Court Rules in Favor of CCCAS in Case Against One of Its Own ORDERS REV
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018 $1.00 Court rules in favor of CCCAS in case against one of its own ORDERS REV. AMAAMA AND HIS FAMILY TO VACATE THE CHURCH HOME BY THIS FRIDAY by Ausage Fausia When asked for a comment, Alailima C M Samoa News Reporter told Samoa News that the court ordered Rev. Y K he dispute between the Congregational Amaama to pay a bond of $35,000 if he wanted Christian Church of American Samoa to stay in the General Secretary home while the T(CCCAS) and former CCCAS Gen- appeal for the case brought against his client by eral Secretary Rev. Amaama Tofaeono and his the chairman of the Elders Committee of CCCAS wife, which started last March has come to an is pending. end, after the Trial Division of the High Court “Amaama was not able to make such a high ordered that Rev. Amaama and his family vacate bond so the court issued and ordered him to leave the designated CCCAS General Secretary home in 10 days, otherwise the marshal of the court no later than Friday, March 30th. would remove him,” Alailima wrote in an email Failure to do so will result in the Court Mar- to Samoa News. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN MICHAEL SUN! shal removing Amaama and his family. According to Alailima, a few days before last Michael Sun of South Paci c Academy was one of the First Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea week’s hearing, Rev. Amaama sought to resolve Place winners in this year’s Territorial Math Competition — handed down the order during a status hearing the crisis in church governance, by having him there were ve in total with perfect scores — that shared honors last week; and Amaama was given 10 days to present the following resolution. in the elementary division of the Math Comp. Corporate spon- remove himself and his family from the home, “He would formally submit his letter of res- sors for the DOE Math Fair and Science Fair were: Paramount which the family has occupied since Amaama ignation to the next General Assembly meeting Builders, Bluesky Communications, ACE, ASPA, Auto Nation, took over the post of General Secretary in July in July and if it is accepted he would consider Manu’a’s Store and ASTCA. is year the award ceremony for 2016 following the church’s general assembly. his service as General Secretary ended. How- each fair was combined and trophies and prizes were presented STATUS HEARING ever, Rev. Amaama will respect the court’s order last Friday. Charles Alailima represented Rev. Amaama to leave the house and will do so this week,” Michael Sun is also the winner of this year’s Samoa News while Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde served as Alailima said. Territorial Spelling Bee — major sponsor McDonald’s Amer- attorney for CCCAS. When asked for a comment, Rev. Amaama ican Samoa. He will be traveling to Washington D.C. to com- During the hearing, Alailima requested that told Samoa News that he respects the court’s pete at the Scripp’s National Spelling Bee in May of this year. the court delay its order to remove his client decision, but he questions the truth behind it Congratulations Michael, and best of luck. from the house until the General Assembly could because he feels that the latest decision contra- (Samoa News apologizes to Michael and his family as well as review and make a decision on whether to accept dicts its prior ruling, where the court specifi ed our readers for the layout error on the front page of our Tuesday, Amaama’s resignation. that there are issues pertaining to the church March 27, 2018 issue. e photo ran without a caption.) Rev. Amaama tendered his resignation letter itself, and there are also issues that the court has [photo: Leua Aiono Frost] this week to the Chairman of the CCCAS Gen- jurisdiction over. eral Assembly. (See yesterday’s front page for “I believe the issue between the CCCAS and details) myself is not an issue that the court has juris- Retirement offi cials say It took the court 15 minutes to consider the diction over; this is a matter that pertains to the matter and deny Amaama’s request. church itself. The church constitution is clear, Fund can afford a COLA (Continued on page 6) sometime this year HOWEVER CONTINUE TO LAMENT SHORTFALL OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO MONTHLY BENEFIT PAYOUTS by Ausage Fausia is high. Samoa News Reporter Timusa said the retirement he ASG Employees’ fund is not only for govern- Retirement Fund ment employees who are still T(ASGERF) will be working, but also for those who C M considering a Cost of Living have retired. Adjustment (COLA) for “The retirees deserve to have Y K retirees sometime this year. the COLA, and I think that’s There are enough funds in the the reason why they are so des- Trust to cover a COLA for perate to know why the Board retirees, according to ASGERF is still freezing the benefi t they offi cials, during a hearing yes- deserve,” Timusa said. terday before the House Retire- According to Vaanatiu, the ment Committee. Board decided to move forward Chaired by Rep. Vailoata with the COLA during its Feb- Eteuati Amituana’i, Retire- ruary meeting, when the report ment Fund Board Chairman, showed that the investment in Va’anatiu Iafeta Tofala and the Fund is in good standing. ASGERF executive director, He reminded the committee I’aulualo Talia Fa’afetai, that the reason why a freeze appeared before the House on the COLA went into effect Retirement Committee for the last year was because ASG and Leon Ezbitski of Pittston, Pennsylvania with the NPAS crew clearing trails in the National Park of hearing that was called after employee contributions to the American Samoa, a er Park trails were blocked by hundreds of downed trees from Tropical Storm Rep. Timusa Tini Lam Yuen Fund fell short of benefi t pay- Gita. He took time o his vacation in American Samoa to volunteer. told House members last week ments to members. anks to the help of volunteers from American Samoa and far o places most Park trails are that a number of retirees in I’aulualo echoed Va’anatiu’s now open, according to the NPAS. his district are asking why the testimony and said the monthly “Hazards still exist from the e ects of Gita, and work on clearing some trails is still ongoing,” Park ASGERF still has a freeze on payout is more than $2 mil- Superintendent Scott Burch said. “Please check with sta at the park visitor center in Pago Pago on the COLA, but the cost of living the current status of trails before you go for a hike, and as always, please stay safe.” [courtesy photo] (Continued on page 8) Page 2 samoa news, Wednesday, March 28, 2018 In The High Court In The High Court of American Samoa of American Samoa TRIAL DIVISION TRIAL DIVISION Utah residents file lawsuit HCPR NO. 13-2018 PR NO. 4-17 In the Matter of the Estate of In the Matter of the Estate of EVELYN TAGALOA, PETER EUGENE REID, JR., pertaining to US citizenship Deceased TANIELU TAGALOA, Petitioner NOTICE OF HEARING NOTICE OF HEARING RE APPLICATION for American Samoans TO APPROVE FINAL by Fili Sagapolutele Lake City, Utah, shows the lead employees. They pay their fed- Samoa News Correspondent plaintiff as John Fitisemanu, eral, state, and local taxes, and FROM APPOINTMENT ACCOUNTING, Another lawsuit has been who is joined by Pale Tuli, abide by federal, state, and local DISTRIBUTING ESTATE, filed by American Samoans Rosavita Tuli and the Southern laws. OF ADMINISTRATOR seeking to have a federal court Utah Pacific Islander Coalition. The complaint claims that the TO: ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: AND DISCHARGING declare that persons born All of the plaintiffs are currently plaintiffs are vital and engaged EXECUTOR in American Samoa should residents of Utah. members of their communities, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Petition to Probate automatically be US citizens Among the attorneys repre- churches, and neighborhood the Estate, For Letters of Administration and For TO: ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: in accordance with the Citi- senting the plaintiffs are local associations. They contribute Appointment of Administration for this Estate has zenship Clause — the Four- attorney Charles Alailima and to the wellbeing of the State of been filed and that a Hearing on said petition has NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a hearing has teenth Amendment of the US Washington D.C. based Neil C. Utah and the US. been scheduled on April 18, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., at been set for the 18th day of April, 2018, at 9:00 Constitution. Weare of the Equally American Additionally, they were the Courthouse in Fagatogo, American Samoa at a.m. at the High Court of American Samoa located As it stands, persons born in Legal Defense & Education also born in American Samoa which time and place all person interested in said in Fagatogo, American Samoa, for the purpose of American Samoa are considered Fund. Both Alailima and Weare and because of the Citizen- estate may appear and be heard if they so choose. Approving Final Accounting, Distributing Estate, US Nationals, and it is the only were part of the legal team for ship clause, plaintiffs are US and Discharging Executor. US territory whose residents are the Tuaua case, in which the citizens. Dated: March 09, 2018 Dated: March 26, 2018 not automatically considered federal defendants included the According to the suit, Fitise- US citizens. Instead, American US Secretary of State.