PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018 $1.00 Firefi ghters and their families complain of unfair treatment by C M Y K DPS Commish FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO WAIT, WHILE SALARY RAISES FOR COPS IS ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE by Ausage Fausia Samoa News Reporter everal fi refi ghters from the local Fire Bureau, a division Sta members of the Territorial Bank of American Samoa posed for a Samoa News photo of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), together yesterday following a news conference where it was announced that TBAS has opened its with their families have voiced their frustrations with “master account” with the Federal Reserve Bank, San Francisco. See story below. PoliceS Commissioner, Le’i Sonny Thompson, for continuing to [photo: FS] ignore them and always putting the needs of police offi cers fi rst. Over the past two weeks, Samoa News has received numerous complaints from several fi refi ghters, including their spouses and UPDATE: TBAS opens “master account” their children. One of the fi refi ghters who has been working for the Fire Division for over 10 years said a meeting between their division with the Federal Reserve Bank and Le’i was called two weeks ago, after Samoa News published CHECKBOOKS, BUSINESS ACCOUNTS, AND ACH a story about Le’i transferring fi refi ghters to the TCF to guard two inmates who escaped twice this year. SERVICE WILL FOLLOW “During our meeting, Le’i apologized to all of us, including by Fili Sagapolutele goal of providing full banking services to the our Fire Chief, for allowing fi refi ghters to assist police offi cers Samoa News Correspondent community. at the TCF. He also told us that DPS is now working closely he Territorial Bank of American Samoa, “We have opened our Master Account with with the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to fi nalize the with a deposit portfolio of more than the Federal Reserve Bank, San Francisco,” Ware package to raise the salary for DPS, but police offi cers will have $8 million, is moving another step for- said. “And we are now working with San Fran- their raise fi rst while fi refi ghters will be at a later time,” the fi re- wardT towards the goal of providing full banking cisco going through details of... the account and fi ghter said. services, with the opening of a required “master they will tell us when it’s ready.” “This is disgusting and unfair for all of the fi refi ghters who account” with the Federal Reserve Bark to gain He expects to get the fi nal word from the Fed- have worked hard days and nights to serve our government and access into the US payment system used by eral Reserve in the next few weeks. the community, but it seems the police commissioner is looking American banks. “We’ve gone through all the hoops necessary the other way, making police offi cers his fi rst priority while we’re The government-owned TBAS, which is not to have that [master] account opened and we are all doing the same job — protecting the lives of our people.” FDIC insured, opened its doors on Oct. 3, 2016 excited about that because we have now gained A daughter of a long serving fi refi ghter echoed the same and last December was assigned a transiting access to the payment system of the United thoughts to Samoa News, saying her father — who has worked routing number by the American Bankers Asso- States,” he said. “And that is a huge deal.” for the Fire Division for over 15 years, and her fi ancé, whose ciation, which assigns the number. Once the “green light” is given by the Federal been on the force for over 8 years — each deserve a salary With the routing number, TBAS was able Reserve Bank on access to the payment system, increase. to start working — in February this year — on Polu said TBAS will be offering check books The woman also told Samoa News that her father, together setting up its “master account” with the Federal to current consumer accounts on the checking with many of the fi refi ghters who worked during the 2009 tsu- Reserve. side, business accounts, and ACH (Automated nami, have yet to be paid their overtime. TBAS president Philip Ware, accompanied Clearing House) service, which is an electronic “They have helped with search and rescue, they have had to by the bank’s chief operations offi cer, Makerita network for fi nancial transactions in the United work 8-12 hour shifts because of a shortage of manpower, they Polu, announced during a brief news conference States. have helped the police with locating escapees, they have helped yesterday, the latest development in TBAS’s (Continued on page 7) (Continued on page 8) C M Y K Pictured during one of the American Samoa Society of Washington, DC’s major events is the society’s truck crew team at the ‘Wreaths Across America Project’ at the Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, December 16, 2017. e society is one of six outstanding nalists for the 2017 Roy C. Haines Award. Wreaths Across America’s mission is to remember the men and women who served our country, honor our military and their families, and teach our children about our freedom and those who protect it. (For details of award and the society, see story inside.) [Courtesy photo] Page 2 samoa news, Friday, April 6, 2018 Proposed bill spells out requirements for money transfer businesses by Fili Sagapolutele Provisions of the bill also Samoa News Correspondent outline specifi c areas in which The Lolo Administration is a license is issued and among proposing a wide-range of reg- them is that the Commissioner ulations governing operations has investigated the fi nancial of money transfer businesses, condition and responsibility, under Money Services Busi- fi nancial and business experi- ness Regulatory Act legislation, ence, character, and general fi t- introduced this week in both the ness of the applicant. Senate and House. It also sets out specifi c rules “Due to the large amount of to follow for the renewal of a monies handled by these types license, such as a copy of the of businesses, regulatory over- licensee’s most recent fi nancial sight is needed to ensure monies statements, including balance are not handled fraudulently,” statement of income or loss, and notes the bill’s preamble. statement of changes in fi nan- Additionally, proper regula- cial position. tion is needed to enable money If the licensee wants to con- service businesses to open duct licensed activities through accounts with local fi nancial authorized agents, the bill sets institutions when in full com- specifi c regulations that must e Islandwide Young Writers Essay Contest took place last week and the overall winner for the pliance with local and federal be met including that the autho- 4th grade level was essalonica Lagafuaina of Samoa Baptist Academy. Pictured is the 2nd place laws. rized agents be registered with overall winner for Level 4 - Lisa Eseta Pedro, daughter of Justin & Jade C. Pedro of Ottoville. She is According to the bill, “money the Commissioner, along with pictured with her grandmother Lisa Haleck Pedro. [Courtesy photo] services business” includes a copy of a written contract each agent, agency, branch or between the licensee and the offi ce within the territory of any authorized agents. person doing business, whether If the authorized agent is or not on a regular basis, or as a nonresident, approval from an organized business concern, immigration and/ or other as a money transmitter, or a for- proper authorities is required. eign currency exchanger. REPORTING The bill makes clear that a REQUIREMENTS FA’ASALALAUGA money service business does Licensees are required to not included a “bank” as that submit quarterly reports, which term is defi ned in federal law, include a report of total funds nor does it include a person reg- transmitted outside of the terri- EFKAS UTULEI istered with and regulated by tory and the number of individ- the US Securities and Exchange uals transmitting; and a report of Commission or the Commodity the total amount of foreign cur- Futures Trading Commission. rency transacted in the territory. LICENSE Additionally, the Commis- According to the bill, the sioner may require money ASG Offi ce of Financial Insti- transmitters to obtain details SE’I•RAFFLE•SE’I tutions would issue a license of senders for amounts aggre- to a money services business gating $10,000 or more and E muamua lava ona matou fa’atulou atu Tutuila ma Manu’a i ou and the license will be required such details include social secu- Paia ma ou Sa for such business to operate rity numbers and tax identifi ca- in the territory. The applicant tion. (It’s unknown if tax identi- Le Paia o le Faleagafulu fa’apea le Manu’atele. E fa’atulou atu must obtain a general business fi cation refers to the Employer’s foi i le Usoga ia Tumua ma Pule. Matou te faatulou atu fo’i i license (which is issued by the Identifi cation Number — EIN Commerce Department.) — or a number assigned by the paia o Ekalesia eseese i totonu o si o tatou atunuu faapea le au The bill sets out a long list local Tax Offi ce.) faigaluega Paia a le Atua, i soo se fata faitaulaga. Tulou, Tulou, of requirements, in writing, to Licensees are also required obtain such a license. Among to report to the Commissioner Tulou lava. them is the applicant’s name, if they fi led for bankruptcy or A’o lenei Fa’asalalauga e fia fa’ailoa atu ai i le Paia ma le location of business; and if reorganization; and a felony the applicant is a business indictment or conviction of the mamalu o le atunu’u.