February 2021
Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo is the new Human Resources director
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo is now the director for the Department of Human Resources after she was approved by faipule yesterday morning by a 16-3 vote.
Sweet homecoming and a ‘thank you’ wave
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Tauese Va’a Sunia with tausi Beverly and daughter — outside of the Tradewinds Hotel — finally able to hug & greet each other after a long journey home for Tauese —
Faipule point out Aute and Filifili and plead for action on drug problem
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Fofo Representative, Andra Tereise Samoa is appealing to leaders of all ASG law enforcement agencies to do everything in their power to tackle the drug problem
Second doses only of COVID vaccine today photo & caption
This recent Health Dept photo shows medical staff administering the COVID-19 vaccine.
Tali le Pule CFIDD i tu’uaiga fa’aaoga le tatau o tupe a le feterale
Pago Pago, AMERIKA SAMOA
ASG employees stranded off island “will continue to be paid”
Pago Pago, AMERICA SAMOA — ASG employees stranded off island, due to border-closer, “will continue to be paid so long as they are diligently attempting to return to the Territory or so lon
Senate confirms new District Court Judge Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde was confirmed as the new District Court judge by the Senate in a unanimous 15-0 vote yesterday, which requires only Senate confirmation
Senate unanimously votes to increase the tobacco excise tax, reduce wage tax
Pago Pago, AMERICA SAMOA — In a unanimous vote of 16-0, the Senate approved on Tuesday this week in third and final reading a Senate bill which seeks to increase
Gov forwards Lefiti’s nomination for Police Commissioner to Fono
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga has submitted the nomination of Lefiti Falelauli’i Pese as Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

![Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital [photo: Facebook] Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital sign](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_tupua-tamasese-meaole-hospital-at-motootua.jpg?itok=occ0jdPF)
![New Director for the Department of Human Resources Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo appeared before the House Government Operations Committee yesterday morning for her confirmation hearing. [photo by AF] Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pulou_0152.jpg?itok=pfCDGmr0)
![[Courtesy photo] Tauese Va’a Sunia with tausi Beverly and daughter](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/vaa_sunia_2292.jpg?itok=9WNPpmjy)
![Representative from Fofo, Andra Samoa stated there are almost daily reports in the newspaper about suspects caught with drugs being arrested and prosecuted. She said the sources of drug supplies in the territory are well known as they are mentioned in the newspaper reports of drug cases — Aute and Filifili. [photo by AF] Representative from Fofo, Andra Samoa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/rep_andra_0545.jpg?itok=5ZuXGpe2)


![“Directors are encouraged, to the extent that it is practical, to keep their employees engaged in work remotely until they return [home],” Gov. Lemanu said, and noted that his memo supersedes the one issued last year. Gov. Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lemanu_standing.jpg?itok=hKouV-33)
![Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono (left) and District Court Judge Pro Tempore, Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde (right) pose for a photo yesterday following her Senate confirmation hearing as a judge of the District Court. She was later confirmed to the post, which requires only Senate confirmation. [photo: FS] Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono (left) and District Court Judge, Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde (right)](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gwen_n_soliai_5710.jpg?itok=0ZbHjOFX)
![Sen. Magalei Logovi’i, one of the co-sponsors of the bill, reiterated what he had told the committee in earlier hearings, that it was the intent from the beginning in drafting this legislation to repeal the 2% wage tax which is estimated to collect $3 million annually — but later it was changed to be reduced to 1%. [SN file photo] Sen. Magalei Logovi’i](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/sen_magaleicropped_4.jpg?itok=-UqhMWVZ)
