American Samoa bids farewell to and to those we have loved and lost. Buckle up! LOCAL HIGHWAYS to date

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1 Buckle up! Fatalities CraSHES LOCAL HIGHWAYS to date office of highway safety LOCAL HIGHWAYS to date Visiting Hawai i teams win in Samoa Bowl B1 Chicago s North Park University Vikings head coach, Mike Conway chatting it up with some of our local All Star players yesterday morning at the Tafuna High School campus, during his football recruiting trip. Conway is the first head coach of a college football team to personally make the trip down to American Samoa to seek out local players for his football program. (See the full story and more photos in Thursday s Samoa News issue and check out the video of the recruiting session held yesterday morning on our Facebook page and our website, samoanews.com) [photo: TG] samoanews.com C Y M K Fa amavae aloaia Afoa mai le tofiga o le Loia Sili 10 Daily Circulation 7,000 PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA Tuesday, December 31, 2013 $1.00 This January 22, 2013 file photo showing McConnell Dowell working on the road between the market and Fagatogo Square is our Picture of the Year. We selected it not for its artistic value but because it illustrates what a big difference a little patching and pothole filling has made in the lives of the motoring public this year. Also paved were the worst of the pothole-ridden areas on the road to LBJ and in front of the ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank at Lyons Park. Other areas that got a quick fix this year are Futiga, Iliili, parts of Leone, and the infamous Airport road. [photo: SN] American Samoa bids farewell to 2013 C Y M K by Samoa News staff American Samoa bid farewell to Toa o Samoa, traditional leaders including three senators a well known musician, and many dear friends and family in 2013, which also saw the passing of Nelson Mendela, the former president of South Africa, whose death was mourned the world over. Stories about him appeared in hundreds, if not thousands of publications, including American Samoa. The holiday season is always a difficult time for families whose members are serving in the U.S. military and this and to those we have loved and lost year, American Samoa lost one of its own in the Afghanistan conflict. U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jason Asootama Togi (who was born on Father s Day in 1989) died Aug. 26 in Hasan Karez, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The twenty-four year old native of Fagasa was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. The graduate of Samoana High School entered military service in September 2011 as an engineer and was on his first deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, in July There were no casualties reported for our Toa o Samoa in Iraq, as the end of 2011 was the official withdrawal of U.S. troops from that country, although there is still a U.S. military presence there, and there are still Samoan soldiers in that country. The year 2013, which was also the start of the 33rd Legislature, saw the passing of three senators who were serving their first four-year terms in office. While the Fono was busy this year, the deaths of the three senators gave it a mood of sadness throughout the year. The late senators were remembered when the Fono ended its 2nd Regular Session in late September. Sen. Fa agata Mano Fa agata, one of the three senators representing Ma oputasi county, passed away in June at the age of 61. Sen. Sua Vaiuli Matautia, one of two senators for Sua County, also passed away in June at the age of 72, just a month before his 73rd birthday. Sen. Letuligasenoa Soli, one of the two sena- (Continued on page 14) Outgoing Attorney General Afoa L Su esu e Lutu with Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Lt Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga seen here with Cabinet directors and agency heads, as they bid him farewell following the cabinet meeting held yesterday at the ASCC lecture hall. Read story inside this issue. [photo: JL]

2 Page 2 samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 American Samoa residents ringing in 2014, as usual (ANSWERs on page 14) STRANGE BUT TRUE By Samantha Weaver It was noted American writer and essayist Flannery O Connor who made the following sage observation: Truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it. Even though the human brain makes up only 2 percent of the body s mass, it consumes 20 percent of the body s calories and oxygen. The chief translator for the European Parliament is named Ioannis Ikonomou. He is fluent in 32 languages -- and still learning. During World War I, the United States acquired its first war dog. The pit bull was found wandering around Yale Field in New Haven, Conn., by soldiers in training. On particular soldier, Cpl. Robert Conroy, became close to the dog and refused to leave Stubby behind; when Conroy was shipped out, he hid the dog on board. Stubby served overseas for 18 months and saw action in 17 battles. On more than one occasion he sniffed out surprise attacks, saving his regiment. He was known for locating wounded soldiers on the field, and he even once caught a German spy. He was the most decorated dog of the Great War, and he was promoted to sergeant for his combat service -- the only dog to be so honored. After the war, Sgt. Stubby was hailed as a hero; he led parades and met three presidents. He even has his very own brick at the World War I Memorial. It reads, Sergeant Stubby, Hero Dog of WWI, a Brave Stray. Those who study such things say that couples in a romantic relationship actually have heart rates that are in sync with each other. If you re like the average American, you drink 23 gallons of coffee every year, but only 9 gallons of tea. Thought for the Day Research is what I m doing when I don t know what I m doing. Wernher Von Braun By Fili Sagapolutele, Samoa News Correspondent Church services and parties will top the list of activities when American Samoa welcomes in 2014 at the stroke of 12 midnight tonight, the last in the U.S. family to do so. Guam in the Northern Pacific will be the first U.S. possession to welcome in the New Year. Samoa, which moved to the other side of the International Dateline two years ago, is the first country in the world to ringin the New Year while American Samoa and Niue are the last places on earth to welcome with open arms 2014, as territorial leaders hoping for a blessed one, especially in terms of the economy. Samoa News received word since last Friday that some residents plan to head to Poloa around 6p.m. today to watch the last sunset of the year and Poloa residents are looking forward to sitting on the side of the road, or on the beach, to watch the sun slowly vanish in the distance. There is hope of clear weather so that those on the Poloa shoreline have a better view. This is the third year American Samoa is celebrating being the last sunset of the year ; and for those who follow Chinese astrology 2014 greets the Year of the Horse on Feb. 04, 2014, bidding farewell to the 2013 Year of the Snake. Many residents plan to attend New Year s Eve church services both on New Year s Eve and New Year s Day. A tradition for the Methodist Church on New Year s Eve service is expected to attract new visitors. The service, which is carried out by the more than 15 parishes of the Methodist synod in the territory, known as the Po o Moli or the Night of Lights, where trees about feet high are decorated with candy or flower ulas, yards of material, food items such as chips, cookies, canned goods and boxes of saimin. And of course, some are decorated with just cash. At the end of the service, which is after midnight, decorations from the trees are given first to the church and village leaders, the elders in the church, invited guests and finally to church members. Many restaurants and nightclubs in the territory are planning big New Year s Eve parties with free champagne to toast in Check out yesterday and today s editions of Samoa News for New Year celebration specials. Stores are also expecting to pick up additional business today especially with yesterday being the government s pay day. Food and liquor are expected to be the hot items for buyers. Bars and nightclubs are, however, reminded by the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board to comply with local laws, which prohibit the sale of alcohol after 2a.m., their normal closing time, while retail stores are barred from selling beer or alcohol after 10 p.m. Police will be enforcing these provisions of the law on behalf of ABC, and law enforcement officials urge the public s cooperation to ensure a safe New Year. Police will continue their on-going holiday enforcement program, which includes road-blocks at designated but unannounced locations. It s unclear whether Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga will sign before midnight any prison inmates request for pardon as part of the usual New Year s agenda for a chief executive. As in past years, the sound of fireworks illegal in American Samoa will be heard island-wide, mixed with the noise of the homemade Samoan cannons or fagaofe, which began to sound across the territory on Christmas Eve. In the meantime, New Year s Eve celebration in the United States at Times Square in New York City, will be aired live on television and watched by millions of Americans, with portions of it to be seen by local residents on CNN s special broadcast, as the network started coverage yesterday evening (local time), when it was already New Year s Eve in other parts of the world. The event culminates with a crystal ball, dropping at midnight. Jan. 1, 2014 has already been declared by the governor as a holiday in American Samoa with ASG offices, as well as many local businesses closed, including both banks. Today, ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank opens from 9a.m. to 12noon while Bank of Hawai i has usual business hours. Samoa News will not publish tomorrow in observance of the holiday and will return on Thursday, Jan. 2, MAY GOD BLESS US AND KEEP US SAFE. HAPPY NEW YEAR AMERICAN SAMOA!

3 samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Page 3 ASG says the Whitehorn contract was mutual mistake between ASG & WCI by Joyetter to cure a breach of the contract work, however, WCI did not Feagaimaali i-luamanu within the specified amount of fail or refuse to do the work. Samoa News Reporter time. But, the government claims The American Samoa WCI claims they are the WCI has failed to state a claim Government claims Whitehorn Construction Inc. (WCI) of fraudulent bonds, and granted; that WCI has unclean victims of an elaborate scheme upon which relief can be has unclean hands in their they have been working with hands; and, they failed to mitigate damages. response to the WCI lawsuit against the government, ties to identify and prosecute ASG says their actions the federal criminal authori- which lawsuit claims ASG offending individuals. They were legal and in full compliance with contract terms failed to uphold its legal and have also worked with the regulatory responsibilities by insurance companies to bring and all applicable laws while failing to ensure the validity civil actions in federal court WCI obtained ASG s consent of the bonds. against the perpetrators of the through fraud, deceit or misrepresentation and the forma- The lawsuit was filed before fraud scheme. the Administrative Law Judge Although the bonds were tion of the contract was based when the government moved later identified to be invalid, on a mutual mistake between to terminate its contract with WCI procured the bond per WCI and ASG. WCI. contractual requirements outlined in the bid documents, point out that the ASG defense Samoa News would like to ASG moved to terminate the contract after the government found out the bonds was not grounds to terminate the contract was based on a and the invalidity of the bond also states The formation of issued were fake or bogus. The the contract for default, says unilateral mistake of ASG. issue of the bonds came to light the appeal, which further states ASG points out the contract when an official with Chubb that termination for default is unlawful and that the ALJ Group of Insurance Companies occurs if the contractor refuses does not have jurisdiction over contacted the local DPW and or fails to proceed with the this claim. AG s offices, informing them the agent or broker though which WCI posted their bond did not work for Chubb. WCI had been awarded the contract to fix the Airport Road. WCI says, in their appeal, the issue concerning the bond was out of WCI s control and not the fault of WCI and in response ASG says this particular allegation is vague, ambiguous, incomplete and unintelligible and ASG would require to speculate the meaning of offending issue and bonding issue which ASG declines to do. In their appeal filed against ASG, the ASG Office of Procurement and Chief Procurement Officer Tiaotalaga J.E Kruse, WCI notes that to their knowledge the bond documents were legitimate and valid and WCI reasonably believed the broker was an authorized agent of the surety underwriter. WCI lawfully procured the bonds and paid the full value of the bonds pursuant to acceptable industry standards, and prior to finalizing the contract WCI forwarded the bonds to the office of Procurement for review and comment, said the appeal. WCI believed the bonds had also been submitted to the Attorney General s office for final approval, and after ASG purportedly vetted the bonds the contract was finalized. Had ASG vetted the bonds and determined the bonds be invalid, then ASG should not have issued the NTP (Notice to Proceed) says WCI. However in response ASG says that they were improperly made to believe at the time, that WCI had satisfactorily met all bid and contract requirements. In addition, ASG claims WCI stopped working on the airport road at the discretion of ASG, however that stoppage of such work was for failure 20% OFF15% American Samoa Government OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES Important Notice Honorable Governor Lolo M. Moliga and Honorable Lieutenant Governor Lemanu P. Mauga would like to have a meeting with all ASG Scholarship and ASG Student Loan Recipients who have graduated with Bachelors and Masters Degrees during the Spring and Fall of This very important meeting will be held in the Governor s Conference Room, A. P. Lutali Executive Office Building, Utulei at 9:00 a.m., Monday January 6th, If you have any questions please contact Mr. Sonny L. Thompson, Director, Department of Human Resources at or Deputy Director Mrs. Eseneiaso Liu at Happy New Year BIG SALE! Now until January 4, 2014 *If you use Credit Card OFF * ALL ITEMS IN STORE (Local Items Not Included - Soda, Tobacco, Phone Card, Cookies, ETC...) All Merchandise Shipped Directly from the USA! 10% OFF Handmade Gift Basket & Lei s. Your One Stop Store For All Your New Year Shopping! PARADISE GIFT CENTER Paradise, Inc. In front of Carl s Jr. in Nuuuli

4 Page 4 samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Letter to the Editor GOVERNOR, WE NEED HELP WITH THESE MATTERS Dear Editor: In order for us to enjoy this laid-back lifestyle in paradise we have had to face certain difficulties, some serious, in our everyday lives, such as a hospital that continually finds ways to breakdown our confidence in their ability to take care of our health needs. Your newspaper articles indicate our health care is now in the hands of a weatherman I guess that s better than a taxi-driver or plumber!! Why can t these politicians put qualified people in these critical positions? Then there is the utility that overcharges so much that the average person living here has to set up installment payments in order to have basic needs as water and electricity in their home and constantly promises financial breaks which never materialize or will materialize. And what about the tax office still using a tax table from the year 2000! This will now be 14 years of cheating us out of a ton of tax benefits! And then several cable providers who just get worse as time marches on. The same movies year in and year out, reality shows like, The housewives of Lower Mongolia and Storage Wars of Warsaw. They also make promises like Sign up for our new digital system including HBO, has anyone seen HBO? Just another con which is so easy when you re a monopoly! Now that 2014 is upon us I see they have brought in a bevy of sensational shows, Bonanza, The Brady Bunch, Have Gun Will Travel, Andy Griffith Show, Rifleman, etc. Must be paying a fortune for those tapes! As hard as it is to put up with these hardships, they can t compare with the daily nightmare we face with banking in this Territory. The Bank of Hawaii throws the banking public into turmoil, the Government covers their needs making some kind of deal with a U.S. bank and then leaves us with ANZ! This is the only bank on the planet where you wait from 1 to 3 hours to make a deposit, no business services available and completely overwhelmed but refuses to fully man their teller stations. Nothing more frustrating than walking into the bank with 75 customers and 1 teller working. Governor, we need help with these matters in your People First government. Jim Brittle CORRECTION A recent photo (Thursday, Dec. 26) of government crews cleaning up the beach at Fatu ma Futi incorrectly identified the agency involved as ASPA. The caption should have noted it was AS-EPA personnel who were out cleaning the area from Fatu ma Futi to Fagaalu. Samoa News apologizes for the inadvertent error. Osini Faleatasi Inc. reserves all rights. dba Samoa News is published Monday through Saturday, except for some local and federal holidays. Please send correspondences to: OF, dba Samoa News, Box 909, Pago Pago, American Samoa Contact us by Telephone at (684) Contact us by Fax at (684) Contact us by at samoanews@samoatelco.com Normal business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm. Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements, in whole or in part, is required. Please address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above. Last Cabinet meeting of the year honors outgoing Attorney General Still no word on new AG by Joyetter Feagaimaali i-luamanu, Samoa News Reporter Who will be the next Attorney General? That is the question that everyone is asking and Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga is expected to announce his choice today, says the Governor s Executive Assistant, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira. The last cabinet meeting of 2013 for the Lolo and Lemanu administration was dedicated to outgoing Attorney General Afoa L Su esu e Lutu, whose last day at work is today. In January, he will take up the senatorial seat representing the villages of Fagatogo, Fagaalu and Utulei. Afoa, who was a candidate for Governor in the last General Election was appointed by Governor Lolo as the Territory s Attorney General, and was the first political appointee announced by the new administration. During the cabinet meeting Governor Lolo commended Afoa for his commitment to the cause and stated that although he will be missed in this administration, opportunities such as this one do not come often. Lolo described Afoa as a warrior who was determined, and was not scared to make decisions. He thanked him for holding the fort for the administration when they stepped in. Afoa was presented with a plaque and a tanoa (kava bowl). The outgoing AG thanked the governor and Lt. governor for their commitment to the people, adding he has served in three administrations, twice with the late Lutali s administration and then under Lolo s administration. Today is not a sad day, rather it is a happy day which coincides with the festive season as we approach the new year, Afoa said, also thanking Maoputasi County for the opportunity offered to him to take on the senatorial seat. He thanked Lolo and Lemanu for choosing him and fighting back his tears, Afoa apologized, saying it may appear that he s running away as if something has happened however this was not the case. This is the county s decision and who am I to deny the decision by the county? Afoa told Lolo that he may be moving to the Legislative branch, however he will always return if the governor and the administration call on him for anything. I m only a phone call away, he said. Chief Election Officer Tuaolo Manaia Fruean who spoke on behalf of the administration and Governor Lolo asked Afoa to use his ability as an attorney to soothe any issue coming from the Fono towards the administration. In September, 2013, Afoa accepted the offer to take the Senate seat which was initially endorsed for High Chief Tiumalu Telesia Scanlan. Tiumalu later told Samoa News that she offered Afoa the Senate seat because she was not physically fit to take the seat, given her age. Afoa fills the seat left vacant earlier this year in June with the passing of the late Senator Faagata Mano Faagata. All that s left to do now is for the Secretary of Samoan Affairs to certify Afoa s selection. This comes after the governor is presented with the county s Return of Writ for Special Election which is to be signed by the Maoputasi County Chief and county traditional leaders, according to local law. Afoa is also currently the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Korea in the territory. OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED AT CABINET MEETING During the last cabinet meeting of the year, Governor Lolo commended the Director of DYWA Pa u Roy Ausage and Director of Arts Council Uta Dr. Laloulu Tagoilelago for a job well done for putting together the Christmas Program. He also noted that next time the Samoa Bowl Committee have a project such as the one they just did, the cabinet should also be involved. He admonished them that the Administration can t involve themselves unless they are made aware of the project or event. Lolo then thanked Lealao Melila Purcell for his commitment to Samoa Bowl and thanked others who were involved. Lolo then urged the Samoa Talks Committee, led by Tuaolo Manaia Fruean and Sonny Thompson, to touch base with the Samoa Government and discuss issues for the Inter-Samoa talks. Lastly the governor said, during this festive season there will be a lot of celebrations and to those who consume alcohol, please drink responsibly and don t drink and drive, because if anyone breaks the law, there s nothing he can do about it, the law will be upheld. Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga had pointed out earlier in the cabinet meeting that there were reports that some government employees have been caught drinking and driving, and that s unacceptable.

5 samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Page 5 Thank You American Samoa For supporting us in 2013 & for the past 43 Years! CBT Ho Ching & Co., Inc. Ia Manuia le Tausaga Fou! We wish you a Safe and Prosperous New Year. From Management & Staff CBT Ho Ching & Co., Inc.

6 Page 6 samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 US law mandates feasibility study for AS Natl Guard Samoa Bowl has ended, but no trip to American Samoa would be complete without a visit to $2 Beach. Seen here, members of the Samoa Bowl football and volleyball teams, along with coaches, parents and family members smile for Samoa News, as they were hosted on Sunday, December 29 by Mike Sala and his family at the beautiful eastern district beach. [photo: tlh] NEWS IN BRIEF Guam sen introduces bill on inheritance killing HAGATNA, Guam (AP) A Guam lawmaker has introduced a bill to prevent murderers 2013: fewest police deaths by firearms since 1887 WASHINGTON (AP) The number of law-enforcement officers killed by firearms in from getting inheritances from the people they 2013 fell to levels not seen since the 19th century, kill. Pacific Daily News reported Monday that territorial Sen. Frank Aguon says the bill is in response to a recent increase in criminal activity according to a report released Monday. The annual report from the nonprofit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund also in Guam. He says it s disheartening that some found that deaths in the line of duty generally people resort to murder to gain wealth from fell by 8 percent and were the fewest since people they stand to benefit from. According to the report, 111 federal, state, Allan Aloan Agababa is awaiting trial on local, tribal and territorial officers were killed in aggravated murder charges stemming from the the line of duty nationwide this past year, compared August death of his mother. Prosecutors say Agababa to 121 in Forty-six officers were killed killed Shelly June Bernstein, then inquired in traffic related accidents, and 33 were killed by about her death benefits hours after she was killed. Agababa s lawyer told the court at a recent hearing that he was waiting for discovery documents from the government before the case goes to trial. Police: Ohio man stabbed to death in Puerto Rico SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Police in firearms. The number of firearms deaths fell 33 percent in 2013 and was the lowest since The report credits an increased culture of safety among law-enforcement agencies, including increased use of bulletproof vests, that followed a spike in law-enforcement deaths in Since 2011, officer fatalities across all categories have decreased by 34 percent, and firearms Puerto Rico say a tourist from Ohio has been stabbed to death during a break-in on the island s deaths have dropped by 54 percent. Fourteen west coast. The police say the attack happened officers died from heart attacks that occurred early Monday in the beach town of Rincon. A while performing their duties. The report found police statement says the assailant broke into that Texas and California had the highest number the Arena y Mar Apartments through a sliding of fatalities, with 13 and 10, respectively. glass door in the middle of the night. The victim apparently walked in on him in the kitchen and was stabbed at least three times. Police identified the victim as 41-year-old Brett Walquist of Beavercreek, Ohio. No arrests have Indonesia s rumbling volcano unleashes fresh burst of lava KARO, Indonesia (AP) A rumbling volcano in western Indonesia that has been spewing lava and clouds of gas high into the sky let out a been made in the case. Puerto Rico is on pace to new, powerful burst Tuesday, prompting warnings record about 900 homicides this year, about 10 percent fewer than in 2012 in the U.S. island territory. Saudi judge orders man lashed for accusing wife RIYADH (AP) A Saudi news website says for airplanes and triggering panic among villagers, officials said. Nine eruptions Tuesday sent lava and searing gas tumbling out of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province, said Indonesia s disaster a judge in the city of Mecca ordered a man to mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo be lashed 20 times for accusing his spouse of Nugroho. The volcano started spitting clouds of not being a virgin when they married. Al-Sharq gas and lava as high as 23,000 feet in the air late Online reported Monday that the Yemeni man Monday, but no casualties were reported. was sentenced to be flogged in one session for not providing evidence to back up the accusation. He said more than 19,000 people have been evacuated from villages in a danger zone 5 kilometers (3 miles) around the crater to temporary The website says the Yemeni man allegedly accused his wife in front of her father and other shelters since authorities raised the alert status neighborhood elders of lying about her virginity. for Sinabung to the highest level in November. He says she had been married and divorced before Gray ash covered villages, farms and trees as him. As is common in conservative parts of the far as 43 miles southeast of the mountain. Arab world, he says the marriage contract stipulated The 2,600-meter (8,530-foot) Mount she was a virgin at the time of their wedding. Sinabung has sporadically erupted since Sep- The website says the wife went to court to tember. An eruption in 2010 killed two people prove her honor and reputation. (Continued on page 7) by Fili Sagapolutele Samoa News Correspondent The U.S. Defense Department is now mandated by federal law to conduct a feasibility study with the results to be available next year, regarding the establishment of National Guard units in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) the only two U.S. jurisdictions without such units. The mandate is outlined in provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 signed into law last week Thursday by U.S. President Barack Obama, after being approved by the U.S. Congress. Provisions for the feasibility study were submitted by Congressman Faleomavaega Eni, who said earlier this month in a statement that the presence of a National Guard unit in American Samoa will be a first responder to the Governor of American Samoa for disasters and local emergencies. Faleomavaega has worked on this issue since 2004 with the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye and in 2005 with Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, former General of the 9th Regional Support Command. In making the feasibility study determination, language of the bill states in part that the U.S. Defense Secretary shall, among other things, consider the allocation of National Guard force structure and manpower to the two territories in the event of the establishment of a unit there; and federal funding that would be required to support pay, benefits, training operations, and missions of members of a unit as well as the equipment, including maintenance, required to support such force structure. Also to be considered is the presence of existing infrastructure to support a unit, and the requirements for additional infrastructure including information technology infrastructure to support such unit. Additionally, the ability of a unit to maintain unit readiness and the logistical challenges associated with transportation, communications, supply/re-supply, and training operations and missions must be considered. The Secretary of Defense has 180 days after the bill is enacted into law to notify the congressional defense committees of the results of the feasibility determination. If the Secretary determines that establishment of a unit in American Samoa or CNMI is feasible, the Secretary shall include in the notification among other things: A determination of whether the executive branch of American Samoa and of CNMI has enacted and implemented statutory authorization for an organized militia as a prerequisite for establishing a unit of the National Guard, and a description of any other steps that such executive branches must take to request and carry out the establishment of a National Guard unit. A list of any amendments to current provisions of federal law that would have to be enacted by Congress to provide for the establishment of units in the two territories. A description of any required Department of Defense actions to establish a unit in the two territories. BACKGROUND Faleomavaega raised the issue of a National Guard in American Samoa in January of 2009 when he wrote to top military officials and the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye seeking support for the establishment of a detachment unit of the Hawai i Air National Guard in Pago Pago. In March of the same year, Faleomavaega wrote to General Craig R. McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va., for support in expediting the process of a detachment unit in Pago Pago. A unit in Pago Pago was also discussed by then Gov. Togiola Tulafono and federal officials during a meeting in February of 2009 in Washington D.C. Other political leaders in the territory at the time were supportive of a local unit of the National Guard because it not only provides job opportunities, but because it would also be available to assist the local government in times of disaster. Togiola had discussed having a unit of the Hawai i National Guard based in American Samoa during meetings in 2005 with then Hawai i Governor Linda Lingle.

7 NEWS IN BRIEF and caught scientists off guard because the volcano had been quiet for four centuries. Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said airlines had been notified to avoid routes near the mountain. Police, troops heavy in bomb-hit Russian city VOLGOGRAD, Russia (AP) Thousands of police officers and paramilitary forces are on duty in the Russian city of Volgograd, which is reeling from two suicide bombings in two days that killed 33 people and raised fears that a terrorist campaign may have begun that could stretch into the Winter Olympics. In the wake of Sunday s bombing at the city s main railway station and Monday s blast on a trolleybus, police reinforcements and Interior Ministry troops have been sent into the city, regional police official Andrei Pilipchuk was quoted as telling the Interfax news agency. He says more than 5,200 security forces are deployed. The Emergencies Ministry said two more victims died on Tuesday, raising the toll to from the station bombing and 15 from the bus. Vandals spray graffiti against Kerry in West Bank JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli police say suspected Jewish vandals have set fire to three vehicles in a West Bank village and sprayed threatening graffiti referencing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ahead of his expected visit to the region. Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says vandals early on Tuesday sprayed Hebrew graffiti saying, Blood will spill in Judea and Samaria, the Israeli term for the West Bank, and also, Regards to Kerry. Rosenfeld says the vandals then fled the Palestinian village of Jilazoun. He says police are investigating. The vandalism came as Israel released more than two dozen Palestinian prisoners convicted in deadly attacks against Israelis as part of a U.S.- Continued from page 6 sponsored deal to restart Mideast peace talks. Kerry is visiting the region later this week to propose a framework for a final status Israel- Palestinian agreement. a 7-year-old girl pulled from well in western Ga. CARROLLTON, Ga. (AP) Firefighters have pulled a young girl to safety after she fell into a well in western Georgia. Footage from local television stations showed Carroll County emergency responders loading the girl s stretcher into the back on an ambulance Monday. Details on how the girl fell into the well and the extent of her injuries were not immediately available. Calls to the Carroll County Fire Department were not returned. Zimbabwe: Foreign shop owners get gov t reprieve HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) Foreign shop owners_mainly Chinese and Nigerian nationals_ say Zimbabwean authorities have reversed an ultimatum for them to close their businesses by Jan. 1. The owners of mainly small businesses selling cheap consumer goods said Monday there were informed of a weekend statement by empowerment minister Francis Nhema that they have been allowed to continue trading. Under Zimbabwe s indigenization laws passed in 2007, certain sectors such as retail trade, farming and hair salons are reserved solely for black Zimbabweans. Poor townships and city flea markets have in recent years been inundated by shops run by foreigners who had come under fire for taking those opportunities from local blacks. In a statement in the state media Nhema commended the foreigners for playing a very important role in providing services to impoverished Zimbabweans. (Continued on page 14) samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Page 7 NOTICE FOR SEPARATION AGREEMENT TO Members of the TUILEFANO Family and to all whom these present may come! NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that IOSEFO FAALEAOGA & AGNES FAALEAOGA of MALAELOA has offered for recording in this office an instrument in writing which seeks to separate a certain structure which is or to be erected, on land FANEATA allegedly belonging to TUILEFANO FAMILY of the village of MALAELOA. Said land FANEATA is situated in or near the village of MALAELOA in the County of AITULAGI, Island of TUTUILA, American Samoa. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that any interested person may object to the recording of such instrument by filing in the Territorial Registar s Office in Fagatogo, a written objection to the recording of said instrument. Any objections thereto must be filed with in 30 days from the date of posting of this notice. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that if no such objections are filed within the said 30 day period, the instrument will be recorded and shall be valid and binding on all persons. The said instrument may be examined at any time at the Territorial Registrar s Office. POSTED: DECEMBER 18, 2013 thru JANUARY 17, 2014 SIGNED: Taito S.B. White, Territorial Registrar FA AALIGA O LE FEAGAIGA MO SE TU U ESEINA I tagata o le aiga sa TUILEFANO, ma i latou uma e silasila ma lauiloaina lenei fa aaliga! O le fa aaliga lenei ona o IOSEFO FAALEAOGA & AGNES FAALEAOGAIo le nu u o MALAELOA ua ia fa aulufaleina mai i lenei ofisa se feagaiga tusitusi e fa ailoa ai se mana oga fia tu u eseina o se fale ua/po o le a, fa atuina i luga o le fanua o FANEATA e fa asino i le aiga sa TUILEFANO, o le nu u o MALAELOA. O lenei fanua e totonu pe latalata ane i le nu u o MALAELOA, itumalo o AITULAGI, ile motu o TUTUILA, Amerika Samoa. O le fa aaliga fo i e fa apea, so o se tasi e iai sona aia i lenei mata upu e mafai ona fa atu i ies e ile fa amauina o lenei feagaiga pe a auina mai i le ofisa ole Resitara o le Teritori of Amerika Samo a i Fagatogo, sana fa atu ese tusitusia. O fa atu iesega uma lava e ao ona fa aulufaleina mai i totonu o aso e 30 faitauina mai i le aso na faíaalia ai lenei fa aaliga. Afai ole a leai se fa atu i esega e fa aulufaleina i totonu o aso 30 e pei ona ta ua i luga, o le a fa amauina loa lenei feagaiga e taualoaina ma a afia ai tagata uma. 12/31/13 & 01/14 /14 Salon Sophia Let us get you looking and KATIE s & MIAH s Chemical Specials include cut and style: All Chemicals, Highlites, Lowlites, Curly Perms, Relaxers 20% Off Thermal Japanese Straightening 20% Off * We also offer wedding hair/make-up packages in Salon or your place of choice ** Coming Soon * SENIORS ONLY DAY OF PAMPERING Holiday Greetings and a Huge Fa afetai, Faafetai tele lava for your support for the past 15+ years of our service Call: or feeling your best. HOLIDAY SPECIAL World Bank grants $14.6M for Samoan coastal communities WASHINGTON, D.C. The World Bank s Board of Executive Directors last Friday approved a US$14.6 million grant to help 45,000 Samoans who live in coastal communities adapt to climate change and climate variability. The Enhancing the Climate Resilience of Coastal Resources and Communities Project will develop and implement immediate adaptation activities to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people; protect infrastructure and environment; and increase awareness of climate change impacts and adaptation activities among communities, civil society and government. Coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in Samoa, and around 70% of Samoans live within 1 kilometer of the coastline. said Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor- Leste and the Pacific Islands. The World Bank, through the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), is proud to support Samoa in these efforts to secure the future of coastal communities by investing in the adaptation measures that are needed to cope with the impacts of climate change today and for the longer-term. The project will help strengthen the capacity of the targeted communities to update and implement Coastal Infrastructure Plans (CIPs) and will focus on increasing the resilience of coastlines, near-shore areas, and coral reefs. Additionally, the project will work with civil society organizations and local leaders to improve the national climate information services, create public awareness of issues relating to climate resilience, and increase the availability of data for risk analysis, hazard mapping, and knowledge sharing. Approximately 80% of Samoa s 403 km coastline is vulnerable to erosion, flooding, or landslides, making weather and climaterelated events including tropical cyclones and storm surges a significant threat to Samoa s development. This project will operate in 16 districts on the two most populous islands, Upolu and Savai i. The Enhancing the Climate Resilience of Coastal Resources and Communities Project is being financed through a US$14.6 million grant from the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) of the Strategic Climate Fund (PPCR), which is one of two funds within the framework of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). The CIF is a multi-donor facility supported by fourteen countries. District Court of American Samoa TRAFFIC FINES AND TAX REFUNDS Territorial residents with outstanding traffic, and other fines with the District Court may experience delays with their A.S.G. Tax Refunds. The District Court staff is preparing a list of all persons with outstanding fines, costs, and bench warrant fees which will be forwarded to the A.S.G. Treasurer and Tax office the first week of January, The District Court staff annually prepares this list, said District Court Judge Ward, and makes it available to the Treasurer who is statutorily authorized to offset any debts owed to A.S.G. by anyone against any payments from A.S.G. due to that person. Traffic fines and fines for minor criminal offenses collected by the Court are deposited in the General Fund of A.S.G. just like all other government fees, taxes, and tariffs, explained Ward. As with other such debts owed to the government, the Treasurer can use the off-set power to collect those debts from accounts payable to vendors, to collect those debts from accounts payable to vendors, employees, and persons claiming tax refunds, stated Ward. This year the Court is also supplying the list to the Attorney General s Office and the Immigration Office, said Ward. Under the Immigration statutes, sponsors of foreign nationals are responsible for the foreign national s public debts, (taxes, medical and educational costs, and legal expenses of the public defender). Ward advised that anyone with outstanding traffic or other fines should stop by the District Court Building in Fagatogo anytime from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and pay off those fines and costs.

8 Page 8 samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 C Y M K Lava flows down the slopes during an eruption at the South East Crater of Mt. Etna as seen from the monitoring station of the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology at the Schiena dell Asino, near Catania, in Sicily, southern Italy, early Monday, Dec. 30, Mt. Etna is Europe s most active volcano at 3,350 meters (10,990 feet). (AP Photo/Salvatore Allegra) C Y M K

9 samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Page 9 FA AFETAI TELE C Y M K A big fa afetai to Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, 1st lady Cynthia Moliga, Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Pohakalani Mauga for their continued support of our youth of Am. Samoa. C Y M K Thank you Lealao Melila Purcell, Pita Gurr and the Samoa Bowl committee for giving us the opportunity to sing the anthems which holds great meaning to all our lives for the 2013 football game. We will never forget that day. From Aitulagi Wanda Lei Alofa and Dorvida Fonoifafo Fuiava Have a Prosperous New Year! This ad is paid for by Paramount B uilders

10 Page 10 samoa news, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 Le Lali Le taimi na tauaao atu ai e le alii kovana ia Lolo Moliga meaalofa mo le afioga i le Aloalii ia Afoa Leulumoega Su esu e Lutu, i le taimi o le fono a le kapeneta ananafi, ina ua mae a le saunoaga aloaia a Afoa e faamavae mai ai i le tofi Loia Sili o le malo. [ata: AF] tusia Ausage Fausia TAOFIA E LEOLEO I LE AVE TA AVALE ONA E to atele na taofia e leoleo i le faaiuga o le vaiaso na te a nei, ona o tu uaiga i le ave ta avale ona. Mai le to a 23 na taofia e leoleo i le faaiuga o le vaiaso, o le to a 10 o i latou ia na tuuaia i le ave ta avale ona, ae o le isi to a 13 ua tuuaia i moliaga eseese e aofia ai le faatupu vevesi i nofoaga faitele, tagofia o le ava malosi ae le i atoa le 21 tausaga le matua, faapea ai ma i latou o lo o nofo vaavaaia i luma o le faamasinoga ae ua toe tuuaia i le le usitaia lea o poloaiga o a latou nofovaavaaia. Na taua e le Sui Komesina o Leoleo ia Leseiau Laumoli i le Samoa News e faapea, o i latou e toa 23 sa taofia i le toese i Tafuna, na amata taofia mai e leoleo i le po o le aso Faraile na te a nei seia aulia mai le vaveao o le aso Gafua ananafi. E ui i le to atele o i latou sa taofia e leoleo ona o solitulafono eseese, o se tala fiafia pea lenei mo le atunuu, ona e le o i ai lava se faalavelave matuia ua aafia ai se soifua o se tagata, sei vagana ai lava faalavelave laiti o lo o tutupu mai e pei o le faamisa pe a tago i le ava, atoa ai ma le loka i le ave ta avale ona, o le saunoaga lea a Laumoli, ma ia toe fautuaina ai le atunuu ina ia nofo i le fale pe afai ua tagofia le ava, ae aua le fealua i ona i le ta avale ina ne i tula i mai ai se faalavelave e sili atu ona matuia. O le fautuaga fo i lea na momoli e le afioga i le kovana sili i lana kapeneta ananafi, a o sauni atu ai le atunuu mo le faafeiloaiina o le tausaga fou i le tulua o po nanei, ina ia nofo i le fale pe afai ua tago i le ava. Aua e te tago i le ava ma ave le ta avale, afai ua e iloa ua e tagofia le ava, su e se isi e aveina le ta avale, ae le o lou alu ona lava i le ta avale, ae a taofi loa oe e leoleo ua e vili mai ia te a u e tatala oe, a o lena ua e soli le tulafono. O le fautuaga, ia fai tatou uma ma faataitaiga lelei i le atunuu, aua le soliina le tulafono, o le fautuaga lea a Lolo i sui uma o lana kapeneta. O le toatele o i latou na taofia e leoleo i le faaiuga o le vaiaso na tutula i ai i luma o le faamasinoga faaitumalo i le taeao ananafi, ua toe tatalaina uma i tua e faatali ai le aso lea ua faatulaga e toe fofogaina ai a latou mataupu, sei vagana ai se vaega toaititi ua toe taofia nei i le toese i Tafuna, sei vagana ua totogi vaega tupe ua faatulaga e le faamasinoga ona faatoa mafai lea ona tatala i latou i tua, ina ua latou le usitaia poloaiga sa tuuina atu e le faamasinoga e usita i ai, a o nofovaavaaia ai i latou. E tusa ai ma faamaumauga a le faamasinoga, e leai se faalavelave tau taavale matuia na tula i mai i le faaiuga o le vaiaso, sei vagana ai se taavale na tau oso i tua ma le auala ina ua ova le ona o le ave taavale, ma mafua ai loa ona taofi e leoleo le taavale i se vaega o le alatele i Nuuuli. Ina ua fesiligia e leoleo le ave taavale, sa maitauina le sasi sasi solo o ana faamatalaga sa fai, e o o foi i ona foliga ma ona mata (tulou) ua mumu uma i le malosi o le ava sa i lona tino, ma taofia ai loa o ia i le toese i le po o le aso Faraile na te a nei, ma molia ai i le ave taavale ona ina ua tulai i luma o le faamasinoga faaitumalo i le taeao ananafi. (Faaauau itulau 12) Fa amavae aloaia Afoa mai le tofiga o le Loia Sili AFOA: Ou te le o sola, ae ona o le fa aaloalo a lo u Itumalo tusia Ausage Fausia O le fonotaga mulimuli mo lenei tausaga o le Kapeneta a le Kovana na usuia i le taeao ananafi i le potu fono a le Kolisi Tuufaatasi, na faatoa faaleo aloaia ai e le afioga i le Aloalii ia Afoa Leulumoega Su esu e Lutu lana fa amavaega mai le tofiga o le Loia Sili na tofia ai o ia e Lolo ma Lemanu, ona o lea ua ia talia le fa aaloalo a lona itumalo o le Maoputasi, na te faaauauina le isi tofi Senatoa o le itumalo mo le Maota Maualuga i le Fono Faitulafono, lea sa tauave e le afioga i le Tapunuu ia Fa agata Mano Fa agata ua tu umalo. O le masina Setema na te a nei na lafo atu ai e le afioga i le Tapunuu ia Tiumalu Telesia Scanlan le fa aaloalo ia Afoa, na te faaauauina ai le tofi Senatoa o le itumalo, ma faailoa aloaia atu ai loa e Afoa i le alii kovana ia Lolo Moliga lana fa amavaega mai le tofiga o le Loia Sili, ona o lea ua ia talia le faaaloalo a le itumalo. I luma o le Kapeneta ananafi, na saunoa faafetai ai Afoa ia Lolo ma le lutena kovana ia Lemanu Peleti Mauga, faapea ai le kapeneta ma le faigamalo a Amerika Samoa, ona o le taimi na latou galulue faatasi ai mo le tausaga atoa. Na faamanino e Afoa e faapea, ua mafua ona ia manatu e tula i ese ma le tofiga o le Loia Sili, ona ua ia taliaina le faaaloalo a le itumalo, ina ia fai o ia ma o latou sui i le Fono Faitulafono. E le lava a u upu e faamatala le agaga faafetai ona o le faaaloalo maualuga ua tuu mai e le itumalo ia te a u, ou te iloa o le Atua e auala mai ai le tofi mo le tagata, ou te faafetai faapitoa atu i lo u itumalo atoa, ona o le fa aaloalo ua mafai ona outou tuuina mai ou te tautua ai e ala i le nofoa o le itumalo, o le saunoaga lea a le Aloali i, o le ulua i taimi fo i lea ua ia saunoa faalaua itele ai i luma o le atunuu e tusa ai o le fa aaloalo maualuga a lona itumalo. Ae mo le tofiga sa oulua tofia ai a u le afioga i le Kovana Lolo ma le Lutena Kovana Lemanu, ou te faamalulu atu, a ou nofo ma mafaufau, pei lava o le a ou sola, pe foliga mai ua i ai se mea ua tupu, ae leai, e le o i ai se mea o tupu, ae ona o le finagalo o le itumalo, lea ua mafua ai ona ou tula i ma faamavae atu, o ai a u ou te teena ai le finagalo o le itumalo, o le isi lea vaega o le saunoaga a Afoa. Na taua e le Aloalii e faapea, ina ua tuuina atu le finagalo a lona itumalo mo le tofi Senatoa, sa ia faaoloolo maau ai loa i le alii kovana mo sona finagalo, ma sa talia ma le agaga fiafia e Lolo lona faanaunauga ina ia tula i e talia le faaaloalo a le itumalo. Mai nofoaiga eseese sa ou galue ai, ou te tautino atu, o le nofoaiga muamua lenei ua atoa uma i ai a upega o le taua, ma o la u tatalo Lolo ma Lemanu, faaauau pea ona oulua galulue faatasi ma la oulua kapeneta, o le manuia lena o le lua faigamalo, o le isi lea saunoaga a Afoa. E tolu nofoaiga na taua e Afoa sa tautua ai mo le faigamalo a Amerika Samoa, o ia nofoaiga e aofia ai nofoaiga e lua i le taimi o Kovana Lutali, faapea ai ma le nofoaiga lenei a Lolo ma Lemanu. E ui o lea ua sauni le afioga i le Aloalii e ulufale atu i le Fono Faitulafono, peitai sa ia faailoa i luma o le kapeneta, e tumau pea ona avea o ia ma tagata faigaluega mo le faigamalo a Lolo ma Lemanu, pe afai e i ai se galuega e moomia ai lana auaunaga. (Faaauau itulau 11) Le afioga i le Aloalii ia Afoa Leulumoega Su esu e Lutu [ata: AF]