Federal disaster assistance for local residents impacted by Tropical Storm Gita helped cushion the blows that have impacted the local economy in recent years, but the economy continues to remain volatile, affecting American Samoa Government revenue collection for the current fiscal year 2018, says ASG Office of Program Planning and Budget director Catherine D. Saelua in her FY 2019 budget call letter, sent out earlier this month to all Executive Branch departments and agencies. The call letter, which was also approved by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, asked directors to set the ceiling for FY 2019 at the same point set for FY 2018, as American Samoa continues to face major challenges to the local economy that are beyond local control. “In spite of our best efforts to minimize adverse impacts of the highly competitive fishing industry to our local cannery operation and other market forces beyond our control on our economy, major challenges will persist — exacerbated by proposed changes and reductions to our Department of Interior Grant-In-Aid and other non-defense federal grants,” Saelua said. Additionally, the “volatile conditions of our economy will directly impact our local revenue base and further undermine our attempts to address the growing needs of our people.”

The inquiry into corruption allegations against the assistant chief executive of Samoa's Ministry of Works and Infrastructure is widening. Fepulea'i Faleniu Mark Alesana has been formally charged with six charges by the Public Service Commission over his connections to a Thailand-based ship registration company, Ascent Navals.

Christopher King is the 2018-2019 President of the Lions Club of Pago Pago. He is with other new incoming board members of the Lions Club as well as new inductees during the induction ceremony last Friday. Also present is Sen. Galeai Tu’ufuli, who is the Lions Club chapter chairman. The incoming 2018-2019 new board and officers of the Lions Club of Pago Pago; President, Christopher J. King; 1st Vice President, Tafaimamao Tupuola; 2nd Vice President, Ty Matyjakowski; 3rd Vice President, Andrew Burquist; Secretary, Ponita Laussen; Treasurer, Carneen Cotton; Membership Chair, Mike Sala; Tail Twister, Tamatoa Tony Langkilde; Lion Tamer, Willie Teleso, and Directors - Larry Sanitoa, Burg Salanoa, Joey Cummings, Christa Satele; as well as Immediate Past President, Lisa Tuato’o - who served as president for 2017-2018.

The American Samoa Amateur Boxing Association (ASABA) is sharing some good news for the community, after one of the two local boxers who competed in the 2018 Oceania Youth Boxing Championships in Samoa two weeks ago qualified for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, October 6-18. The Samoa Oceania championship was also a Qualifier Competition.

ASABA vice president Okesene Malala who took the two fighters to Apia also received a Two-Star Coaching Certificate from the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) two weeks ago. He is the first American Samoan to receive such a certificate. American Samoa amateur Falaniko Tauta qualified for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games after an outstanding performance in Samoa where two of our local fighters, Tauta and Jolando Taaalo too part in the competition.