Conflicting Reports on Why HAL's Flight Delayed Landing and Circled Instead

THE CONVERSATION: OMV has Sherrilyn Charles, Com- plex Director of Sales and Mar- been double charging... keting for Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort & Sheraton Samoa Page 4 Aggie Grey’s Hotels & Bunga- lows (front- left) and Suavi Tui- laepa (front-right) with some At Tour de France: Doping is of the locals who attended a Cocktail and Canapés Function always part of the story on Wednesday evening — 28th June — at the Tradewinds Hotel, B1 hosted by Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort and Sheraton Samoa Faamasinoga ma Ta’ita’i e Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows that organized a business visit to To’alua a le Malo Pago Pago to take the opportu- nity to meet valued prospective Le Lali clients. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost] ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 C M Y K PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017 $1.00 Conflicting reports on why HAL’s flight delayed landing and circled instead FAA AND HAL ARE GIVING DIFFERENT REASONS FOR THE DELAY by Fili Sagapolutele Samoa News Correspondent Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele says she is waiting for an “accurate” report from Hawaiian Air- lines as to why the Wednesday night flight from Honolulu had to circle over Tutuila for a period of time before the flight actually landed at Pago Pago International Airport. In the meantime, Hawaiian Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Pacific Division office in Los Angeles, which This recent photo following heavy rain, shows huge pools of water — or a “lake” — at the sec- oversees Pago Pago, have provided conflicting responses to ondary road fronting Holy Family Cemetery, Hope House, and other homes in Ottoville. When there Samoa News’ requests for comments. is no rain the pool only shrinks a bit, but remains there, forming a stagnate body of water as part of The Hawaiian Airlines flight, operating Wednesdays to accom- the road. modate the busy summer months, was to have arrived around For the continuing problem, McConnell Dowell has again stepped in to help clear this particular 9:20p.m or before 9:30p.m. However Samoa News received that problematic area of the road, which becomes a long river every time it rains. evening inquiries as to why the flight appeared to be circling For several months, going back to at least last December, small sized vehicles could not even over Tutuila instead of landing. One report to Samoa News that attempt to cross the road, because of the high water, even without rain and when the water has Wednesday evening from a resident on the far east side of Tutuila receded a bit. And during heavy rain, large vehicles don’t dare cross the road, as the “lake” becomes said village residents could hear the plane turning around more much wider. Many residents in the area, that used to pass through the road by walking to and from than twice. the four churches in the area, no longer use this road. A senior Samoa News supervisor, who just happened to be at In an email letter last week Thursday, Larry Sanitoa requested McConnell Dowell’s help through the company’s new American Samoa Country Manager, Lee Steward. C M the airport to meet an arriving passenger, said around 9:35p.m. Wednesday that the rumor at the airport was that the plane’s delay Sanitoa, who wrote on behalf Bishop Peter Brown and the Hope House residents in Ottoville Y K in landing was allegedly attributed to a problem with runway sought McConnell Dowell’s “help and assistance to clean and drain the problematic drainage area lights at the airport. by Hope House as a community service project.” Lights at the runway are maintained by the local airport but an Sanitoa, who is chairman of the International Community at the Holy Family Parish in Fatuoaiga, ASG official told Samoa News around 10p.m. Wednesday that and member of the Board of Directors for Hope House, noted that McConnell Dowell “graciously did the report “may be just rumor itself” as the runway lights were a major community service project by repairing and cleaning the [same] drainage by Hope House.” operational at the time. “The work was very much appreciated by the residents of Hope House, which is the only home- Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Hawaiian Air spokes- care facility of its kind in this Territory, for the infirm, children with severe disabilities and the person Ann Botticelli said yesterday afternoon that the Instrument elderly since 1987,” he explained. Landing System (or ILS) at the Pago Pago airport “needed to be “Unfortunately, the Department of Public Work (DPW) has not been consistently maintaining reset, so the Captain circled the airport until that occurred and this problematic area since then and therefore it has become a major safety and hazardous condition then landed without incident.” for the traveling motorists due to the dangerous water level,” he points out. Botticelli said from Honolulu, “The instrument landing system “In addition, given the recent outbreak of the dengue fever, it has become a serious health hazard,” provides runway alignment and glideslope information upon he explained. “The Hope House residents and children have been subjected to dealing with the issues approach to the runway.” resulting from stagnate water for many weeks after torrential downpours. The residents have con- However, FAA Pacific Division spokesman Ian Gregor told tinuously complained about the stench from numerous dead frogs in the cesspool. Needless to say Samoa News that the ILS “was operating normally” when the again, this is a very serious health hazard.” Hawaiian Air aircraft approached Pago Pago. “We did not have to Last month Sanitoa sent an email request to DPW for help in draining and clearing up the stagnate reset the system,” he said from Los Angeles and this is based on a cesspool. However, the problem is still there. report from the FAA office in Pago Pago. Samoa News points out that as of 9a.m. yesterday, the problematic stagnant water is still there and Responding to Samoa News questions, Taimalelagi said yes- it appears more frogs have made the little river their home as more frogs flock to the water, around terday that Port Administration is “in communication with the 6p.m. every day, to mingle, make noise and appear to be having lots of fun. Steward recently conducted an assessment of the area, along with Sanitoa. “Perhaps you now (Continued on page 7) (Continued on page 7) Page 2 samoa news, Friday, June 30, 2017 Lolo says all ASG purchases must go to locals first … unless a local vendor cannot be found by Fili Sagapolutele the bidding process is to open Crichton. Samoa News Correspondent up to off island vendors. And in the event no local Prominent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, left, stands trial Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga “Maximizing the multiplier vendor is found, bidding will in the south central province of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, Thursday, has written to Chief Procure- effect of each federal and local then be opened to outside com- June 29, 2017. She was accused of distorting government policies ment Officer, Dr. Oreta M. dollar to bolster the growth panies. “Our first priority is and defaming the Communist regime on her Facebook posts, her Crichton, saying that all gov- of our economy is predicated to create job for residents of lawyer said. Quynh, also known as “Mother Mushroom,” denied ernment purchases shall be on purchasing products from American Samoa with sec- the charges against her during her trial, lawyer Le Van Luan said. “restricted to locally owned locally owned businesses,” ondary emphasized on sus- He said the prosecutors requested 8-to-10 years in prison. businesses” unless a local Lolo wrote in a June 28 memo taining existing jobs,” the gov- (Vietnam News Agency via AP) vendor cannot be found, then to Crichton, who is also head of ernor said. the ASG Office of Procurement. “We recognize that there are According to the governor, special categories of govern- these federal and local purchase ment purchases which neces- AMERICAN SAMOA help sustain jobs provided by sitate off island company par- local vendors and it “makes ticipations, however, if local SMALL BUSINESS sense, therefore, to channel all vendors are involved, prefer- government purchases to our ence will be according to local DEVELOPMENT CENTER local businesses.” bidders,” he said. Additionally, buying directly While he acknowledged the from off-island vendors does fact that the involvement of off little to stimulate economic island bidders tend to lower the activity thus limiting the multi- cost for products being pur- plier impact of federaland local chase, Lolo said “residual eco- SBDC SEMINAR SCHEDULE funds. nomic and financial benefits “To advance this economic do not accrue to stimulate our The American Samoa Small Business Development Center will be offering the following development strategy, all gov- economy.” seminars to all interested individuals and organizations: ernment purchases shall be In closing Lolo asked restricted to locally owned Crichton “to do everything pos- 1. Grant Writing Seminar July 6-7, 2017 5-7 pm $40 businesses which are providing sible to advance this economic direct employment opportuni- development strategic policy.” 2. Business Start Up Seminar July 18-21, 2017 5-7 pm $40 ties to our people,” he informed 3. Grant Writing Seminar August 1-2, 2017 5-7 pm $40 4. Business Start Up Seminar August 15-18, 2017 5-7 pm $40 These are non-college credit training seminars designed to educate individuals who wish to start a business, or those who are already in business but need assistance in the areas being covered or for people who seek self-improvement.

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