PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2018 $1.00 Sta members of the Special Edu- cation Program at Samoana High School joined dozens of local residents who gathered for a special church ser- vice this past Sunday at the CCCAS Matu’u/ Faganeanea Church as part of the celebration for Developmental Disability Awareness Month 2018. [photo: BC] C M Y K ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 Senators calling Man convicted of sod- for a ‘scaled down’ Flag Day program omizing 5-year-old is no BUT GAOTEOTE SAYS FLAG DAY BUDGET IS ALREADY APPROVED AND THEREFORE, IT IS LAW longer “roaming freely” by Fili Sagapolutele Senate can make a recommen- by Ausage Fausia Samoa News Correspondent dation to the governor to host a Samoa News Reporter A recommendation by brief Flag Day ceremony, fol- he man convicted of sodomizing a 5-year-old girl and was seen by members of the com- three senators to scale back lowed by a luncheon, as the ter- munity including family members of the young girl roaming freely with some of the DPS this year’s Flag Day, as many ritory just went through a storm. police offi cers is fi nally being locked up without release, by orders of Police Commis- families impacted by Tropical He referred to the fautasi T sioner Le’i Sonny Thompson. Storm Gita are in need of fi nan- race, which was initially can- Samoa News visited the Central police station in Fagatogo on Friday morning, March 02, 2018, cial assistance, will be deliv- celled but is now back on again. to see if Mua’iga Siatiu a.k.a. Povi was still hanging around the offi ce. This was the same day a ered by Senate President Gao- Satele suggested that the story based on complaints from members of the community and even the victim’s family members teote Tofau Palaie to the Lolo money allocated for all Flag was published in the newspaper. Administration. Day events be given to resi- The recommendation, or dents who need help following “fautuaga” to Gov. Lolo Mata- Gita, saying it’s very important, lasi Moliga, came up at yester- as there are many residents who day’s Senate session, during the don’t have much help, and they fi rst day back for lawmakers can use this money. following a four-week midses- Gaoteote reminded sena- sion recess. tors that the Flag Day budget is Sen. Tuiagamoa Tavai who approved annually by the Fono fi rst raised the issue, said in his and allocated to the Offi ce of opinion, next month’s Flag Day Samoan Affairs which over- celebration should be scaled sees the preparations and back, because many residents events-planning. C M were impacted by the storm. He said the governor cannot Y K He said he is concerned with cancel the budget for Flag Day, American Samoa requesting as it’s already set at $200,000 federal assistance yet the terri- in the FY 2018 budget, which tory is prepared to spend money is law. on Flag Day. Gaoteote recalled that US He asked if the Senate could President Donald J. Trump has recommend to the administra- already declared that a major tion to forgo a major Flag Day disaster exists in American celebration. Furthermore, he Samoa, providing federal fi nan- wonders what ASG will give cial assistance to the territory is is the house at the back of the old DPS building in Fagatogo where Mua’iga Siatiu a.k.a Povi those impacted by the storm, through the US Federal Emer- is serving his 5-year straight sentence, a er he was convicted by the High Court last year for sodom- while the government is plan- gency Management Agency izing a 5-year-old girl. [photo: AF] ning the Flag Day celebration. and other federal agencies. He suggested informing He said everyone loves and A police offi cer confi rmed to Samoa News that Povi is no longer roaming free inside the police Samoa that this year’s event is cares about those who were offi ce or on the road, because the Police Commissioner ordered him to be locked inside an old scaled back. (A village from impacted by the storm, but prison cell at the back of the old DPS building. Samoa is already invited — federal assistance is on the The police offi cer, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of any punishment, said the deci- through the Prime Minister — ground to provide that needed sion to lock up Povi without any release was made after the story was published in Samoa News. to participate in the siva and help. Additionally, Flag Day is “Povi is now ordered to be locked up and there are police offi cers assigned to monitor him every pese.) already planned and it’s part of hour to make sure he’s still inside his cell,” said the offi cer. Sen. Satele Galu Satele Sr., the government’s year-round (Continued on page 12) supported the idea, saying the (Continued on page 7) Page 2 samoa news, Tuesday, March 13, 2018 UPDATE GITA: StarKist Co. and StarKist Samoa donate $50,000 for local Gita relief efforts According to a press release, dated March 12, was on Saturday, Mar. 10, 2018 — where first regis- houses, and says these assessments are scheduled until 2018 — StarKist Samoa has announced that it made trations for FEMA assistance were announced for the completion. a donation of $50,000 to the American Samoa Gov- village of Ottoville at the DRC at the Department of If your home has not been assessed yet, be on the ernment (ASG) to help in Hurricane Gita relief efforts. Youth and Women’s Affairs building in Pago Pago, for lookout for the following teams walking or riding Accepting the donation on behalf of ASG was Gov- Mar. 12 & Mar. 13. around your village. ernor Lolo Matalasi Moliga, Lt. Governor Lemanu Today, Mar. 13, Ottoville numbers 0119- 0236 are TEAM 1: Tafuna: Kokoland, Fagaima, Ottoville, Peleti Mauga and several Cabinet members. scheduled with only heads of household needing to Petesa Sangdong Kwon, General Manager of StarKist appear. TEAM 2: Upper Iliili, Lower Iliili, Vaitogi, Samoa said, “It is a great pleasure for me to make In the meantime, yesterday, the Red Cross moved Fogagogo this donation, on behalf of our President & CEO, Mr. to the VA Center in Tafuna across from ANZ Bank TEAM 3: Pavaiai, Faleniu, Malaeimi, Mesepa Andrew Choe, and the StarKist Samoa family. StarKist and will continue to reach out to the households with TEAM 4: Aasu, Aoloau, Tafeta, Mapusaga Fou Samoa is a member of this community and has been so major damage or destroyed homes to set up appoint- TEAM 5: Leone: Sogi, Puapua, Malaeloa, Tapu- for 55 years, and we want to do our part in supporting ments throughout the week. timu, Vailoa, Futiga Governor Lolo’s efforts to provide relief to the people Pre-registration is still happening too in Nuuuli & TEAM 6: Amaluia, Afao, Asili, Nua&Seetaga, of this great territory. Iliili villages: Amanave, Poloa, Fagalii, Fagamalo, Fagamutu “The Samoan culture is based on Alofa, and we Nuuuli Eastern Side will meet at Fanene’s guest TEAM 7: Matuu, Nuuuli, Fagasa, Coconut Point hope that this expression of our Alofa will help the house; Nuuuli Central will meet at Soliai’s guest house; (Nuuuli) people whose homes and property were impacted by Nuuuli Western will meet at LDS Malaeimi, Upper TEAM 8: Fatumafuti, Fagaalu, Utulei, Fagatogo, the storm,” he said. Iliili will meet at the Catholic Hall and Lower Iliili will Pago Pago, Aua Governor Lolo formally accepted the donation meet at the CCCAS Hall Iliili. TEAM 9: Laulii, Amaua, Auto, Utusia, Fagaitua, during a brief ceremony yesterday, in American Again, don’t forget: take a valid photo ID — Voters Pagai, Afono, Vatia, Masausi, Masefau, Sailele Samoa. Lolo expressed his appreciation on behalf of ID, Hospital Card, Driver’s License, Immigration TEAM 10: Utumea, Auasi, Amouli, Aoa, Alofau, American Samoa to Andrew Choe, Mr. Kwon and Card, CI and Vital Statistics State ID — to all meetings Alao, Aunuu, & Onenoa StarKist Samoa for the generous donation that will help or appointments with FEMA and Red Cross. (Sources: StarKist Media Statement, ASDHS Spe- ongoing relief efforts. In addition, unless otherwise announced, Samoa cial Bulletin #33) In the meantime, no new updates have been received News understands the American Samoa Government from the Department of Homeland Security — the last Assessment teams continue to record damages of American Samoa Government DEPARTMENT of COMMERCE 49 dead from plane Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 Tel: (684) 633-5155 • Fax: (684) 633-4195 that crashed while PUBLIC NOTICE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM Substantial Amendment to the Program Years (PYs) landing in Nepal 2014 to 2017 Annual Action Plans By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA, rarely heard in such conversa- and Associated Press tions — perhaps even panic — Reprogramming of CDBG Funds KATHMANDU, Nepal and tells the pilot: “I say again, From PYs 2014 to 2017 (AP) — A plane crash at turn!” Nepal’s main airport killed 49 Seconds later, the controller This Public Notice is posted to advise the community that a request will be submitted to the people among the 71 on board, orders fire trucks onto the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Community Planning and police said Tuesday, and an runway. Development to reprogram funds listed below. investigation was ordered into US-Bangla Airlines flight From: Amount Status the cause of the crash, which BS211 from Dhaka to Kath- Fire Trucks for Manu’a & Aunu’u $6,580.00 Existing Project occurred after seeming confu- mandu was carrying 67 passen- Fagatogo Playground $27,109.13 Existing Project sion over the landing direction gers and four crew members.