Community
Briefs
Compiled by
Samoa News Staff
GOVERNOR SAYS
REBATE CHECKS WILL BE ISSUED WITHIN TWO WEEKS
Gov. Togiola
Tulafono said in a statement yesterday that tax rebate checks
will be issued within two weeks after a final tax system check,
that includes eligibility and qualifications criteria check and
recalculations by Treasury and the Tax Office.
$20.4 million
was received this week from the U.S. Treasury for tax stimulus
rebate distribution and it is being held in a separate account.
Togiola asks the public to listen out for the announcement for
rebate check distribution and not to visit the Disbursing Office
in Utulei for checks, yet.
"This is
great news for the people of American Samoa as it will give us
a big boost in our economy. I wish to kindly ask the public for
their patience in allowing the Treasury and the Tax Office staff
to perform its duties in testing and checking the level of payments
for each local tax payer and the information that it currently
has in its system," he said. "The checks are not ready,
yet. The tax stimulus rebate is from federal funds, so we must
be sure that we have the accurate numbers and not issue above
the amount. So, please do not rush to EOB for your rebate checks
this week."
The Tax Office
says not everyone will qualify for the rebates.
Togiola expressed
his gratitude to the Department of Treasury and staff for working
diligently to secure the economic growth package for the territory.
In addition to
thanking Treasurer Gaea Perefoti Failautusi, the governor gave
special thanks to Tax Office Manager Mel Joseph for "developing
a successful plan with the U.S. Treasurer that assures all of
our eligible tax payers are covered in this single payment."
"With the
high cost of gasoline and food, this is wonderful news for our
people and our economy," Togiola said.
MCCONNELL
DOWELL DONATES $10,000 TO ARTS FESTIVAL
McConnell Dowell
took its turn to donate money for the 10th Festival of Pacific
Arts, handing over a $10,000 check to the organizing committee's
co-chair Leala Elisara Pili, communications committee chair Larry
Sanitoa and marketing officer Teri Hunkin yesterday at their
headquarters in Tafuna.
"We wish
you every success with the Arts Festivaland it gives us great
pleasure to be able to give this donation to you," said
Mark Liersch, project manager for McConnell Dowell (American
Samoa Ltd).
Also on hand
for the donation was Michael Buckland, operations manager for
McConnell Dowell Constructors New Zealand and the Pacific.
Leala thanked
the donors profusely in Samoan while Sanitoa did the same in
English.
CHURCH LEADER
CALLS ON RESIDENTS TO TAKE PART IN GLOBAL PRAYER DAY
Pastor Elise
Tafao is calling on residents and leaders to take part in Global
Day of Prayer that begins today.
Tafao is with
the Baptist Church at Happy Valley and they are having prayer
services at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. today.
He urges residents
to join the Global Day of Prayer "to pray for peace around
the world, especially for God's will to be done on earth."
According to
the national media, the Global Day of Prayer began in 2000 when
Christians were urged to gather together and pray for the transformation
of South Africa. Three years ago, that vision expanded to include
the rest of the world and has since expanded to include hundreds
of individuals from all over the world.
INTER-SAMOA
ENVIRO SUMMIT CLOSES AT CONVENTION CENTER
Environmental
agencies closed a two-day summit yesterday at the Convention
Center in Utulei, where parties discussed sharing resources to
achieve and set programs for environmental management in Samoa
and American Samoa.
Seven people
from four environmental agencies in Samoa joined the ASEPA, the
National Park Service, Department of Marine Wildlife Resources
for the summit organized by the Department of Commerce.
The summit was
hosted collaboratively by DOC, DMWR, and Samoa's Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries and non-government organizations Conservation International
and SPREP.
The agencies
met "to come up with strategies for ongoing programs in
the Samoas to collaboratively share resources and set programs
for environmental management-ecologically, biologically, bio-geographically
and economically," explained Faleafaga Toni Tipama'a, principal
environmental officer for the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment and leader of the Samoa delegation.
Before the meeting
closed attendees submitted specific recommendations for marine
and terrestrial management within the two Samoas.
Faleafaga thanked
the American Samoa Government for taking the initiative to host
the meeting collaboratively and for also "highlighting the
connectivity of the two Samoas' marine and terrestrial ecosystems."
The Samoa delegates
depart today.
Reach the
reporters at news.newsroom@samoatelco.com
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