February 2021
Grandfather accused of raping his 15-year-old granddaughter
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A grandfather was arrested by police last week pursuant to an arrest warrant alleging that he raped his granddaughter last year.
Former shipyard CEO who worked with Sanchez gives some history
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With the governor’s appointment of Carlos Sanchez as the executive director of Shipyard Service Authority, a former chief executive officer of the government ow
Wage tax reduction discussion points to not all businesses paying their share
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — While there are about 2,000 businesses in American Samoa only 506 of them paid into the government the 2% wage tax in fiscal year 2020, says ASG Treasurer Malem
Yet again: Drugs found during a traffic stop
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man was arrested and charged for violating local drug laws after police allegedly discovered drugs in his possession during a traff
NMFS extends comment period on critical coral habitat
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a notice published through the Federal Register, the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced this week that it is extending for another 30-days
Samoan church in Auckland taken off Charities Register after probe
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — A church in Auckland has been struck off the Charities Register after its employees stole millions of dollars in church funds, and poured millions more into dubious
Our Long Journey Home to American Samoa
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In July of 2020 my Aunty Oto told my mom that she was diagnosed with cancer.
Med staff urges community to trust the process that is keeping us safe
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The medical team that traveled on Feb.
Drive-thru vaccines photo & caption
LBJ Medical Center’s Infection Prevention Specialist, Sharmain Mageo, RN, administering the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine under a new drive-thru process on the mountainside of the hospital compound.



![“Carlos and I personally funded the initial wages of some of the shipyard staff and bought tools and equipment as there were no available funds, no bank account and all the tools and equipment had been stolen [from a local vendor] the day or night before the take over by government,” Robinson said via email from New Zealand. “We were never reimbursed.” He is pictured here receiving a thank you gift by then-American Samoa Softball Association president Larry Sanitoa. [SN file photo] David Robinson and Larry Sanitoa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/robinson_0189web_0.jpg?itok=BVTj082U)
![ASG Treasurer Malemo L. Tausaga (front) and LBJ Medical Center chief executive officer Faumuina John Faumuina, as the pair exit the Senate chamber yesterday morning following a committee hearing on a Senate bill to hike the tobacco tax and reduce the 2% wage tax. [photo: FS] ASG Treasurer Malemo L. Tausaga (front) and LBJ Medical Center chief executive officer Faumuina John Faumuina](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/malemo_n_faumuina.jpg?itok=0HGZcgUU)


![Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church headquarters in Māngere, South Auckland. [Photo: Google Maps] Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church headquarters in Māngere](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoan_church_in_nz_copy.png?itok=Rd127mOz)
![Aunty Otolose & Leonia on the bus in Hawaii — going from quarantine to the airport to catch the 1st repatriation flight home to American Samoa. Leonia’s essay, “Our Long Journey Home to American Samoa”, by the 14-year old — a freshman at Samoana High School, tells us in about her experience as a Repat resident, due to the COVID-19 pandemic — finally joyfully coming home. [Courtesy photo] Aunty Otolose & Leonia on the bus in Hawaii](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/our_long_journey.jpg?itok=Vv1fr5SK)
![LBJ Medical Center’s medical team poses for a photo — taking a break from their work with people getting their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. [photo: A. Nikolao] An LBJ Medical Center medical team](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lbj_medical_team.jpg?itok=54ko-9ci)
