Local News
![Rendering of the proposed new Fono Building. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono%20bldg%20rendering_9.jpg?itok=cP8atcmV "Rendering of the proposed new Fono Building. [SN file photo]")
The Senate has reduced the excise tax for imported non-carbonated sugary drinks and hiked the current 5% miscellaneous excise tax. The changes are included in the Senate version of an Administration bill, which seeks to amend several provisions of local excise taxes.
The measure was approved during...
![Grove Roots at Waiata Maori Music Awards [photo: screencapture/waiata maori music awards]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Grove_Roots.jpg?itok=R80FMH7V "Grove Roots at Waiata Maori Music Awards [photo: screencapture/waiata maori music awards]")
STOP SEX WORK
Member of Parliament, Olo Fiti Vaai, has called on the government to end commercial sex work in Samoa.
He has also strongly criticized plans by the Ministry of Health to offer educational and counseling services to “commercial sex workers” as part of a bid to promote healthy living...
![Bruckner Chase returns to American Samoa with NOAA national weather service for beach and ocean safety film project and program development — the “Blue Journey Dangerous Waves” film series. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Bruckner%20Chase.jpg?itok=biNLjdYs "Bruckner Chase returns to American Samoa with NOAA national weather service for beach and ocean safety film project and program development — the “Blue Journey Dangerous Waves” film series. [courtesy photo]")
Bruckner Chase, Uila o le Sami, who swam from Aunu’u to Pago Pago in 2011 is back on island as part of a National Weather Service Ocean Today expedition to create an educational film series on beach and ocean safety that will focus on the unique hazards around the island.
This innovative project...
![Ernest Haleck, a certified Firearms and Tactics Instructor from Honolulu, during yesterday's official opening of a training session held at the OMV conference room and aimed at preparing local cops to be armed. [photo: AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/cops%20n%20guns_0762.jpg?itok=F-H7Bbqj "Ernest Haleck, a certified Firearms and Tactics Instructor from Honolulu, during yesterday's official opening of a training session held at the OMV conference room and aimed at preparing local cops to be armed. [photo: AF]")
Training to arm local police officers kicked off yesterday morning at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) in Tafuna, under the supervision of Ernest Haleck, who arrived last week from Honolulu, HI.
Haleck is the lead instructor in Firearms and Tactics for the National Tactical Officers Association (...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/EOB_1web_34.jpg?itok=SVPLc_X_ "[SN file photo]")
Concerned that ASG employees, who become “victims of a director’s failure” to manage his or her agency’s finances, resulting in non-issuance of payroll checks, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has laid down a specific policy to ensure that every employee gets a paycheck.
ASG gets paid every two weeks — on...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/election%20office_1.jpeg?itok=BR5ck1-Q "[SN file photo]")
Six individuals, including the current House chief clerk, have been determined by Chief Election Officer, Uiagalelei Dr. Uiagalelei Lealofi as eligible candidates for next month’s special election for House of Representative District No. 5, Sua No. 1 - which is comprised of Fagaitua, Amaua, Auto,...
![Rendering of the proposed new Fono Building. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono%20bldg%20rendering_8.jpg?itok=fB5l52ZR "Rendering of the proposed new Fono Building. [SN file photo]")
PUBLIC AWARENESS OF TRAFFIC LAWS
With the increase in public complaints regarding police citing motorists for alleged violations of local traffic laws, Sen. Paepae Iosefa Faiai has suggested that the Department of Public Safety conduct public awareness programs — involving state run KVZK-TV — to...
![Families and friends of the fire crew from American Samoa gathered at the airport last Friday to say farewell to their loved ones. A crew of 13 fire fighters departed last Friday for the second time this year to fight wildfires in California. [photo: NPSAS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Wildland%20fire%20352.jpg?itok=mc8Fxcvh "Families and friends of the fire crew from American Samoa gathered at the airport last Friday to say farewell to their loved ones. A crew of 13 fire fighters departed last Friday for the second time this year to fight wildfires in California. [photo: NPSAS]")
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — Families and friends of the fire crew from American Samoa gathered at the airport last Friday to say farewell to their loved ones. A crew of 13 firefighters departed last Friday for the second time this year to fight wildfires in California.
They will be joined by...
![Deputy Commissioner Falana’ipupu Ta’ase Sagapolupele (left) and two other police officers escorting Police Officer Fa’auma Malo (right) from the DPS Central Station in Fagatogo, to an awaiting police unit, after he was arrested last Friday morning. Malo will make his initial appearance in the District Court today. [photo: courtesy]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Faauma%20Malo_0745.jpg?itok=b6DDeXld "Deputy Commissioner Falana’ipupu Ta’ase Sagapolupele (left) and two other police officers escorting Police Officer Fa’auma Malo (right) from the DPS Central Station in Fagatogo, to an awaiting police unit, after he was arrested last Friday morning. Malo will make his initial appearance in the District Court today. [photo: courtesy]")
A police officer was arrested at the DPS main central station in Fagatogo and taken into custody at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) Friday.
His initial appearance in the District Court is scheduled for today.
As of press time, it was unclear what Police Officer (PSO) Fa'auma Malo is being...
![A recent photo, provided by the ASG Port Administration, showing the tugboat, ‘Signet Courageous’, in Louisiana. This used tugboat is being checked by Port Administration engineers, who are in Louisiana, as a possible second tugboat for the Port of Pago Pago. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tugboat%20courageous.jpg?itok=ID8SFhtH "A recent photo, provided by the ASG Port Administration, showing the tugboat, ‘Signet Courageous’, in Louisiana. This used tugboat is being checked by Port Administration engineers, who are in Louisiana, as a possible second tugboat for the Port of Pago Pago. [courtesy photo]")
The US Coast Guard has confirmed that it had issued a waiver to the Port of Pago Pago — allowing the use of one tugboat — as well as an extension for the ASG Port Administration Department to come up with a second tugboat by mid-November this year.
So far Port Administration appears to have...