across from the victim’s home, where he took out the laptop, concealed it in his white t-shirt, and discarded the bag.

Taga further stated to inves-tigators that sometime between 2a.m - 3a.m, (Monday, May 31, 2021), he was sitting on the rock wall near the Mormon church and observed a police car. Taga stated that the police car stopped by him, and offi cers in the car tried talking to him. Taga said that when offi cers exited the vehicle, he stood up grabbed the laptop that was concealed in his shirt, walked in the opposite direction and then fl ed on foot.

Taga went on to state that when he turned trying to fl ee the laptop fell out of his shirt. He then fl ed eastbound into a

ALLEGED BURGLAR MAKES A HAUL — CELL PHONE, PS4

CONSOLE AND AN F-150


© OSINI FALEATASI INC. RESERVES ALL RIGHTS.dba Samoa News is published Monday through Saturday,

except for some local and federal holidays.Please send correspondences to: OF, dba Samoa News,

Box 909, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.Contact us by Telephone at (684) 633-5599Contact us by Fax at (684) 633-4864Contact us by Email at [email protected] business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm.Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements,

in whole or in part, is required. Please address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORSamoa News welcomes and encourages

Letters to the Editor. Please send them to our email [email protected]

Box 909, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.Contact us by Telephone at (684) 633-5599Contact us by Fax at (684) 633-4864Contact us by Email atNormal business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm.Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements, in

whole or in part, is required. Please address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above.

email [email protected]

© OSINI FALEATASI INC. RESERVES ALL RIGHTS.dba Samoa News is published Monday through Saturday, except for some local & federal

holidays.Please send correspondences to: OF, dba Samoa News, Box 909, Pago Pago, Am. Samoa 96799.Contact us by Telephone at (684) 633-5599 Contact us by Fax at (684) 633-4864Contact us by Email at [email protected] business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm.Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements, in whole or in part, is required. Please

address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above.

Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata sent a letter Monday to Chairman and CEO of American Airlines Doug Parker expressing her strong concerns about a reported inci-dent of alleged discriminatory treat-ment, and further requesting that Con-gress promptly receive the report of the result upon completion of the Airline’s investigation.

Congresswoman Amata’s letter states:

“I enclose an article regarding one of your recent customers, also one my con-

stituents from American Samoa, Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, the American Samoa Teacher of the Year, in regard to events on her recent travel on American Airlines and the alleged discriminatory treatment by American Airlines staff. The basic facts as reported are disturbing to say the least, but the swift eyewitness rec-ognition of such obtuse treatment by her fellow teachers is most commendable.

“I would appreciate a status update and copy of any investigative report be provided to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure imme-

diately. As Congress is currently laser focused on a renewed transportation authorization and funding bill, rapid pro-duction of any reports that could aid in securing any potential legislative correc-tions would be most helpful to the Com-mittee Chairman and Ranking Member copied herein.

“As Chairman of Airlines for America (A4A) the primary airline industry trade association, a heavily government sub-sidized industry, Airlines for America and a Member of the Board of the Inter-national Air Transport Association and

OneWorld, your handling of this matter will demonstrate where leadership on civil rights issues stands in your industry.

“Thank you for your timely attention to this most urgent matter.”

The Congresswoman cc:ed the letter to Chairman Peter DeFazio, House Transportation Committee; Ranking Member, Sam Graves, House Transpor-tation Committee; andMr. Nick Calio, CEO, Airlines for America.

You can download a copy of the letter from our website: samoanews.com

AMATA EXPRESSES CONCERN TO AIRLINE ON DISCRIMINATION ALLEGATION

POLICE CATCH UP WITH HIM BUT NOT BEFORE HE TAKES SOME JOY RIDES




The ASG Commerce Depart-ment (DOC) is preparing to carry out an “economic impact study” for the territory as a result of the new ASG minimum wage, fed-eral COVID-19 money, and the new federally mandated min-imum wage hike for all indus-tries in American Samoa, says Commerce director Petti Tagipo Matila during her department’s fi scal year 2022 budget review.

Matila made the revelation in response to one of the questions raised by Rep. Larry S. Sanitoa who noted the new ASG min-imum wage, which went into effect on July 1st and the fed-eral labor mandated minimum wage hike of 30 cents per hour increase starting Sept. 30th.

Sanitoa asked if DOC has conducted an “economic impact study” which covers both the government and private sector on the minimum wage hike, to which Matila responded that DOC is gathering data at this point from all ASG entities as well as working with the private sector.

She said DOC is not only looking at the impact of the federal COVID-19 money and the new ASG minimum but the mandated federal wage hike as well. She acknowledged that there had been questions on why a study was not conducted in advance or prior to imple-mentation of the ASG minimum wage.

“But as you see, all these things are moving at the same time. You have to look at it, before, and during, and after the event,” she said, noting that DOC is not the only one involved in this important issue

as it will also include the private sector.

Gov. Lemanu Peleti Sialega Mauga informed lawmakers last month that American Samoa has been granted and is expected to receive $1.4 bil-lion in COVID related funds — including money from the new federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) signed into law earlier this year.

A provision of the ARPA, includes $10 billion to state and Tribal governments to fund small business credit expan-sion initiatives under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program, which builds off on the inaugural model developed in 2011 during the Obama-Biden Administration, according to the US Treasury Department.

During the DOC budget hearing, Sanitoa sought an update on SSBCI funds allo-cated to the territory through ARPA, saying that a report was sought in March this year but he has yet to receive it.

Matila said American Samoa is allocated $5.6 million from ARPA under SSBCI program-two, and explained that SSBCI program-one has already expired — referring to the pre-vious program under the Obama Administration.

She explained that DOC is awaiting “guidance and regu-lation” from the federal gov-ernment for use of this money before moving forward. As to the previous SSBCI, she said that less than 10 local busi-nesses received funds.

Sanitoa requested a report on the new SSBCI on how money will be spent and other informa-tion. He also requested a report

on the fi rst SSBCI to include businesses awarded funds and if there was any unused federal money that had to be returned.

As previously reported by Samoa News, American Samoa was awarded $10.5 million sev-eral years ago for the SSBCI, but efforts to get the program off the ground was met with obstacles.

Under the revamped pro-gram by the Lolo Administra-tion in 2013, it was called, the American Samoa Venture Fund. And the program expired in 2017.

The local program requires investors or fi nancial institu-tions to invest by matching the federal money awarded to each business. And this was the most diffi cult task faced by American Samoa, securing investors, and/or fi nancial institutions to provide matching funds — as

required for the SSBCI.SUPER ALIA

Another issue of interest raised by Sanitoa during the hearing is the “substantial increase” in the DOC budget under “Contractual Service” and the Tualauta lawmaker sought an explanation.

Patila explained that the increase is the result of the “Super Alia” project funding from US Economic Develop-ment Administration (EDA) late last year. She said the bid-ding process through Procure-ment Offi ce is completed and the department is waiting for the awarding of the contract.

EDA awarded $4.4 million last December for project, also called the “alia tele” which ASG has touted over the previous three years as the “future com-mercial fi shing vessel” that can go further out at sea and stay out

longer fi shing than the current traditional alias.

In May this year, the Procure-ment Offi ce issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the “Pur-chase of Four Fishing Vessels Constructed to Technical Speci-fi cations”. The closing date was June 7th. (See Samoa News edi-tion May 6th for details.)

Meanwhile, Sanitoa along with other lawmakers requested a report from Patila on DOC’s plans for upgrading and devel-opment of Lions Park — which includes a new educational tech center, a new hospital, a tech-nology park and an update to the shoreline.

While the plan is not yet fi nalized, DOC had petitioned other ASG entities for their input. (See Samoa News online July 6th for details of the Lions Park proposed development.)

DOC’S PLANS FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY REVEALED

DURING BUDGET HEARINGS

American Samoa GovernmentOFFICE OF PROCUREMENT

Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALSRFP-089-2021

Issuance Date: August 2, 2021 Date & Time Due: August 6, 2021 No later than 2:00p.m (local time)

The American Samoa Government (ASG) issues a Request For Proposals (RFP) from qualified firms to provide the:

‘’American Samoa Safe Travels Program’’SubmissionOriginal and five copies of the Proposal must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked: ‘’RFP: American Samoa Safe Travels Program ‘’ Submissions are to be sent to the following address and will be received until 2:00 p.m (local time), August 6, 2021:

Office of ProcurementAmerican Samoa Government

Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799Attn: Dr. Ti’alemasunu M. Etuale, CPO

Any proposal received after the aforementioned date and time will not be accepted under any circumstances. Late submissions will not be opened or considered and will be determined as being non-responsive.

DocumentThe RFP Scope of Work outlining the proposal requirement is available at the Office of Pro-curement, Tafuna, American Samoa, during normal working hours.

ReviewRequest for Proposal data will be thoroughly reviewed by an appointed Source Evaluation Board under the auspices of the Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Procurement, ASG.

Right of Rejection The American Government reserves the right to reject any and/or all proposals and to waive any irregularities and/or informalities in the submitted proposals that are not in the best inter-ests of the American Samoa Government or the public.

Dr. Ti’amalesunu M. EtualeChief Procurement Officer

REVIEW LOOKS AT FED FUNDING, THE SUPER ALIA AND LIONS PARK DEVELOPMENT


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s admin-istration drew up a strategy to contain one coronavirus strain, then another showed up that’s much more contagious.

This week — a month late — Biden met his goal of 70% of U.S. adults having received at least one COVID-19 shot. Originally conceived as an affi rmation of American resil-iency to coincide with Indepen-dence Day, the belated mile-stone offered little to celebrate. Driven by the delta variant, new cases are averaging more than 70,000 a day, above the peak last summer when no vaccines were available. And the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion is drawing criticism from experts in the medical and scien-tifi c community for its off-and-on masking recommendations.

But the delta variant makes no distinctions when it comes to politics. If Biden’s pandemic response is found wanting, Republican governors opposed to pandemic mandates also face an accounting. They, too, were counting on a backdrop of declining cases. Instead unvac-cinated patients are crowding their hospitals.

The Biden administration’s process-driven approach suc-ceeded in delivering more than enough vaccine to protect the country, suffi cient to ship 110 million doses overseas. When the president fi rst set his 70% vaccination target on May 4, the U.S. was dispensing around 965,000 fi rst doses per day, a rate more than twice as fast as needed to reach the July 4 goal.

Then things started to happen.

While the White House was aware of public surveys showing swaths of the popula-tion unwilling or unmotivated to get a shot, offi cials didn’t anticipate that nearly 90 mil-lion Americans would continue to spurn lifesaving vaccines that offer a pathway back to normalcy. The spread of mis-information about the vac-cines enabled a festering fog of doubt that has clung close to the ground in many communities, particularly in Republican-led states.

Yet on May 13, when the CDC largely lifted its mask-wearing guidance for fully vac-cinated adults indoors, topline indicators were still fl ashing green. The agency said unvac-cinated people should keep wearing masks — and get their shots soon. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris cel-ebrated by doffi ng their masks and strolling in the Rose Garden of the White House. Around the country, an everyday cel-ebration spread to coffee shops, supermarkets, beer gardens and restaurants. People planned weddings and music festivals.

Drowned out in the applause

were expert warnings that there was no way to tell who was and who wasn’t vaccinated, and a country restless for an end to the pandemic was essentially being placed on the honor system.

“The single biggest mistake of the Biden presidency when it comes to COVID 19 was the CDC’s precipitous and chaotic change in masking guidance back in May,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner and commen-tator. “It had the direct result of giving people the impres-sion the pandemic was over. It allowed unvaccinated people to have free rein and behave as if they were vaccinated, and therefore we have the surge of the delta variant.”

“I think they were naive,” Dr. Paul Offi t, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadel-phia, said of the CDC. “They saw it as a carrot, as a gift.”

Meanwhile, the delta variant had arrived, and in a matter of weeks would become the domi-nant strain in circulation.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky recently confi rmed just how much more contagious delta is. “If you get sick with the alpha variant, you could infect about two other unvaccinated people,” she said. “If you get sick with the delta variant, we estimate that you could infect about fi ve other unvaccinated people — more than twice as many as the original strain.”

Last week, the CDC reversed course on masks, recom-mending that even vaccinated people again mask up indoors in areas where the virus is on the march, now most of the country.

The immediate reason was a report by disease detectives of a recent outbreak in Prov-incetown, Massachusetts. The delta variant was to blame and a majority of those infected had been vaccinated. Although very few vaccinated people got sick enough to be hospitalized, the initial fi ndings showed vacci-nated people with breakthrough infections were carrying about as much virus as unvaccinated people.

The report fed vaccine doubts in some quarters. Wen, the former health commissioner, said the CDC should have put the Provincetown report in a fuller context that showed vac-cines do keep protecting. CDC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Back on July 4 Biden pro-claimed that the nation was declaring its independence from the virus. In recent weeks, he seemed to have moved on from the pandemic. The presi-dent was focused on securing a bipartisan deal on infrastruc-ture and on selling the sepa-rate Democrats-only legisla-tion to carry out his ambitious domestic agenda.

Analysis: Delta variant upends politicians’

COVID calculus

President Joe Biden takes off his mask as he arrives to speak about the coronavirus pandemic in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. The U.S. has donated and shipped more than 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 60 countries, ranging from Afghanistan to Zambia, the White House announced Tuesday. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Human Resource Department, TafunaPO Box PPB, Pago PagoAmerican Samoa 96799Phone No: (684) [email protected]

An Equal Opportunity Employer * A Drug Free Workplace

The American Samoa Power Authority announces an excellent opportunity for up to ten (10) young technically minded individuals who want a challenging, profitable career in American Samoa.

ASPA is looking for its next generation of technicians and engineers. Over the next few years, ASPA will be developing young technicians and engineers for key positions within the organization. It needs skilled specialists in a number of fields including civil engineering, electrical engineering, renewable energy or similar trades.

ASPA will provide employment and professional training for successful applicants. Apprentices will receive training on-the-job and take apprenticeship classes. Qualified apprentices will receive an all-expense paid education at Manukau Institute of Technology or Unitech Institute of Technology in New Zealand or equivalent. Applicants must be willing to commit to 2-3 years abroad in pursuit of a diploma or degree, followed by full-time employment at ASPA.

Selected apprentices will be employed by ASPA in preparation for the academic session starting in February 2022. Note: This date is subject to change due to current COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Applicants must have the following qualifications:Educational Requirements: High School graduate (minimum); Associate degree or better preferred. Must have a B or better grade average in the following courses: (1) Physics, Chemistry, General Science (2) Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus (3) English (TOEFL score of 600 or better)

Skills and Aptitudes: Intermediate level computer skills. Ability to work independently, disciplined, self-starter, technically minded (confirmed by required references). Other desirable skills include hand-eye coordination, motor skills, attention to detail, and works well in a team environment.

Testing: All applicants will be required to complete ASPA’s internal testing for science and math ability. Applicants will be given a study guide upon applying.

Salary will be based on the technical area and job duties assigned.Applicants must complete an ASPA Employment Application Form and provide two written references. The form is available at ASPA Human Resource Office in Tafuna or via ASPA’s website at www.aspower.com.

All application information, including school records and references, will be subject to verification as part of the screening process.

Deadline for submitting applications is 4pm on August 31, 2021.

Apprenticeship ProgramFull pay while you study off-island!

ASPA paid tuition, room & board, round trip travel etc.


by Ausage FausiaSamoa News

The House of Repre-sentatives on Friday unani-mously approved Fanene Edda Wyberski to continue her service on the Immigra-tion Board. The decision fol-lowed a confirmation hearing for Fanene, led by Rep. Vailoata E. Amituana’i, vice chairman of the House Immigration Judi-ciary committee.

On a motion by Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui, the vote was by a show of hands with all 13 faipule present endorsing Fanene, who is currently chair of the Immigration Board.

A new nominee for the board, Samu Tusitala, didn’t attend the confirmation hearing as he was sick. The House Legal Affairs Committee says it will hold a confirmation hearing for him at a later date then take a vote.

The confirmation hearing for Fanene was conducted by Vice Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee Rep. Vailoata Ami-tuanai as the chair Rep. Vae-

gasi Tu’umolimoli is a member of the Immigration aboard representing the House of Representatives.

HOUSE HEARINGThe chair of the Immigration

Board for the last few years, Fanene says the amnesty pro-gram that was offered last year was both good and bad.

At her confirmation hearing before the House of Repre-sentatives last week, Fanene said the majority of those who applied for amnesty so they could remain here legally were Asians, and not people from Samoa and other neighboring islands.

She explained that the amnesty program was imple-mented by the Immigration Division and Attorney Gener-al’s Office and not the Immigra-tion Board. All the applicants needed was a local sponsor.

Fanene said they were sur-prised with the sheer number of people of Asian descent who applied for the amnesty, espe-cially when the borders were

closed and there were no flights. “We were puzzled as to how

so many Asians entered the territory when borders were closed. We also wondered how so many were able to qualify for the amnesty program,” she told the hearing.

Fanene said now many of the Asians who were granted amnesty are coming before the Immigration Board seeking a change in sponsorship and they carry affidavits saying their sponsors have left the island.

She testified that while the main aim of the amnesty program was to help undocu-mented aliens from Samoa and neighboring islands, it was the Asians who benefitted.

Vice Speaker of the House, Hon. Fetu Fetui Jr questioned the relationship between the board and the Immigration office for the last four years. He wanted to know whether there’s any conflict between the two parties when it comes to deci-sion making.

Fanene said that there were

challenges the board faced, noting that there were times that some issues the board has authority over did not come before the board for approval.

She explained that applica-tions for transfer of sponsorship and approval of renewal should

come before the board for veri-fication and approval. How-ever, some of these applications did not make it to the board. Somebody filled in some of the applications and approved them without the board’s knowledge. (She did not name ‘names’.)

HOUSE COMMITTEE GETS AN EARFUL AT

IMMIGRATION BOARD CONFIRMATION

JOB VACANCYInterior Designer

PJ Smith Incorporation is seeking suitable candidate to fill the vacant post.

• Develops design concepts and produces contact documents based on client needs.• Meets with clients to program the project requirements.• Takes accurate as-built measurements for developing floor plans and elevations.• Create design concept and digital presentations with finish selections, furnishings, and fixtures.

Required Qualifications:• Minimum 5 years work experience as Interior Designer.• Must have a valid Commercial Driver’s License and Social Security Card.


JOB VACANCYElectrician

PJ Smith Incorporation is seeking suitable candidate to fill the vacant post. Electricians are responsible for inspecting, testing, repairing, installing, and modifying electrical components and systems. Electricians general work at homes, businesses, and construction sites, and generally work as contractors.

Required Qualifications:• Minimum 5 years work experience as a Electrician.• Must have valid Commercial Driver’s License and Social Security Card.• Must have a valid Tradesmen License in Electrician.Please contact PJ Smith Incorporation at (684) 733-6487 to pick up an application.

IMMIGRATION BOARD CHAIR UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE

Fanene Edda Whyberski testified that while the main aim of last year’s amnesty program was to benefit undocumented aliens from Samoa and neighboring islands, it was the Asians who benefitted. [photo by AF]

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shortcut that led up to the dirt road that reaches the Cost-U-Less (CUL) parking lot.

He told investigators that after reaching the dirt road, he cut through the Ottoville grass field and continued on the main road heading towards the Otto-ville Mormon church building. He heard music from inside an abandoned house surrounded with a rock wall across from the church. He joined the gathering at the abandoned house and found out that it was friends of his hanging out at the aban-doned house. Taga provided names of everyone present inside the abandoned house at that time.

Taga further stated to investigators that some time between 4- 5a.m in the morning (Monday, May 31st), he went back to the victim’s apart-ment to steal more stuff. He told investigators that he was more interested in money than anything else. He said that he entered through the door in the victim’s garage, gained access to the apartment and started scanning for items to steal.

He then stole the PS4 con-sole that was on the TV stand, along with the two-remote controls and the charger, the Fire TV stick, Samsung smart-phone, $40 that was inside the victim’s wallet, a pair of boots, and the truck keys.

After acquiring the items, Taga said that he took the items home but kept the smartphone and the truck keys. Around late morning on May 31st, Taga returned to the victim’s home and took off with the truck. He told investigators that he went with the truck to Logotala in Vaitogi (a known methamphet-amine (meth) and marijuana dealing area) to buy drugs.

He stated to investigators

Faipule confirmed Fanene Edda Whyberski by a show of hands and not the usual secret ballot for confirmations. [photo by AF]

➧ Alleged…Continued from page 4


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KAIROUAN, Tunisia (AP) — As Tunisia faces a surge of COVID-19 cases, demand for life-saving oxygen has grown higher than the supply, leaving patients desperate and family members angry at the government as they say they are forced to find oxygen on their own.

As the misery grows, traders have seized on an opportunity for profit, buying supplies of oxygen and other treatments and then renting them or selling them at higher prices. The profitable enterprise that is growing online has prompted citizens to call on authorities for intervention.

“I was subjected to various types of black-mailing. People were trading and brokering with everything. Believe me, with everything,” said Abdou Mzoughi, 43, whose nearly 80-year-old mother died June 26 from COVID-19 after he spent six days trying, but failing, to get the life-saving oxygen treatment she needed.

“We were looking for a bed with oxygen in any hospital,” he said. He couldn’t even find her a place in a field hospital, or obtain a larger oxygen concentrator for at-home treatment.

The pandemic comes as the nation in North Africa — the only success story of the Arab Spring of a decade ago — finds itself beset by overlapping political and economic crises. Last month President Kais Saied fired the prime min-ister, froze the parliament and took on execu-tive powers in what he says is a bid to save the country. He began ruling by decree after nation-wide protests over the nation’s deteriorating social and economic situation — topped by the raging coronavirus epidemic.

Tunisia, with a population of 12 million, has reported more deaths per capita in the pandemic than any African country and has had among the highest daily death rates per capita in the world in recent weeks. More than 20,000 Tunisians have died so far, and the vaccination rate remains low.

Mzoughi said the market price of oxygen has more than doubled as demand grows in Kair-ouan, an ancient desert city that is considered among the holiest in Islam and is recognized by UNESCO for its rich architectural heritage. It is also one of the poorest cities in Tunisia.

Renting an oxygen concentrator can now cost up to $200 a week — an amount that Mzoughi roughly makes in a month with a steady job in the regional office of an online newspaper.

Now he visits his mother’s grave daily and describes still being in a state of shock over her death.

Ahmed Jridi, who owns a shop in Kairouan selling medical devices, said he has seen more sales in oxygen devices.

“I discovered that those who are renting these devices do not have sick people who need oxygen, but rather they are merchants, and when they knew that it was a profitable business, they bought many oxygen devices and began to con-trol the high rental price,” he said.

Private hospitals and clinics are also wit-nessing unprecedented pressure and intense demand for resuscitation and oxygen beds. That has caused a shortage of liquid oxygen in hos-pital tanks, and prompted the health authorities to request supplies from Algeria to enhance its stra-tegic stock and avoid interruption in health units.

It has also led to the use of spare oxygen bottles, or the transfer of some patients to other hospitals.

“The oxygen is exhausted. The reserve in the cistern is only used for a few minutes. So to pro-tect our patients we have prepared large bottles of oxygen between the beds of patients who are in artificial respiration,” said Dr. Kaies Traoui, a resident in the department of anesthesia and resuscitation at Aghlabid Hospital in Kairouan.

As COVID-19 surges in Tunisia, oxygen is in short supply

JOB VACANCYConstruction Engineer

PJ Smith Incorporation is seeking suitable candidate to fill the vacant post.

Construction engineers oversee large construction projects. They inspect project drawings and designs, manage project schedules and resources, and perform cost calculations.

Required Qualifications:• Minimum 5 years work experience as Construction Engineer.• Must have a valid Commercial Driver’s License and Social Security Card.


AMERICAN SAMOA

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Tradewinds HotelAmerican Samoa’s leading 5-star resort

Is inviting applications from enthusiastic, dedicated, persons with some experience, to join our busy team in the following departments:

2 x Sous Chef2 x Pastry Chefs/Bakers

2 x Finance Officers4 x Guest Services Agents

He/She must be reliable and flexible with working hours and also be an excellent team player.

If you think you meet the above requirements and can confidently carry outthe responsibilities stated above, then email your application including

a detailed resume, names of three (3) referees and telephone contact to the:

Tradewinds Hotel / P.O. Box 999 / Ottoville Road / American Samoa 96799

Email: [email protected]: 699-1000 Extn 725

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Applications close on August 16, 2021

Staff with the American Samoa Medicaid State Agency — or Medicaid Office — manning their desk at the Pago Pago International Airport last week Thursday assisting passengers for the outbound Medicaid charter heading to Honolulu.

Meanwhile, the Medicaid office issued a notice yesterday morning saying that for passengers traveling tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 5th medical charter flight to Honolulu — HA 924 or Medical Charter 14.0 flight, the Department of Health Tafuna Clinic will be conducting COVID-19 testing today, Wednesday, from 8am to 12pm

“The COVID-19 testing is purely voluntary and not mandatory for travel on the charter flight. The service is being provided as a courtesy for those passengers who need it for their final destination in the US mainland or for any other reason,” it says.

Masks are required upon entry at both the Medicaid Office and the DOH Tafuna Clinic. If you have any questions, please contact the Medicaid Office at 699-4777. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]

As the world staggers through another summer of extreme weather, experts are noticing something different: 2021s onslaught is hitting harder and in places that have been spared global warming’s wrath in the past.

Wealthy countries such as the United States, Canada, Ger-many and Belgium are joining poorer and more vulnerable nations on a growing list of extreme weather events that sci-entists say have some connec-tion to human-caused climate change.

“It is not only a poor country problem, it’s now very obvi-ously a rich county problem,” said Debby Guha-Sapir, founder of the international disaster data-base at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disas-ters at Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. “They (the rich) are getting whacked.”

Killer floods hit China, but hundreds of people also drowned in parts of Germany and Belgium not used to being inundated. Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. had what climate scientist Zeke Hausfather called “scary” heat that soared well past triple digits in Fahrenheit and into high 40s in Celsius, shattering records and accompanied by unusual wildfires. Now southern Europe is seeing unprecedented heat and fire.

And peak Atlantic hurricane and U.S. wildfire seasons are only just starting.

When what would become Hurricane Elsa formed on July 1, it broke last year’s record for the earliest fifth named Atlantic storm. Colorado State Uni-versity has already increased

its forecast for the number of named Atlantic storms — and the National Oceanic and Atmo-spheric Administration will update its season outlook on Wednesday.

For fire season, the U.S. West is the driest it has been since 1580, based on soil moisture readings and tree ring records, setting the stage for worsening fires if something ignites them, said UCLA climate and fire sci-entist Park Williams.

What happens with U.S. hur-ricane and fire seasons drives the end-of-year statistics for total damage costs of weather disasters, said Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geo scientist for insurance giant Munich Re. But so far this year, he said, wealthier regions have seen the biggest economic losses.

But when poorer countries are hit, they are less prepared and their people can’t use air conditioning or leave so there’s more harm, said Haus-father, climate director of the Breakthrough Institute. While hundreds of people died in the Pacific Northwest heat wave, he said the number would have been a much higher in poor areas.

Madagascar, an island nation off East Africa, is in the middle of back-to-back droughts that the United Nations warns are pushing 400,000 people toward starvation.

Though it’s is too early to say the summer of 2021 will again break records for climate disasters, “We’re certainly starting to see climate change push extreme events into new territories where they haven’t been seen before,” Hausfather said.

The number of weather, water and climate disasters so far this year is only slightly higher than the average of recent years, said disaster researcher Guha-Sapir. Her group’s database, which she said still is missing quite a few events, shows 208 such disas-ters worldwide through July — about 11% more than the last decade’s average, but a bit less than last year.

Last year, the record-shat-tering heat that came out of nowhere was in Siberia, where few people live, but this year it struck Portland, Oregon, and British Columbia, which gets more western media attention, Hausfather said.

What’s happening is “partly an increase in the statistics of these extreme events, but also just that the steady drumbeat, the pile on year-on-year ... takes its cumulative toll on all of us

who are reading these head-lines” said Georgia Tech cli-mate scientist Kim Cobb.

“This pattern of recent Northern Hemisphere summers has been really quite stark,” said University of Exeter climate scientist Peter Stott.

While overall temperature rise is “playing out exactly as we said 20 years ago, ... what we are seeing in terms of the heat waves and the floods is more extreme than we predicted back then,” Stott said.

Climate scientists say there is little doubt climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events.

Aside from dramatic floods and fires, heat waves are a major risk to prepare for in the future, Guha-Sapir said .

This year’s summer of climate extremes hits wealthier places


NOTICE is hereby given, pursuant to ASCA 37.1105 that Development Bank of American Samoa intends to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the Office of the Territorial Registrar in Lease Agreement Volume LA-00, Page 75 on July 23, 2001 and that the property subject to

the mortgage will be sold at a public auction.PROPERTY TO BE SOLD ON ‘AS IS BASIS’: All of the mortgagors’ interest in that certain

Communal Land Leasehold including structure and improvement situated in the Eastern District, village of Amouli, American Samoa.

All that certain real property lying in the Land Square: 12; unit: D; situated in the village of Amouli; County of Saole; Eastern District; Island of Tutuila, American Samoa; Land known

as Mataava; Owned by Fuata, more fully describe as follows:Beginning at a point which has coordinates X=293,521.68 and Y=307,774.45 based on

American Samoa datum of 1962,Run thence on azimuth 60˚ 39’ 13” 60.00 feet to a point;

Thence on azimuth 151˚ 39’ 13” 60.00 feet to a point;Thence on azimuth 241˚ 39’ 13” 60.00 feet to a point;

Thence azimuth 331˚ 39’ 13” 60.00 feet to point of beginningContaining an area of 3,600 sq.ft.

DATE & TIME OF SALE: Friday, September 10th 2021 @ 12:00 pm at the property unless postponed by public announcement.

LOCATION: Village of Amouli, American Samoa.LEASEHOLD REMAINING YEARS: 33 years

MINIMUM BID: $14,000.00CONTACT: For more information, please contact Seu Saleutogi or Noelle Vaitautolu-Ofoia

at 1(684)633-4031 ext. 227 @ Development Bank of American Samoa or email [email protected] or [email protected].

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE

that he used the $40 and traded the victim’s Samsung smart-phone in exchange for a pipe with ice in it (referring to meth). After getting his drugs from Logotaga, Taga then proceeded southbound and drove to the dirt road near the Turtle and Shark site leading back to the Fogama’a area.

It was then he saw a police unit heading in his direction, so he fled through a back road leading to Fogama’a, to evade the police unit. He abandoned the stolen vehicle and fled on foot into the mountains so that police would be unable to find him.

On June 24th, Taga notified investigators that the PS4 was at his residence. Investigators seized the PS4 console with 2 remote controls along with the charger. Photos were taken and were shown to the victim who confirmed that the PS4 console was his property.

On June 28th, police offi-

cers met with an eyewitness in an effort to confirm Taga’s account. The witness told inves-tigators that around 2a.m on Monday morning, May 31st, he was at the Filifili area (a known drug place in Vaitogi) where he saw Taga driving a white F-150 truck. Taga stopped and picked him up, and they went for a ride.

Officers also met up with a female witness at her residence in Iliili regarding this matter. According to the female wit-ness, on May 31st, a white F-150 truck came to Logotala (another known drug place in Vaitogi). Inside the truck was Taga driving. The witness fur-ther stated to investigators that she and Taga went to the store to buy cigarettes and he dropped her off back at Logotala before Taga left.

The witness said she asked Taga about the white F-150 truck he was driving, and Taga just smiled and told the witness to just relax and enjoy the ride.

In The High Court of American Samoa

TRIAL DIVISIONHCPR NO. 34-2020

Published: 8/4, 8/11 & 8/18/21

In the Matter of the Estate of LIUAGALUA LEAOGA VAITAUTOLU,

By FAAUIFONO L. VAITAUTOLUAdministrator

CLERK OF THE COURTHigh Court of American Samoa

NOTICE OF HEARING ON FIRST & FINAL ACOCUNTING AND MOTION FOR DECREE OF DISTRIBUTION

Dated: 07/29/21

Decedent

TO: ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a First & Final Accounting and Motion for Decree of Distribution in the above-0entitled matter has been filed in the High Court of American Samoa, Territory of American Samoa by administrator FAAUIFONO L. VAITAUTOLU for the Estate of LIUGALUA LEAOGA VAITAUTOLU (Deceased) who died on July 7, 2020.A hearing on the First & Final Accounting and Motion for Decree of Distribution will be held on October 1, 2021 at 9:00 am before the Trial Division of the High Court of American Samoa at the Courthouse in Fagatogo, American Samoa. All interested parties may appear before the Court on said date to respond to this petition.

➧ Alleged burglar…Continued from page 8


WASHINGTON (AP) — Roughly two decades before she was elected to Congress, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri lived in a Ford Explorer with her then-husband and two young chil-dren after the family had been evicted from their rental home.

So for Bush, a freshman Democrat from St. Louis, the debate over whether to revive the moratorium on evictions during the pandemic is deeply personal. To dramatize her point, she started to sleep out-side the U.S. Capitol last Friday to call attention to the issue as part of the effort to pressure President Joe Biden and Con-gress to act.

On Tuesday, she won. After coming under intense pressure, the Biden administration issued a new eviction moratorium that will last until October 3, tempo-rarily halting evictions in coun-

ties with “substantial and high levels” of virus transmissions, which covers areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives.

Bush’s experience sets her apart from the more conven-tional partisan sniping and grandstanding in the capital because of her direct connection to an urgent problem affecting millions of Americans.

“I know what it’s like to be evicted and have to live out of my car with my two babies,” Bush said in an interview Sat-urday. “As long as I am a sitting U.S. congressperson, I will not keep my mouth shut about it.”

Bush was a prominent part of a larger push among progres-sives to stop evictions, and the Biden administration moved quickly to provide a policy response. It thrust her swiftly into meetings with top congres-sional leaders and administra-

tion offi cials and she was sought after for interviews.

She met Monday with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and had a brief chat with Vice President Kamala Harris — attention that punc-tuates a political rise that took Bush from leading protests against police brutality in Fer-guson, Missouri, to the halls of Congress in little more than fi ve years.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday gave a salute to Bush “for her powerful action to keep people in their homes.”

Before reversing course, the Biden administration ini-tially argued it didn’t have legal authority to extend the moratorium again, pointing to a Supreme Court opinion in June that suggested Congress should pass legislation to do so.

A last-minute attempt to

pass a bill through the House also came up short Friday. Then the chamber adjourned and lawmakers left town for an extended August recess — a response Bush says “failed to meet this moment.”

On Tuesday, before the administration’s announcement, Bush said: “Am I supposed to just go home? No, I’m an orga-nizer. I am an activist. So I fell back into what I know how to do.”

It is activism borne of per-sonal experience.

In 2001, Bush became ill while pregnant with her second child and had to quit her job at a preschool. The lost income led to their eviction.

For about three months the couple lived out of their Explorer with two playpens in the back. She said that, at the time, she was working in a low-wage job. Eventually, her family, already struggling them-selves, was able to help her fi nd a home.

“I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I went through, ever,” Bush said while wiping away tears.

The couple later divorced and Bush went back to school, earning a nursing degree. She also became a pastor.

Her life changed in 2014 when a white police offi cer fatally shot Michael Brown, a Black and unarmed 18-year-old, in the St. Louis suburb of Fer-guson, Missouri.

Bush joined the thousands of activists in the protests that followed the shooting and quickly became a leader of the movement that sought police and criminal justice reform in Ferguson and throughout the St. Louis region. She was back on the streets again three years later after a white St. Louis police offi cer was acquitted in the shooting death of a Black suspect.

Her activism fueled an interest in politics. She ran unsuccessfully in the Demo-cratic primary for the U.S. Senate in 2016, followed by another losing primary race for a St. Louis’ congressional seat in 2018, in which she was defeated by roughly 20 per-

centage points.Two years later, her sup-

porters sensed a change in the political landscape in the after-math of George Floyd’s death. With backing from the progres-sive group Justice Democrats, she sought a rematch against longtime Democratic Rep. Wil-liam Lacy Clay — and won.

“They counted us out,” Bush said after her primary win. “They called me — I’m just the protester, I’m just the activist with no name, no title and no real money. That’s all they said that I was. But St. Louis showed up today.”

She won easily in heavily Democratic St. Louis in November.

The Rev. Darryl Gray, a political adviser to Bush, said her tenacity was apparent early in her failed 2016 bid for Senate, when she was willing to campaign in rural and very con-servative corners of the state.

“She wasn’t afraid to show up and speak for justice in places where people would warn us about going, some of these ‘sunset towns,’” Gray said. “She knew she wouldn’t get support, but people respected the fact she showed up.”

Still, there are some who questioned the decision to pick a fi ght with congressional lead-ership and the president from her own party. Administration and congressional offi cials also noted that much of the money Congress had allocated to pro-vide housing assistance has not been distributed by states.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said he was “sensitive” to Bush’s aim, but suggested she may be waging the wrong battle.

“It’s not the federal govern-ment that’s doing it,” Clyburn said. “If you’ve appropriated $46 billion for the country, and only $3 billion has been used, then that’s not Congress. ... It’s on whoever has got the money tied up.”

Tuesday evening, after the administration made its announcement, Bush tweeted out a photo of her and others sit-ting on the Capitol steps with a one-word caption: Grateful.

FOR MISSOURI CONGRESSWOMAN, EVICTION FIGHT IS PERSONAL

Preferred Qualifications: • Drain laying Trade Certification • Safety Supervisor Certification • Confined Space Entry Certification • Workplace Environmental Certification • Minimum 5 years Pipe Laying and Supervision experience in all facets of underground services installation • A working knowledge of critical path programming and the application of it to implementing and managing construction progress • Proven ability to effectively manage and coordinate a drain laying work force • Specific experience with the welding and installation of HDPE pipe • Working knowledge of the use of trench shielding equipment

Building SupervisorPreferred Qualifications: • Building related Trade Certification • Safety Supervisor Certification • Workplace Environmental Certification • Minimum 10 years of concrete construction and Supervision experience in all facets of building works • A working knowledge of critical path programming and the application of it to implementing and managing construction progress • Proven ability to effectively manage and coordinate a building and pre cast concrete work force • Specific experience in working at heights • Working knowledge of the use of propping and shoring

Please submit application in writing with copies of all relevant qualifications and previous job ref-erences to:

The Manager PO Box 4179 Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITYEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITYDRAIN LAYING SUPERVISOR

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

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Tuesday. There were no reports of

deaths or serious injuries. The fi re burned homes, businesses and vehicles, and sent a large cloud of smoke over Athens on Tuesday night.

Two more major forest fi res were still burning on the Greek island of Evia and one in the southwestern Peloponnese.

The heatwave is forecast to continue in Turkey and Greece until the end of the week.

➧ Wildfi re burn for a 7th…Continued from page 2


As the world staggers through another summer of extreme weather, experts are noticing something different: 2021s onslaught is hitting harder and in places that have been spared global warming’s wrath in the past.

Wealthy countries such as the United States, Canada, Ger-many and Belgium are joining poorer and more vulnerable nations on a growing list of extreme weather events that sci-entists say have some connec-tion to human-caused climate change.

“It is not only a poor country problem, it’s now very obvi-ously a rich county problem,” said Debby Guha-Sapir, founder of the international disaster data-base at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disas-ters at Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. “They (the rich) are getting whacked.”

Killer fl oods hit China, but hundreds of people also drowned in parts of Germany and Belgium not used to being inundated. Canada and the Pacifi c Northwest of the U.S. had what climate scientist Zeke Hausfather called “scary” heat that soared well past triple digits in Fahrenheit and into high 40s in Celsius, shattering records and accompanied by unusual wildfi res. Now southern Europe is seeing unprecedented heat and fi re.

And peak Atlantic hurricane and U.S. wildfi re seasons are only just starting.

When what would become Hurricane Elsa formed on July 1, it broke last year’s record for

the earliest fi fth named Atlantic storm. Colorado State Uni-versity has already increased its forecast for the number of named Atlantic storms — and the National Oceanic and Atmo-spheric Administration will update its season outlook on Wednesday.

For fi re season, the U.S. West is the driest it has been since 1580, based on soil moisture readings and tree ring records, setting the stage for worsening fi res if something ignites them, said UCLA climate and fi re sci-entist Park Williams.

What happens with U.S. hur-ricane and fi re seasons drives the end-of-year statistics for total damage costs of weather disasters, said Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geo scientist for insurance giant Munich Re. But so far this year, he said, wealthier regions have seen the biggest economic losses.

But when poorer countries are hit, they are less prepared and their people can’t use air conditioning or leave so there’s more harm, said Haus-father, climate director of the Breakthrough Institute. While hundreds of people died in the Pacifi c Northwest heat wave, he said the number would have been a much higher in poor areas.

Madagascar, an island nation off East Africa, is in the middle of back-to-back droughts that the United Nations warns are pushing 400,000 people toward starvation.

Though it’s is too early to say the summer of 2021 will again break records for climate

disasters, “We’re certainly starting to see climate change push extreme events into new territories where they haven’t been seen before,” Hausfather said.

The number of weather, water and climate disasters so far this year is only slightly higher than the average of recent years, said disaster researcher Guha-Sapir. Her group’s database, which she said still is missing quite a few events, shows 208 such disas-ters worldwide through July — about 11% more than the last decade’s average, but a bit less than last year.

Last year, the record-shat-tering heat that came out of nowhere was in Siberia, where few people live, but this year

it struck Portland, Oregon, and British Columbia, which gets more western media attention, Hausfather said.

What’s happening is “partly an increase in the statistics of these extreme events, but also just that the steady drumbeat, the pile on year-on-year ... takes its cumulative toll on all of us who are reading these head-lines” said Georgia Tech cli-mate scientist Kim Cobb.

“This pattern of recent Northern Hemisphere summers has been really quite stark,” said University of Exeter climate scientist Peter Stott.

While overall temperature rise is “playing out exactly as we said 20 years ago, ... what we are seeing in terms of the

heat waves and the fl oods is more extreme than we predicted back then,” Stott said.

Climate scientists say there is little doubt climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events.

Aside from dramatic fl oods and fi res, heat waves are a major risk to prepare for in the future, Guha-Sapir said .

“It’s going to be a very big deal in the Western countries because the most susceptible to sudden peaks of heat are older people. And the demographic profi le of the people in Europe is very old,” she said. “Heat waves are going to be a real issue in the next few years.”

This year’s summer of climate extremes hits wealthier places

DEPARTMENT of COMMERCEProject Notification & Review System

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Commerce/American Samoa Coastal Management Program has received a Land Use Permit Application from the following individuals.

1. Poni Smith ......................................................................................................................................................... 24-7501-LProposal for new construction of a residential structure with utilities to include excavation-Leloaloa

2. Joyce T. Taape ................................................................................................................................................... 21-7576-LProposal for new construction of a residential structure with utilities - Fagatogo

3. Tolua Tavai ......................................................................................................................................................... 21-7492-LProposal for new construction of a residential structure with utilities - Lauli’i

4. DOH c/o Motusa Nua ....................................................................................................................................... 21-7593-ASGProposal for new construction with utilities to include driveway and excavation - Tafuna



7. ASPA c/o Raynel ............................................................................................................................................... 21-7571-L Proposal for demolition and new construction with utilities to include wall and clearing - Tafuna

8. ASPA c/o Katrina Mariner ............................................................................................................................... 21-7570-L

Proposal for new wells and pipeline - MapusagafouPersons interested in or affected by a proposed project, areinvited to review the project file and provide comments based on environmental issues, by contacting AokusotinoMao at 633-5155, at the Department of Commerce in Utulei during regular ASG working hours. Public commentsmust be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday July 20, 2021. Interested individuals are also invited to attend a Public Hearing at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday July 21, 2021 at DOC Conference Room, on the 2nd Floorof the Executive Office Building in Utulei.O lo’o iai i le Ofisa o Fefa’ataua’ina ni talosaga mo Pemita e Fa’atagainaai le Fa’aaogaina o Fanua ma Laueleele e tusa ma ala o le Tulafono. A iai se tasi e fa’asea pe fia tusia se molimau ini afaina o le si’osi’omaga pe a galuea’ina nei galuega, telefoni mai ia Aokusotino Mao i le 633-5155. E mafai fo’i ona e auai i le fono a le Komiti Faafoe ia Iulai 21, 2021, ile itula e 9 ile taeao.

LEGAL NOTICE

PNRS BOARD MEETING

August 4, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE


The Markowitz family gathered Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Cemetery in Kaneohe, Hawaii for the burial of Tafaoga Tuioti Mariner Markowitz. Pictured: Aaron Tui, his wife Catalina Salafai Markowitz Tui, Abraham Markowitz and Winnie Markowitz watch as their father, Barry Markowitz, shovel in hand, prepares to bury his wife, their mother. Tafaoga’s brother Pelesi Tuioti Mariner, Mauga Tuioti Mariner, and sister Sisa Fuimaono were able to represent their Samoa Family prevented by the pandemic’s closed borders from attending. [Photoby Al Sim, © Barry Markowitz, 2021]

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., flanked by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, left, and Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., right, speaks to the press after it was announced that the Biden administration will enact a targeted nationwide eviction moratorium outside of Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. For the past five days, law-makers and activists primarily led by Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., have been sitting in on the steps of Capitol Hill to protest the expiration of the eviction moratorium.

(AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

FILE - In this Monday, July 26, 2021 file photo, a man carries goods on his bicycle as he walks out of the the Yubei Agricultural and Aquatic Products World in Xinxiang in central China’s Henan Province. Scientists say there’s something different this year from the recent drumbeat of climate weirdness. This summer a lot of the places hit by weather disasters are not used to getting extremes and many of them are wealthier, which is different from the normal climate change vic-tims. That includes unprecedented deadly flooding in Germany and Belgium, 116-degree heat records in Portland, Oregon and similar blistering temperatures in Canada, along with wildfires. Now Southern Europe is seeing scorching temperatures and out-of-control blazes too. And the summer of extremes is only getting started. Peak Atlantic hurricane and wildfire seasons in the United States are knocking at the door. (AP Photo/Dake Kang, File)


Administration. The new jet fuel facility will be oper-

ated and managed by the same entity that manages the current facility — American Samoa Petroleum Coopera-tive (ASPC), with the support of the fuel supplier Pacific Energy, which is also a member of the ASPC.

During the Port Administration Department’s fiscal year 2022 budget hearing on Monday, before the Fono Joint Budget Committee, questions were raised on the status of the new tank farm, to which King says the facility is “not operating now.”

“Because of COVID, the contractor was unable to bring... specialists down for the testing phase,” King said, noting that the current tanks, next to the airport main parking lot are still being used, fueling aircraft that come in.

(Samoa News points out that commer-cial air service has been suspended since March of last year due to COVID-19 restrictions and only repatriation flights are being conducted, under the restric-tions imposed by the COVID-19 Task Force).

According to the Port director the new tank farm “is yet to be commissioned for use until testing” of the pipeline is done, and specialists from off island are required to come here to conduct the test. He pointed out that there is a “testing phase” that must be done and certified before the new facility is operational.

He said the testing phase of the

project comes under the purview of the ASPC, which oversees operation of the ASG tank farm facility at Utulei along with the airport tank farm facility. “So, until we’re able to test and make sure that system runs probably for the new tank farm, we can’t stop using the existing one,” he said.

House Vice Speaker, Fetu Fetui Jr. voiced his disappointment with the long delay in completing this project, saying that the tanks at the current facility — next to the airport parking lot — were already promised to be sent for use in Manu’a.

“I think there is something wrong some where,” he said, adding that the Port director will be called at a later time for a specific House committee hearing on the same matter.

Responding to a follow up question from Sen. Togiola T.A. Tulafono, the Port director confirmed that construction of the new facility is already completed, but not approved to be used as there is a process needed in order to certify the facility.

As part of the certification process, the fuel supplier also has to test the pipeline — which runs underground, delivering fuel from the new facility to the ramp area where aircraft park for fueling. “The supplier has to test the lines to make sure that they are up to standards,” said King.

Togiola asked if the pipelines have been tested before, as he has heard that there was a problem with the pipe-

line and therefor it was not approved. “Is this true?” Togiola asked and King responded, “I’m not too sure of the details.”

“However, they do need pressure testing and there are certain standards that they have to meet and that is up to the Co-Op (referring to the ASPC) to work with the contractor to make sure that passes before they move on to the next phase,” King explained. “They can only do so many tests locally until they get the certified people from off island to complete that testing, which they have not been able do.”

Togiola asked, “What happens if the specialist does not certify or pass the pipelines for the new tank farm? What’s going to happen with this project?”

King responded: “They continue to fix it until it passes.” He also said that a lot of the specific details on the project are with ASPC.

Some lawmakers told Samoa News that they do plan on seeking specific details from ASPC and will probably raise questions during the FY 2022 budget review for the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management — which includes ASPC — set for later this week.

“I thought that once you dedicate something, that means it’s ready to go,” Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean told King, and noted that this project was dedicated during the Lolo Administra-tion. “So we [Fono] thought it’s ready

for use.”Before he made the next query,

Tuaolo told King, don’t “mind” the next question. “Did you get any money from Paramount [Builders]? he asked to which the witness responded “no”.

“So you didn’t get any money?” he asked and again the reply was no. And Tuaolo followed-up with a claim: “Because the way I look at it, I don’t know whether Paramount is bribing people — you know — all over the island.”

“That’s my question. Simply ques-tion,” he said, as House Speaker, Savali Talavou Ale, tried to interject in the line of questioning, saying that such a state-ment is not appropriate during public hearings.

And Tuaolo, responded, saying that there is nothing wrong with the question, which has a simple answer, “yes or no.”

Savali followed-up his question for further clarification for the benefit of the committee, and the public, asking if the construction phase is completed.

Port Administration deputy director for airport operation, Falenaoti S. A. Loi-On Fruean said Paramount Builders has completed the construction work, dealing with the facility and fuel tanks.

Samoa News will report in future edi-tions on other issues of interest raised by lawmakers during the hearing.

➧ Lawmakers concerned about why New Tank Farm is not operational…Continued from page 1

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