Judge to decide if victim’s past Gary King, born in Fagatogo and graduated from Manumalo sex behavior can be used in Baptist School and Marist sexual assault trial Brothers High School, went on to Page 3 become the fi rst and only Samoan to attend and graduate from the Berklee School of Music in Black Roses surprise all Boston. Th is was aft er he received his bachelor’s degree at American with Top 4 women’s win University. Th e Samoan musician, whose In Sports tunes can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, etc., is based in Philadel- Polokalame e tapena ai tupulaga phia, but is coming home for the holidays, to visit family. However, e galulue i galuega eseese he will be performing with local band, Banned from the Sun, at a Le Lali fundraiser next Friday, for Pacifi c Horizons. See story inside for details. [Courtesy photo] ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 C M Y K PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017 $1.00 DOE employee faces three felony drug charges involving meth by Ausage Fausia During his initial appearance his attorney Samoa News Reporter Anderson asked the Court to set a date for a The suspect from DPS’s latest drug case at preliminary examination for his client. Patea the Pago Pago International Airport this week, accepted the motion and set the PX date for the made his initial appearance in the District Court defendant for Monday next week, Dec. 18 at 8:30 yesterday morning, before Acting Associate Jus- a.m. The Court has already set the defendant’s IT’S THE HOLIDAY SALE tice Elvis P. Patea. Ryan Anderson of the Public bail in the amount of $40,000. Defenders offi ce is representing him, while pros- In his motion to reduce the bail amount to ecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General $20,000 for Tui, counsel Anderson told the Court OF THE YEAR AT NEIL’S Christy Dunn. that his client is a full-time ASG employee, who Sonny Tui, a full-time employee at the Amer- has been working for DOE for many years now, ican Samoa Department of Education, entered and also has some medical conditions. ACE HOME CENTER! the District Court room with both of his hands According to Anderson, his client is a family While sales and deals are happening all over the island this cuffed. He is being charged with three felonies man, who has strong ties to the community and is Christmas Season, it is helpful to know that Neil’s ACE Home counts, including unlawful possession of a con- not a fl ight risk. He is not a danger to society and Center is ready to be your one stop Christmas headquarters where trolled substance, to wit; crystal methamphet- has no intention of leaving his family and all of you can fi nd the perfect holiday gift for anyone on your list. amine, unlawful possession of a control sub- his property here in American Samoa. The Holiday Sale is happening now until Saturday, Dec. 23rd. stance with the intent to distribute, and autho- The government’s attorney on the other hand Along with the biggest assortment of gift items on island, rizing illegal drugs to enter American Samoa. (Continued on page 10) Neil’s ACE Home Center also has a big selection of Lights, Deco- rations, Trees, & Wrapping paper to choose from. Get 50% off HONORING THE LATE all Christmas Items (Trees, Ornaments, Decorations, Gift Wrap) TAEAOAFUA DR. MEKI except for lights, while supplies last. SOLOMONA Looking for a gift for that special male person in your life? At yesterday’s last cabinet ACE is the place for Quality tools. meeting of the year, held at the A wide selection of Craftsman® tool sets, tool centers, Wet/ Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium, Dry vac are available at super low prices with savings of up to a name plate, along with an $70.00. empty chair draped with a white Black & Decker®, Makita®, Dewalt®, Crescent® tools and ginger lei, and a Christmas tool kits are also on special with savings of up to $80.00 decoration was seen honoring Aztec® Work Boots Sizes 9-14 are 20%off. the late Department of Human ACE is also American Samoa’s helpful place with small kitchen and Social Service director, appliances to make your time in the kitchen easy and enjoyable. Taeaoafua Dr. Meki Solomona, C M Electric skillets, rice cookers, slow cookers, speed blenders, stand who passed away suddenly on mixers, food processors, toaster ovens, & toasters are just some of Monday. Y K the great kitchen gift items available. Taeaoafua, a veteran edu- Corelle® Dinnerware, and Brother® sewing machines are per- cator, former school principal, fect for that special woman in your life. Select woven baskets are and a director in two admin- 25% off and don’t forget the Ninja® professional blenders, & rink istrations was remembered at mixers for your holiday parties and get-togethers. yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Your kids will go crazy over the selection of toy and electronics with the DHSS choir singing a Samoan hymn in remembrance (Continued on page 9) of their director. At the start of the cabinet meeting, there was a moment of silence, in accordance with the gover- nor’s wishes, as a cloud of sadness hovered over the meeting, and at the same time, the administra- tion looked forward to Christmas. Several directors who spoke at the three-hour meeting remembered Taeaoafua, who was a radio personality years ago, and served as master of ceremonies in past events. American Samoa Community College president Rosevonne Pato recalled the time when the college was placed on “show cause” by the accreditation commission of community colleges in the country. Pato says Taeaoafua, a long time educator, was the fi rst to call her to off er his help in any way to assist the college in addressing issues raised by the accreditation commission. Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofi ga remembered fondly and with tears in her eyes, the morning of Dec. 11, Monday, when she along with others as well as the DHSS director and the DHSS choir visited Hope House, as part of the administration’s annual Holiday visit. It was at Hope House (Continued on page 10) Page 2 samoa news, Friday, December 15, 2017 Governor calls for cab- inet to remember they are “public servants” “REFLECT ON THE GREAT BENEFITS THAT GOD OFFERED TO ALL OF US” TO HELP THE PUBLIC by Fili Sagapolutele the administration to refl ect on Samoa News Correspondent its service to the public over the With the year 2017 coming past 12 months. to a close later this month, Gov. It was also a time to “refl ect Lolo M. Moliga expressed on the great benefi ts that God appreciation on behalf of him- offered to all of us” to help the self and Lt. Gov. Lemanu public, he said and told cabinet Palepoi Sialega Mauga, to directors that he and Lemanu cabinet members for their con- “believe that your job is the tinued service as “public ser- hardest one because your duties vants” to the people of Amer- affect the lives of our people.” ican Samoa. “While we are all leaders, The governor’s comments we also have a duty as public were made at yesterday’s cab- servants to help the commu- inet meeting at the Gov. H. Rex nity grow and prosper,” he Lee Auditorium, where direc- told directors. “Thank you all. tors were reminded that the We use our lives to serve our annual Territorial Christmas people.” Program opens this Sunday at Lolo says that he and Fagatogo Pavilion and for all of Lemanu lead the government them to attend the event, which but it is the directors in the front runs through Wednesday night, working with the ASG work- and is hosted by the American force to serve the public. On Samoa Arts Council. behalf of Lemanu, the governor The program is three-hours urged directors to be strong and starting at 7p.m. and Sunday “do our best” heading into the night’s opening includes New Year. lighting of the Territorial “We put in our all to serve Christmas Tree. our people” Lolo said. During his speech, the gov- He says the next three years, ernor pointed out that this was left in the administration’s work the fi nal cabinet meeting of the for the people and government, year and an important time for (Continued on page 11) samoa news, Friday, December 15, 2017 Page 3 Judge to decide if victim’s past sex behavior can be used in sexual assault trial by Ausage Fausia a medical expert as one of their Samoa News Reporter witnesses, and they feel that this Acting Associate Justice is too last minute — an ambush Elvis P. Patea has disallowed — as they prepare for trial. the government’s last minute Acting Associate Justice move to include on their list of Patea granted the defense’s witnesses a local medical expert motion to disallow the govern- in the jury trial of a local busi- ment’s move to call a medical nessman, who is being charged expert as one of their witnesses for allegedly sexually assaulting during the trial next week, but a 17-year-old girl. The trial is has taken under advisement the scheduled for Monday next motion to disallow the defense week. side from using info regarding Prosecuting the case is to the victim’s past sexual Assistant Attorney General behavior with other men, as Woodrow Pengelly, while part of their argument during Joshua Rovelli is representing the trial.