Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man from Samoa convicted of trying to kill his sponsor after his sponsor used up all his FEMA check, was sentenced to serve 5 years at the Territory Correctional Facility (TCF), a straight sentence.
Savelio Vaimoe, also known as Vaimoe Seumau appeared in court last...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Dr. Ken Lameta, a veterinarian originally hired from Samoa to head the small animal clinic at the Department of Agriculture told faipule yesterday morning that he received his license from the Health Regularity Board to allow him to work in American Samoa in 2012,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A new document is circulating from several parents of students attending the South Pacific Academy has made its way to some lawmakers — suggesting that the court be petitioned to “place SPA under a receivership to allow the education of our students to continue” amid the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Lack of tsunami sirens, traffic jams on the road and lack of an overall evacuation plan are just some of the problems that surfaced when American Samoa was placed under a tsunami warning last week, according to a Senate Resolution introduced during last Saturday’s...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Four people have been removed from the second group of American Samoa residents set to be repatriated from the United States after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Chair of the House Health Committee, Andra Samoa, said that the number of people in the quarantined group...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Immigration Board has three new Fono confirmed board members — Sen. Satele Aliita’i Lili’o, Misi Tauai and Faitama’i Leomiti — following Senate approval last Friday while the House gave its endorsement the day before.
However, the governor’s nomination of Vaimaona...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who attempted to pick a fight with his 58-year-old uncle and then assaulted his brother-in-law has been ordered to serve 45 days in jail for violating conditions of his probation. He is also placed on probation for 24 months after he pled guilty to private peace...
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata spoke in the House Natural Resources Committee last Thursday in support of resources, such as funding sea walls and other shoreline stability needs dealing with erosion, sea rise, climate and Tutuila’s known settling.
In addition to sea rise, the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an email letter to parents on Sunday, the South Pacific Academy board of directors made serious claims that one of the terminated teachers has “a history of violent behavior in school” and had already been warned.
But a “very concerned parent”, countered the board’s...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A bill was introduced in the House Chamber last week to amend the law on tobacco restriction by increasing the smoking age from 18 to 21 and increasing the safeguards to deter youth and young adults from smoking.
The proposed legislation was introduced by Reps. Avagafono...

![The court made it clear that there was no doubt that the circumstance (sponsor taking all the money) pushed the defendant to the action he took, however, nothing was presented to the court to prove that the defendant’s action was justified under the law. [SN file photo] American Samoa High Court building](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/high_court_125.jpg?itok=UhuxpElT)
![Dr. Ken Lameta, the veterinarian hired from Samoa several years ago by the Dept. of Agriculture to head the small animal clinic appeared before the House Agriculture Committee yesterday morning for a hearing to discuss various issues regarding his services at the Veterinary Clinic in Tafuna. [photo by AF] Dr. Ken Lameta](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/dr_lameta_0278.jpg?itok=V5_Mcvhg)
![South Pacific Academy teachers who last week submitted a petition to the SPA board pointing out, “We need improved response to teacher complaints and the relationship with the Board. We as teachers have been experiencing intimidation and harassment when we individually bring our concerns to members of the Board about management.” Now parents are circulating a petition calling for the school to go into receivership. [courtesy photo] SPA teachers on strike holding signs](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/teacher_strike_3.jpg?itok=yVOKwJMT)
![A Pago Pago villager ringing the curfew bell in front of Mauga’s Guest House in Pago Pago alerting village residents and the public of the tsunami warning in affect on March 4, 2021. [photo: FS] A Pago Pago villager ringing the curfew bell](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/man_with_village_gong_5834.jpg?itok=sE4yz3zm)
![The Chair of the House Health Committee, Andra Samoa, said that the number of people in the quarantined group in Hawai'i had dropped because of the results. [SN file photo] Rep. Andra Samoa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/andra_samoaweb_0.jpg?itok=55s_j7t0)
![Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean directed the Senate legal counsel to ensure that all nominees presented by the Administration for confirmation also include resumes. Tuaolo said the Senate would no longer consider any nominee presented for confirmation unless a resume is submitted with the nomination. [SN file photo] Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/sen_tuaolo_1865web_0_0.png?itok=RNSdHSaR)
![Filiga was ordered to serve 15 days for PPD, and 120 days for third degree assault. But the court suspended the execution of the prison sentences and placed Filiga on probation for 24 months under the following conditions: He has to keep the peace at home at all times; he must stay alcohol and drug free; he has to attend and complete anger management and alcohol counseling; and he has to pay a fine of $100. [SN file photo] Court Report banner](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/court-report_606.jpg?itok=DVU-X_pg)
![Congresswoman Amata spoke to the Committee hearing on Thursday where she strongly pressed for legislative compromise to ensure American Samoa’s self-determination on any future wind farm consideration, arguing against any federal mandates to construct wind farms, saying that such key decisions must remain clearly with the people of American Samoa through their Governor and Fono. [courtesy photo] Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata_in_screen_shot.jpg?itok=e0nZJVkp)
![DESPITE THE DOWN-POUR — SUPPORT OF SPA STRIKE CONTINUES Parents and others from the community stood by striking teachers at South Pacific Academy yesterday morning, despite the down-pour. “We want teachers, not baby sitters,” said one placard, referring to substitute personnel taking over the classrooms for striking teachers. Some parents have described the SPA board’s action of terminating two teachers that resulted in the strike, as “bullying”. Hence the placard, “Bullying does not equal leadership” held by one of the supporters. The strike is now in its second week. [courtesy photo] Parents join striking teachers at SPA](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/spa_strike_004.jpg?itok=u_D36dYg)
![Sua #2 Representative and former DPS Deputy Commissioner, Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava is one of the sponsors of the smoking age bill introduced, along with Reps. Alumamalu Ale Filoiali’I, Su’a Alexander Eli Jennings and Andra Tereisa Samoa in the House last week. [photo by AF] Rep. Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/rep_avagafono_0959.jpg?itok=iWxx8gwh)