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![President/CEO of Haleck Enterprises Inc., Avamua Dave Haleck (right) shaking hands with Sen. Fa’amausili Mau Mau Jr., after testifying last Thursday before a Senate committee on three administration revenue measures. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Avamua%200299.jpg?itok=GWVl1lUj "President/CEO of Haleck Enterprises Inc., Avamua Dave Haleck (right) shaking hands with Sen. Fa’amausili Mau Mau Jr., after testifying last Thursday before a Senate committee on three administration revenue measures. [photo: FS]")
Top executives of Haleck Enterprises and Neil’s ACE Home Center have suggested increasing the 5% excise tax up by 2% or 3%, instead of implementing a 7% sales tax, which they say is too high and would require businesses to spend additional money to upgrade computer software to effectively collect a...
![Rendering of the proposed new Fono Building. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono%20bldg%20rendering_4.jpg?itok=weBgreEk "Rendering of the proposed new Fono Building. [SN file photo]")
The budget review process for ASG entities last week were very brief - some agencies lasted only 5 minutes - as the Fono Joint Budget Committee hearings are only focusing on specific questions regarding the fiscal year 2018 budget.
However, one issue that came up several times for many ASG...
In a little less than a year, the number of confirmed dengue fever cases in the territory has climbed to 201, while the confirmed number of Zika cases has reached 93.
This is according to Dept. of Health epidemiologist Scott Anesi who encourages everyone to do their part in ridding the territory of...
The days of paying the $10 facility fee to obtain services at the Department of Health's community health centers (CHC) in Leone, Tafuna, Amouli, Ofu, and Ta'u are gone.
This ultimately means that all legal residents can now get dental services, mental health services, and primary care services at...
G.H.C Reid & Company president Olivia Reid-Gillet has shared with senators what she believes is another area in which the American Samoa Government is losing excise tax revenue, and this deals with imported secondhand cars that are resold to another buyer, who is required to pay an additional...
![With ta'ovala are Soane Ramanlala and Penisimani Vea, the Director and the Chief Executive Officer of the Aotearos-Tonga Forest Product Ltd, 12 September 2017, Apia, Samoa. [Matangi Tonga photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tonga%20timber%20deal%20copy.jpg?itok=GTK3xr4Y "With ta'ovala are Soane Ramanlala and Penisimani Vea, the Director and the Chief Executive Officer of the Aotearos-Tonga Forest Product Ltd, 12 September 2017, Apia, Samoa. [Matangi Tonga photo]")
A deal worth US$205,000 for Tongan Caribbean Pine power poles was signed last week in Apia, between American Samoa and Aotearoa-Tonga Forest Products Ltd, a former Tonga Government public enterprise.
The deal is a two-year supply agreement for 500 30-foot Class 4 and 100 40-foot Class 1 Caribbean...
![Senate President ProTem, Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua (left) lookong on, as Senate legal counsel Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase reads for senators, local law which requires Fono approval of money in the law enforcement fund to finance purchases of new police vehicles. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Senate%20counsel%200303.jpg?itok=2yrUcAR0 "Senate President ProTem, Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua (left) lookong on, as Senate legal counsel Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase reads for senators, local law which requires Fono approval of money in the law enforcement fund to finance purchases of new police vehicles. [photo: FS]")
Some senators have voiced their displeasure over the Department of Public Safety using revenues from the $10 collected by the court for traffic violations to purchase brand new police vehicles without following the law, under which the use of this fund is subject to Fono approval.
The issue was...
![South Pacific Distribu¬tors general manager Mike Tolmie, G.H.C Reid & Co. acting general manager Cherith Lober, G.H.C. Reid president Olivia Reid-Gillet, TMO vice president Francine Gaisoa-Liulevaega, appeared Tuesday during a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing on three of five administration bills in the Fono. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/biz%20officials%200282.jpg?itok=D-Nlbgjk "South Pacific Distribu¬tors general manager Mike Tolmie, G.H.C Reid & Co. acting general manager Cherith Lober, G.H.C. Reid president Olivia Reid-Gillet, TMO vice president Francine Gaisoa-Liulevaega, appeared Tuesday during a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing on three of five administration bills in the Fono. [photo: FS]")
Locally-owned TMO company, has joined G.H.C Reid in opposing the proposed 7% sales tax, but if the government insists on such a tax, the companies suggest lowering the percentage to 2% as a starting point.
TMO vice president Gaisoa-Liulevaega wonders how the government would ensure that each and...
![Congresswoman Aumua Amata with President Hilda Heine in the Congresswoman’s Washington, D.C. office. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/With%20President%20Heine.jpg?itok=IsbHgZDm "Congresswoman Aumua Amata with President Hilda Heine in the Congresswoman’s Washington, D.C. office. [courtesy photo]")
$175,000 HHS GRANT FOR AM SAMOA HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Congresswoman Aumua Amata was pleased to welcome the announcement of a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant of over $175,000 for the American Samoa Government.
“I appreciate this financial support for American Samoa, particularly for...
![Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/GovLolo_0766_4.jpg?itok=XJ7tjJwt "Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]")
With an estimated 7% loss in local revenues for the government due to the upcoming five-week closure of StarKist Samoa cannery operations, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has advised directors of all ASG departments and agencies to “practice diligence in expending local funds”.
Pittsburgh-based StarKist...