Aumua Amata and Nedly Mata’utia House colleagues (center front) and her Primary CTR arrive Sunday Class wishing Page 2 everyone in their church, families and American Samoa a HAPPY VALEN- Valentine’s Day 5k & TINE’S DAY. [courtesy photo] 14k - “Heart N Sole” runners promote heart health B1 ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM Toe sa’afi’afiga mo Saito Paulo sa C M maliu fa’alavelave Y K DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 tau eletise B8 PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 $1.00 A letter to senators raises concerns on gov’s DHSS choice SENATE PRESIDENT: THE WORK OF THE SENATE IS NOT BASED ON LETTERS AND OTHER WRITINGS by Fili Sagapolutele some senators, including Gaoteote who informed Samoa News Correspondent his colleagues that the work of the Senate is not n uncle of Simeonica Tuitele- based on letters and other writings, and a sena- leapaga has raised with Senate tor’s decision should be based on the qualification President Gaoteote Tofau and experience of a director-nominee. Palaie concerns over statements During yesterday’s Senate session, senators in a tape recording made by confirmed Taeaoafua in a 15-3 vote while the thenA Department of Human and Social Services House gave its endorsement early last week. He Director Taeoafua Dr. Meki Solomona during is now fully confirmed by the Fono. (See separate a staff meeting the day after the 2016 general story for Senate hearing.) election. Pula made clear in his letter that he was writing In his letter, Nikolao Iuli Pula Jr., who also just “as a citizen of the territory and a concerned U.S. happens to be a US Interior Department official, National who was born and raised in the Islands.” revealed that the same concerns were discussed Additionally, he has worked in the federal gov- with Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, after the gov- ernment for the past 30 plus years “and has car- ernor re-appointed Taeaoafua to the same direc- ried the responsibility for making decisions that Pvt Sunia, Amos Ilai’s IET Dinner and Graduation of the torship post for the next four years of the Lolo have had a direct impact on the affairs of Amer- Bravo Troop Calvary Scout (CAV) at Fort Benning, February 8, Administration. ican Samoa.” Georgia. Now he is on his way to his duty station at Fort Irwin, Tuiteleleapaga, a transgender woman who has Pula didn’t identify the federal government he sends his love to his mother Fesili Maui Foifua and all his best worked for many years at DHSS, has filed a sex agency he has worked for or is currently working of friends and families in Tauese, Nuuuli as well as his father discrimination complaint against ASG with the in. He informed Gaoteote that he was surprised Aitofele Sunia. US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. with Taeaoafua being nominated again as DHSS C M “My sisters and brothers, the struggle is real, I am so glad I During Taeaoafua’s confirmation hearing yes- director, adding that the decision concerns him can make it! I love you all! Ieova i lo tatou va.” He is with his Y K terday in the Senate, the letter, which was distrib- because of a tape recording he heard regarding the friend Pvt Faimalo during their IET graduation Feb 7, 2016, uted by an unknown person to senators over the Nov. 9, 2016 meeting at the DHSS office where Fort Benning Georgia. [Courtesy Photo] weekend and also yesterday was mentioned by (Continued on page 5) DHSS director nominee fully confirmed by Fili Sagapolutele Jr., to Senate President Gaoteote Tofau early last week. He is now fully con- sexual discrimination incident, saying Samoa News Correspondent Palaie regarding the Nov. 9th meeting firmed as DHSS director for the next that he had heard media reports about Taeaoafua Dr. Meki Solomona’s in which Taeaoafua made statements four years of the Lolo Administration. an incident that happened at DHSS and confirmation hearing yesterday before towards Tuiteleleapaga, who is a trans- Prior to the Senate vote, Taeaoafua then last Saturday he received a letter, the Senate as Director for the Depart- gender, that are now the subject of a appeared earlier in the day before the which was probably also received by his ment of Human and Social Service sex discrimination complaint that she Senate Human Social Services Com- colleagues regarding this incident. was dominated with statements over has brought against Taeaoafua and the mittee for his confirmation hearing, While Alo didn’t elaborate on the the controversy surrounding an inci- American Samoa Government. The where he said the DHSS is doing well, incident or the letter, he asked if there dent where Taeaoafua berated DHSS meeting was tape recorded and posted serving some 4,000 recipients in the is a court case on this issue to which employee Simeonica Tuiteleleapaga on social media. (See separate story on food stamp program and nearly 6,000 Taeaoafua said he hasn’t received such last November, as well as a letter from the letter) under the Women, Infant and Children information and pointed out that there Tuiteleleapaga’s uncle voicing concerns The Senate during yesterday’s ses- program. are always two sides to a story. about the incident. sion confirmed Taeaoafua in a 15-3 Sen. Alo Fa’auuga was the first to The letter was from Nikolao Iuli Pula vote, while the House confirmed him question Taeaoafua about the alleged (Continued on page 12) Page 2 samoa news, Tuesday, February 14, 2017 AUTO NATION NU’UULI: (684) 699-7168 FAGATOGO: (684) 633-2239 FAX: (684) 699-7175 Aumua Amata and 2 Ton Jack $99.00 Boombotix Speaker (Bluetooth) $50.00 House colleagues arrive Sunday Battery $109.00 $119.00 Washington, D.C. – U.S. House of Representatives. park as well as visit the Star- Monday, Congresswoman Led by House Nat- Kist cannery, where they will Aumua Amata, and colleagues ural Resources Committee be briefed on the problems from the U.S. House Natural Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT), facing American Samoa’s Ball Joint Resources Committee, which the Congressional Delegation fishing industry. has oversight over the U.S. (CODEL) will see first-hand “The Natural Resources $40 + Up territories, will arrive in Pago how federal funds, which must Committee is the single most Sunday on the first leg of a fact be authorized by their com- important congressional com- finding trip to the U.S. Pacific mittee, are being spent and mittee for American Samoa,” territories. They will overnight become familiar with the terri- said Aumua, who serves on the EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Sunday and Monday before tory’s need for continued fed- committee’s Insular Affairs and departing for Saipan in the eral assistance, “as we strive to Investigative panels. “I know Paramount Builders Inc. is looking for a Western Pacific. achieve self-sufficiency.” Members will come away from MASTER MECHANIC and a HOUSEKEEPER. “For years I have had the In addition to territories, here with a new appreciation goal of seeing American Samoa Bishop’s committee has legis- for the challenges we face, and Both must have 5 years experience and be be a destination, not a simply a lative jurisdiction over national we will gain new allies as we Bilingual. For more information, please contact refueling stop for congressional parks and maritime issues, and move our legislative initiatives 254-6669 and ask for Mike. delegations,” said Amata, who in that regard, will spend time through the House,” continued is beginning her third year in the in American Samoa’s national Amata. In the limited time they have, Aumua wants the group’s main focus to be on the hospital, schools, and the cannery, which is the largest private employer on the island. “These are the areas in which we specifically need federal aid,” said Amata. “Although I succeeded last year in convincing Congress to change the funding formula for elementary & secondary education in the territories, which will increase funding for American Samoa by 67%, we need the help of this committee to authorize funding to upgrade LBJ, maintain and upgrade our schools and improve our infrastructure,” continued the Congresswoman. While on island, the CODEL also will meet with members of the local U.S. Army Reserve unit and their families to show their appreciation for their dedication and service to the Nation. American Samoa pro- vides more members to the Armed Forces per capita than any other state or territory. “I want to thank Chairman Bishop and the committee staff for their effort in arranging this important visit to Amer- ican Samoa. I know that my colleagues will learn a great deal about the islands we call home, and I look forward to working with them when we return to Washington to advance our agenda with the federal government,” said the Congresswoman. “It’s important that we increase our efforts to address the inequities in the quality of life between the territory and the states that continue to exist and I believe that this trip will be a huge step in that direc- tion,” concluded Amata. The CODEL leaves for the Western Pacific on Tuesday when they will visit Guam and the Northern Marianas before returning to Washington Feb- ruary 25. (Source: Congresswoman Amata’s Office – Washington D.C.)WW samoa news, Tuesday, February 14, 2017 Page 3 Sen. Nuanuaolefeagaiga says he was selected “in accordance with Samoan custom” AND THE SENATE, NOT THE COURT HAS JURISDICTION OVER THIS ISSUE by Fili Sagapolutele Samoa News Correspondent Through his attorney, Sen. Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga T. Nua has argued that among other things, the Constitution gives the Senate, not the court, jurisdiction over the determina- tion for the qualifications of its own members.