C M Y K C M Y K
by Fili Sagapolutele Samoa News Correspondent
American Samoa Services Associate Cor-poration (ASSAC) says it has not voluntarily withdrawn its proposal for the call center project as local acting CPO Ivy TaufaÕ asau says it did, because the territorial government didnÕ t even Ô mention the possibilityÕ of a 50/50 match fund requirement, until months after it had submitted its proposal.
The companyÕ s vice president, John R. Dwyer Jr., was responding to a Samoa News story last Friday, in which TaufaÕ asau is quoted saying that she had received letters from American Pacific Resources Inc. and ASSAC withdrawing from the project and both compa-nies Ò cited the 50% matching requirement as the reasonÓ .
TaufaÕ asau wrote separate letters last week Monday to the two companies acknowledging receipt of their letters Ò and acceptance of your voluntary withdrawal.Ó
The project, overseen by the Department of Human Resources (DHR), is funded with the National Emergency Grant (NEG).
However, in a Dec. 9 letter, Dwyer informed TaufaÕ asau that ASSAC Ò has and does NOT Ô voluntarily withdrawÕ its Ô Proposal for the Development of a Call Center Training Facility
in American SamoaÕ dated Sept. 2, 2010.Ó Dwyer made it clear to TaufaÕ asau that it is ASSACÕ s position that after submitting its proposal for the RFP and in participating in a number of lengthy meetings with DHR director Evelyn Vaitautolu Langford and C.L. Cheshire and others over a 4-5 month period, the American Samoa Government, by its Pro-curement Officer, accepted ASSAC’s pro-posal in writing.
(Cheshire is a senior program development manager for the Pacific Business Center in Honolulu. He is providing technical assistance to ASG for tsunami related grants through a Dept. of Interior program.)
Ò In spite of that acceptance and its legal obligations, ASG subsequently added a Ô matching fundsÕ component that was not included in either ASSACÕ s proposal or the extensive discussions with... Langford et. al,Ó he wrote to TaufaÕ asau.
Ò Thus, please do Ô notÕ consider ASSACÕ s action as a voluntary withdrawal of its proposal or its rights under its agreement with ASG,Ó he said in the letter, which was copied to Langford and Cheshire.
In October this year, ASSAC president Mark Hunsaker informed Langford that the company PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA WEdNESdAy, dECEMbER 14, 2011 $1.00
Daily CirCulation 7,000
Miss South Pacific 2011-12 Alisi Rabukawaqa (Miss Fiji) after winning the crown last Saturday night in Apia.
[Photo: Naenae Productions]
Matafao Elementary is celebrating ‘tis the season’ with a “Christmas in Samoa” week, which began on Monday, Dec. 12. The spirit week focuses on creating Christmas ornaments and items, i.e. trees, banners, wreathes, snowmen, using local natural resources and any Samoan-made items. Hosted by their Music Com-mittee, Matafao students from level K to Level 8, including ECE and SP-ED are competing for monetary prizes to be presented next week Monday. Look for some of the creations on display on the school’s fence area each day as you pass by. (See inside for more photos of Matafao students’ creations) [photos: THA]
Daily CirCulation 7,000 band mobile service in
Amer-ican Samoa yesterday. The day culminated with a fireworks display over the Bay area that had spectators cheering and clapping. [photo: TG]
(Continued on page 15)
ASSAC says it has & does
NOT ‘voluntarily withdraw’
its proposal for call center
By ASCC Staff
On Monday, December 6th, the GEAR UP program, hosted by the American Samoa Com-munity College (ASCC), welcomed over 150 people to the third Parent, Student and Teacher College Night event for the Fall 2011 Semester. The GEAR UP College Night, held at the ASCC Lecture Hall, featured three presentations of spe-cial interest to high school seniors who will grad-uate in June 2012.
In his welcoming remarks, GEAR UP Director Tupua Roy Fua highlighted the urgent need for all graduating seniors to get serious, pay more attention to their studies, and prepare for their transition to college. Ò The GEAR UP programÕ s primary mission for the last five years has been to prepare you for college,Ó said Tupua. Ò You are your familyÕ s future; and they depend on you to complete a good education and become a person they can be proud of. You must get serious, work smart and study hard.Ó
GEAR UP Math Instructor Mr. Anthony Felise introduced the evening’s first presenters, ASCC Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society Chapter Presi-dent Sophia AÕ asa and Vice PresiPresi-dent Gemmir Luardo, who shared information about the PTK organization, its mission, and benefits PTK stu-dents are entitled to when they accept the rig-orous academic, community service and leader-ship challenge. Specifically, all PTK students are offered scholarships and invitations to continue their college education to over 600 colleges and universities across the U.S. which are chartered PTK affiliates.
Next, GEAR UP Instructors announced infor-mation and important dates for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which graduating seniors must take if they intend to go to college. Felise and English Instructor/Counselor Lori Baker pro-vided information needed for the next testing date, which is January 28, 2012. Ms Baker explained that an SAT fee waiver worth $49.00 is available at the GEAR UP Office for students who sign up for the exam. As of December, GEAR UP has issued 225 SAT test waivers to GEAR UP students.
Ms. Baker also urged all students not registered for Federal Financial Aid to come to the GEAR UP Office for assistance, and reminded them that late registration will only delay receiving finan-cial assistance. Ms. Baker and Director Tupua emphasized that college scholarships are avail-able, but students themselves must initiate and prepare scholarship applications. Ò The GEAR UP Office staff is available to assist and serve as a resource, though students must not wait until the last minute,” said Ms. Baker. “Make an appoint-ment and come in after school to start the process.Ó
For the final presentation, which Tupua described as Ò quite the eye opener for all who attended,Ó the GEAR UP staff shared the test results of the GUAS College Practice Place-ment Exam taken by approximately 700 GEAR UP Seniors this past October. Test results were broken down by cohort high schools, and overall showed a large percentage of students testing below average. Math results showed higher scores then the English results, and the four pri-vate schools showed higher scores compared to the DOE schools. Felise and Baker both stressed that the key responsibility sits with the students. Ò Too often, students donÕ t take the SAT, ACT, ASVAB or College Placement Exams seriously, while the fact of the matter is these exams impact the path you take in life,Ó stated Tupua.
To underscore the importance of students making adequate preparations for their college placement tests, Tupua presented data from ASCC. Ò Just last semester, 95-97% of new freshmen college applicants took the ASCC Col-lege Placement Exam and were placed in remedial Math and English,Ó he pointed out. Ò Therefore, we cannot overstate the urgency of high school students getting serious with their studies and making better preparations for the SAT, ACT, ASVAB and College Placement Exams.”
GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Aware-ness and ReadiAware-ness for Undergraduate Pro-grams. GEAR UP American Samoa or GUAS is headquartered on the ASCC campus and can be reached at 699-9166. You can also visit their web page at www.gearup.as
ALL PUZZLE ANSWERS ON PAGE 14
GEAR UP Director Tupua Roy Fua (center) is seen here with staff and students at the pro-gram’s headquarters on the ASCC campus. GEAR UP assisted potential college students with the application process during its College Night last week. [Photo: J. Kneubuhl]
by Fili Sagapolutele Samoa News Correspondent
StarKist Co. spokesperson Mary Sestric says the Pittsburgh-based company is Ò pleased to have signedÓ a Memorandum of Understanding with the American Samoa government regarding land to be used for a cold storage facility.
Ò The structure is Ò critically needed for StarKist operations in American Samoa,Ó Sestric said yesterday responding to Samoa News questions. Ò We look forward to working with the Governor and the Amer-ican Samoa Government to finalize the details of this agreement soon.Ó
The 42,000 square foot parcel of land for construction of the facility lies directly between the Port Administration building and the inter-island dock, according to the governor’s office, but didnÕ t provide any other details such as funding for the cold storage facility.
Togiola on his radio program in early October said his admin-istration is working on building a multi-million dollar freezer storage facility to provide fish storage space for not only the canneries but the local fishing fleet, which is part of the gov-ernmentÕ s commitment to assist the canneries in the territory.
According to the governor, the administration was to submit a funding application to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. The MOU was signed Monday afternoon after meet-ings between the governor and his staffers and StarKist presi-dent and chief executive officer In-Soo Cho and Dongwon Industries board chairman Jae-chul Kim. This major achieve-ment in cooperation between the company and ASG caps the StarKist board meeting held last week in the territory.
Ò StarKist would like to take the opportunity to thank the Governor and the people of American Samoa for their generous hospitality while the StarKist Board of Directors and executive team were on island last week,Ó Sestric said via e-mail from Pittsburgh. Ò We appreciate the renewed sup-port our team received from the American Samoa government, business partners and the com-munity as a whole.Ó
Ò We look forward to ongoing partnership with Amer-ican Samoa and its leaders in working to restore the island to its position as a globally com-petitive tuna processor, for the mutual benefit of StarKist and American Samoa,Ó she said.
Kim emphasized to reporters last week the importance of continuous collaborative efforts between StarKist and the ter-ritorial government as well as the local community in order for American Samoa be more
competitive in the global tuna processing industry.
As noted by Samoa News in its story on Monday, some public comments have began to come to light, with environ-mental concerns about the site being their main focus.
Reach the reporter at [email protected]
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LOOkS fORWARd tO fINALIZING thE dEtAILS
by Samoa News Staff
Gov. Togiola Tulafono will deliver his annual Territorial Christmas Address at tonightÕ s opening of the ASG sponsored Territorial Christmas Program, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at the Malaeoletalu Fagatogo Pavilion and will be broad-cast live on KVZK-TV.
A special part of the opening program will include a Gold Star Families Recognition Ñ in honor of the families who lost a family member in a combat zone. The mission of Gold Star Family is to see that all 50 states and U.S. territories honor their Fallen Warriors with a Gold Star Family license plate.
The First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono will also turn on the lights for the territoryÕ s Christmas tree.
Choirs from six government departments and offices will taking the stage to perform Christmas songs and skits for the Christmas program. First on stage is the Governor’s Office, which will also provide hymns for the opening prayer service, and the last choir of the evening will be the Dept. of Public Safety.
The program continues tomorrow night with six depart-ments and offices and the final night on Friday will have eight choirs with closing remarks offered by Lt. Gov. Faoa Aitofele Sunia. Some small departments and offices have been com-bined to make larger choirs.
The administration invites the public to come out to the Fagatogo malae to watch and enjoy the evening of Christmas song and music for the holiday season.
Togiola said this program Ò has become a wonderful oppor-tunity to rejoice in the many blessings we enjoy as an island community through the joyful celebration in song, dance, skits and plays of the festive season.Ó
ANNUAL TERRITORIAL
CHRISTMAS ADDRESS
AND ‘LIVE’ PROGRAM
© OSiNi FAleATASi iNC. reServeS All righTS.
dba Samoa News is published Monday through Saturday, except for some local and federal holidays.
Please send correspondences to: OF, dba Samoa News, Box 909, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.
Contact us by Telephone at (684) 633-5599 Contact us by Fax at (684) 633-4864
Contact us by Email at [email protected] Normal business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm. Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements, in whole or in part, is required. Please address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above.
LEttERS tO thE EdItOR ANd GUESt EdItORIAL POLICy
In order to provide space for as many letters as possible, we ask readers to limit the length of their comments. All letters should be no more than 300 words in length, and must include the writerÕ s name, phone number and address. We use this information to verify the letterÕ s authen-ticity. The Samoa News does not give out any phone numbers or addresses, unless the letter writer wishes such information to be displayed with his/her letter.
A letter to the Editor that cannot be verified will not be published.
A change in the Samoa News letters policy is that a letter will no longer be published with Ô Name Withheld by RequestÕ or a writerÕ s preferred alias. The letter must be signed by the letter writer in order for it to be published, and the true name of the letter writer must appear at the bottom of any letter.
Letters should be typed or neatly written. When using acronyms in letters, please spell out the acronyms in order to make letters clear for the readers.
All letters are subject to editing for space, content, grammar, and libel. This protects both the newspaper and the writer.
If a letter is potentially libelous, slanderous or appears to have been written with malice or harmful intent, it will be edited or rejected. On occasion, we are forced to edit or omit letters to the Editor that are grossly inaccurate, unfair or cross the boundaries of good taste, but we never edit or omit a letter just because we disagree with the writerÕ s viewpoint.
If the editor comments about a letter, the reader may respond with at least as many words as were used by the editor. Letters criticizing the Samoa News are accepted, and even encouraged, as long as the criticism is constructive and to the point.
POLItICAL LEttERS
All political letters should be concise and to the point and must include the name, address and phone number of the writer for verification purposes. The true name of the letter writer must appear at the bottom of any political letter. We will not publish any political letters during this campaign season with names withheld or aliases.
Letters to the Editor that directly attack a political candidate or camp must be signed and verified and the true name of the writer must appear at the bottom of the letter. Once a letter is verified and the letter writer signs his/her name, Samoa News will attempt to get comment from the candidate or camp being attacked, and the reply will be published with the letter.
To ensure fairness, no letters for or against any candidate will be published in the last edition of the Samoa News prior to election day.
GUESt EdItORIAL
Guest editorials should be no more than 600 words in length. Please mark your letter if you want it considered as a guest editorial. As in the case of letters, guest editorials must include name, address and phone number for verification purposes and the writer’s true name must appear on the guest editorial.
GENERAL POLICy
All letters and guest editorials once accepted for publication become the property of Samoa News. Priority is given to letters that discuss issues rather than personalities. Samoa News reserves the right to accept or reject any letter or guest editorial.
A CRiSiS iN GOvERNANCE:
Protests that marked 2011
show anger at corruption in
politics and public sector
(BASED ON A PRESS RELEASE) — Berlin, 1 December 2011 Ñ Corruption continues to plague too many countries around the world, according to Transparency InternationalÕ s 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index released today. It shows some governments failing to protect citizens from corruption, be it abuse of public resources, bribery or secretive decision-making. Transparency International warned that protests around the world, often fueled by corruption and economic instability, clearly show citizens feel their leaders and public institutions are neither transparent nor accountable enough. Ò This year we have seen cor-ruption on protestorsÕ banners be they rich or poor. Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,Ó said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International.
CORRUPtION PERCEPtIONS INdEx 2011: RESULtS The index scores 183 countries and territories from 0 (highly corrupt) to 10 (very clean) based on perceived levels of public sector corruption. It uses data from 17 surveys that look at fac-tors such as enforcement of anti-corruption laws, access to information and conflicts of interest.
Two thirds of ranked countries score less than 5.
New Zealand ranks first (for least perceived corruption) fol-lowed by Finland and Denmark. Somalia and North Korea (included in the index for the first time), are last.
Ò 2011 saw the movement for greater transparency take on irresistible momentum, as citizens around the world demand accountability from their governments. High-scoring countries show that over time efforts to improve transparency can, if sus-tained, be successful and benefit their people,” said Transpar-ency International Managing Director, Cobus de Swardt.
Most Arab Spring countries rank in the lower half of the index, scoring below 4. Before the Arab Spring, a Transparency International report on the region warned that nepotism, bribery and patronage were so deeply engrained in daily life that even existing anti-corruption laws had little impact.
Eurozone countries suffering debt crises, partly because of public authoritiesÕ failure to tackle the bribery and tax evasion that are key drivers of debt crisis, are among the lowest-scoring EU countries. The United States ranks 24th, Samoa is ranked 69th, Tonga ranks at 95, Philippines is ranked 129th.
(American Samoa is not ranked, but this could be due to American territories, such as Guam, Virgin Islands, etc. are not ranked individually Ñ and are perhaps included in the U.S. ranking, indicated as 24th with a score of 7.1) To download the report, go to: http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2011/results/
(Source: Transparency International media release)
by Fili Sagapolutele Samoa News Correspondent
Faced with serious financial woes, the LBJ Medical Center is projecting a shortfall of more than $10 million for the current fiscal year 2012, and the hos-pital plans to move forward with facility rate increases on Christmas Eve.
The hospital Ñ which exhausted all its reserves in FY 2011 due to the failure of the territorial government to pay the remainder of required subsidies (about $2.5 million) Ñ is proposing a drastic fee increase of between 200-400% effective Dec. 24, prompting meetings between the Fono leaders and Gov. Togiola Tulafono as well as two House committee hearings this week.
It was during the House Health/LBJ Hospital Com-mittee hearing yesterday that LBJ chief executive officer Mike Gerstenberger revealed the shortfall, in response to House Vice Speaker Talia FaÕ afetai IaulualoÕ s question, asking if LBJ had explored other alternatives instead of imposing Ò drasticÓ rate hikes.
Gerstenberger said all options were explored by the hospital, but there is an uncer-tainty as to whether the ter-ritorial government will con-tinue to pay its subsidy in FY 2012, which is used to pay the hospitalÕ s matching funds for Medicaid. He said the Interior Department, which provides annual grant funding for hos-pital operations, is operating on a continuing resolution without a federal budget for FY 2012.
When asked Monday about DOI funding, Gerstenberger told Samoa News that since the U.S. Congress has not yet passed a budget for the cur-rent fiscal year, DOI “has been operating under a series of continuing resolutions. That effectively means they cannot project support beyond the term of the current resolution.Ó
Ò For budgeting purposes, we were told that we should expect the same level of sup-port from DOI for Fiscal 2012 as we received last year - that was $7,943,000 or $661,917 per month,Ó he explained.
Asked how much LBJ has received so far in DOI funding for the current fiscal year, Ger-stenberger said the hospital in October received $637,000; $371,000 in November; and $576,000 in December - totaling more than $1.58 million or 79.7% of the total Ò owedÓ .
Ò We are very grateful for the DOI support and understand the uncertainty regarding future support, if any, is not the fault of the Department but rather of the Congress,Ó said Gerstenberger.
Asked about Medicaid funding, he said the total avail-able to American Samoa is about $25 million this year and
the matching fund portion for FY 2012 is 45% local and 55% federal. This means American Samoa would have to come up with $20,454,545 (or $20.45 million) match for the feds to kick in the $25 million.
He explained the federal components of Ò MedicaidÓ include the FMAP [Federal Medical Assistance Percentage], the EAP [Employee Assistance Programs], the SCHIP [State ChildrenÕ s Health Insurance Program] and the ACA [Afford-able Care Act]. The $25 million covers all these components.
COMMIttEE hEARING Gerstenberger told the com-mittee that in this type of finan-cial situation, in any operation faced with a projected short-fall, the thing to do is look at reducing payroll costs, and for
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There was plenty of entertainment, games, food, local entertainment and the ultimate — a fireworks display at the end of the special day — during Bluesky Communications 4G wireless broadband mobile launch carnival on Monday night at Utulei Beach that was attended by close to 1,000 people. It was the end of Bluesky’s day-long celebration to launch what it is calling ‘the most advanced broadband network in the South Pacific’. [photo: Jeff Hayner]
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defiant Republicans pushed legisla-tion through the House Tuesday night that would keep alive Social Security payroll tax cuts for some 160 million Americans at Presi-dent Barack Obama’s request - but also would require construction of a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline that has sparked a White House veto threat. Passage, on a largely party-line vote of 234-193, sent the measure toward its certain demise in the Democratic-controlled Senate, triggering the final partisan showdown of a remarkably quarrelsome year of divided government.
The legislation Ò extends the payroll tax relief, extends and reforms unemployment insurance and protects Social Security - without job-killing tax hikes,” Republican House Speaker John Boehner declared after the measure had cleared. Referring to the controversy over the Keystone XL pipeline, he added, Ò Our bill includes sensible, bipar-tisan measures to help the private sector create jobs.Ó
On a day of finger pointing, however, House Democrats accused Republicans of protecting Ò millionaires and billionaires, `Õ and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., derided the GOP-backed pipe-line provision as Ò ideological candyÓ for the tea party-set.
After the House vote, the White House urged Congress on in finishing work on extending the tax cuts and jobless aid. Press Secretary Jay Carney issued a statement that didnÕ t mention the pipeline but renewed ObamaÕ s insistence that the legislation be paid for, at least in part, by Ò asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair shareÓ in higher tax levies. Lawmakers Ò cannot go on vacation before agreeing to prevent a tax hike on 160 million Americans and extending unemployment insurance,Ó he said.
Republicans mocked ObamaÕ s objections to their version of the bill. Ò Mr. President, we canÕ t wait,Ó said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, employing a refrain the White House often uses to criticize Republicans for failing to take steps to improve an economy struggling to recover from the worst recession in decades.
Voting in favor of the legislation were 224 Republicans and 10 Democrats, while 179 Democrats and 14 Republicans opposed it.
At its core, the measure did include key parts of the jobs pro-gram that Obama asked Congress to approve in September.
The Social Security payroll tax cuts approved a year ago to help stimulate the economy would be extended through 2012, avoiding a loss of take-home income for wage-earners. An expiring program of unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless would remain in place, although at reduced levels that the administration said would cut off aid for 3.3 million.
A third major component would avert a threatened 27 percent cut in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients, a provi-sion Republicans added to appeal to conservatives but one that the White House and Democrats embrace, too.
While the tax and unemployment provisions were less generous than Obama sought, he and Republicans clashed principally over steps to cover the estimated $180 billion cost of the measure, and on the proposed 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada through environmentally sensitive terrain in Nebraska to the Texas Gulf Coast. Obama recently delayed a decision on granting a permit for the pipeline until after the 2012 election.
The payroll tax legislation was one of three major bills that Congress was struggling to finish before adjourning for the year, and by far the most contentious. A measure covering Pentagon spending was ready for passage, and, separately, negotiators said they were close to a deal on a $1 trillion measure to fund most gov-ernment agencies through the end of the budget year. That deal was in limbo, though, with Obama and congressional Democrats using it as leverage to keep House Republicans at the table negotiating a final compromise on the tax and unemployment measure.
It was the final showdown of a year that once brought the gov-ernment to the brink of a shutdown and also pushed the Treasury to the cusp of a first-ever default. Those confrontations produced last-minute compromises. This time, leaders in both parties stressed a desire to renew the unemployment tax cuts and jobless benefits that are at the core of ObamaÕ s jobs program.
Obama and most Democrats favor an income surtax on million-dollar earners to pay for extending the Social Security tax cut, but Republicans oppose that, saying it is a violation of their pledge not to raise taxes. Instead, the House bill called for a one-year pay freeze and higher pension costs for federal workers, higher Medicare costs for seniors over $80,000 in income as well as other items to cover the cost.
ObamaÕ s veto message focused on economic issues - which unite Democrats - accusing Republicans of putting the burden of paying for the legislation on working families Ò while giving a free pass to the wealthiest and to big corporations by protecting their loopholes and subsidies.Ó
Republicans drew attention at every turn to the pipeline, which is backed by some lawmakers in the presidentÕ s party as well as by the blue-collar unions representing plumbers, pipefitters, electri-cians, carpenters and construction workers.
Estimates of the jobs that would be produced by pipeline con-struction vary widely but are in the thousands in a time of high national unemployment. The State Department estimated the total at
House Republicans
muscle tax cut bill
A cocktail party with special guests, including Gov. Togiola Tulafono and the First Lady Mary Ann, was a part of the Bluesky Communications 4G wireless broadband mobile launch Monday night at DDW in Utulei — which also included a fantastic fireworks display to finish the special day off. (L-R) Bluesky CEO Adolfo Montenegro, DHSS Director Lei Stevenson, Rochelle Reid, with other guests.) [photo: Jeff Hayner]
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LIEGE, Belgium (AP) -- Summoned for questioning by Bel-gian police, a man with a history of weapons and drug offenses left home armed with hand grenades, a revolver and an assault rifle. Stopping at a central square filled with holiday shoppers, he lobbed three grenades into the crowd, then opened fire.
Four people were killed, including an 18-month-old toddler, and 122 were wounded in the assault Tuesday that brought tragedy to the pre-Christmas season of students reveling in exam results and preschoolers enchanted by brightly lit trees and holiday stalls.
Authorities said the shooter also died, but they were at a loss to explain the reason for the onslaught. The prime minister said it was not related to terrorism.
In a second burst of deadly violence in Western Europe on Tuesday - attacks rare for the continent - a man shot and killed two Senegalese vendors at a market in Italy.
The midday attack in the eastern Belgian city of Liege sent hundreds of panicked shoppers stampeding down the cobbled streets of the old city, fleeing explosions and bullets.
Belgian authorities identified the shooter as Nordine Amrani, a 33-year-old Liege resident who had done jail time for offenses involving guns and drugs, and had been called in for questioning Tuesday in a sexual abuse case.
Officials said Amrani left his home with a backpack, armed with hand grenades, a revolver and an FAL assault rifle. He walked alone to the busy Place Saint-Lambert, the central entry point to downtown shopping streets, then climbed onto an overpass that gave him an ideal view of the square, which was bedecked with a huge Christmas tree and crowded with shoppers.
From there, Amrani lobbed three hand grenades toward a cen-tral bus stop, which serves 1,800 buses a day, and opened fire. The explosions sent shards of glass from the bus shelter across a wide area.
Ò I heard a loud boom,Ó said Dimitri Degryse, who was driving near the square. Ò I thought it was something on my car that was broken or something. Then a few seconds after a second boom, and I saw all the glass breaking, I saw people running, screaming.Ó
Hundreds fled the square as well as a nearby Christmas market. Video showed people, including a large group of preschoolers, rushing to seek cover, some still carrying shopping bags.
Amrani died at the scene, but Liege Prosecutor Danielle Reyn-ders told reporters he was not killed by police. It was unclear if he committed suicide or died by accident, though he still had a number of grenades with him.
Those killed were two boys ages 15 and 17, a 75-year-old woman, and an 18-month-old toddler who died Tuesday evening in the hospital, Liege police said.
As police hunted for possible accomplices, residents were ordered to stay in their homes or seek shelter in shops or public buildings. Sirens blared and a police chopper roared overhead, and a medical post was set up in the nearby courtyard of the Prince Bishops courthouse. Dozens of emergency vehicles took victims away for treatment. Police closed off the area but found no accom-plices, and calm returned a few hours later.
The Place Saint-Lambert and the nearby Place du Marche host LiegeÕ s annual Christmas market, which features 200 shops and attracts some 1.5 million visitors a year. A nearby Ferris wheel is also a central attraction.
By dusk, with the Christmas lights gleaming again, King Albert II and Queen Paola came to pay their respects, as did Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo. Di Rupo stressed the attack was the act of a lone assailant, a man known to police who had no links to ter-rorism. Ò The whole country shares in the pain. This is an isolated case. This is not about terrorism,Ó he said.
Herman Van Rompuy, a former Belgian prime minister who is now president of the European Council, said he was badly shaken by the attack. Ò There is no explanation whatsoever,Ó Van Rompuy said. Ò It leaves me perplexed and shocked.Ó
While such attacks are unusual in Western Europe, the conti-nent has not been immune to such violence.
There was another deadly shooting Tuesday in Italy, where a man opened fire in an outdoor market in Florence, killing two ven-dors from Senegal and wounding three other Senegalese before killing himself, authorities said.
Investigators identified the attacker as 50-year-old Gianluca Casseri, and RAI state TV said he was known to police for having participated in racist marches by an extreme right-wing group.
In Norway last July, far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik went on a bomb and shooting spree that killed 77 people in Oslo and an island retreat, apparently motivated by a hatred of Muslim immigrants and a deep grudge against the governing Labor Party. A psychiatric evaluation found him criminally insane, which if upheld by the courts means he would end up in compulsory psy-chiatric care instead of prison.
Attack in Belgian
city leaves 5 dead
Original offering found
at Teotihuacan pyramid
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Archaeologists announced Tuesday that they dug to the very core of MexicoÕ s tallest pyramid and found what may be the original ceremonial offering placed on the site of the Pyramid of the Sun before construction began.
The offerings found at the base of the pyramid in the Teotihuacan ruin site just north of Mexico City include a green serpentine stone mask so delicately carved and detailed that archaeologists believe it may have been a portrait.
The find also includes 11 ceremonial clay pots dedicated to a rain god similar to Tlaloc, who was still worshipped in the area 1,500 years later, according to a statement by the National Institute of Anthropology and History, or INAH.
The offerings, including bones of an eagle fed rabbits as well as feline and canine animals that haven’t yet been identified, were laid on a sort of rubble base where the temple was erected about A.D. 50.
Ò We know that it was deposited as part of a consecration ritual for the construction of the Pyramid of the Sun,Ó said INAH archae-ologist Enrique Perez Cortes.
Experts followed an old tunnel dug through the pyramid by researchers in the 1930s that narrowly missed the center, and then dug small extensions and exploratory shafts off it.
What they found points to the earliest days of the still largely mysterious Teotihuacan culture. The remains of three structures that predate the pyramid were found buried at the base. Archaeologists have known that the ceremonial significance of the site, perhaps as a Ò linkÓ to the underworld, predates the pyramids.
They also found seven burials, some of them infant remains. Susan Gillespie, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Florida who was not involved in the project, called the find “exciting and important, although I would not say it was unexpectedÓ given that dedicatory offerings were commonly placed in MesoAmerican pyramids. Ò It is exciting that what looks like the original foundation dedicatory cache for what was to become the largest (in height) pyramid in Mexico (and one of the largest in the world) has finally been found, after much concerted efforts looking for it,Ó Gillespie wrote in an email.
She said the find gives a better picture of the continuity of reli-gious practices during TeotihuacanÕ s long history. Some of the same themes found in the offering are repeated in ancient murals painted on the cityÕ s walls centuries later.
George Cowgill, an anthropologist at Arizona State University, called the find “pretty important” and suggested the Tlaloc offerings may thicken the debate about whether the pyramid was linked to the sun, the underworld or Tlaloc, who was also considered a war god.
Ò The discovery of seven humans suggests that they were prob-ably sacrificial victims, along with several species of fierce ani-mals,Ó Cowgill wrote.
The city was founded nearly 2,500 years ago and came to have a dominant influence in architecture, trade and cultural in large swaths of ancient Mexico. But the identity of its rulers remains a mystery, and the city was abandoned by the time the Aztecs arrived in the area in the 1300s and gave it the name Teotihuacan, which means Ò the place where men become gods.Ó
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The Matafao Elementary “Christmas in Samoa” creations from students in K levels to Level 8, including ECE and SP-ED. They can be seen on display along the school’s fence area as you pass by. [photos: THA]
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greece has reached its limit in raising taxes and needs to refocus its austerity program on long-term spending cuts, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday.
The warning came as the debt-shackled eurozone member heads toward its fourth year of recession, with revenues weak-ening despite draconian new emergency taxes.
Ò I think one of the things we have seen in 2011 is that we have reached the limit of what can be achieved through increasing taxes,Ó Poul Thomsen, the IMF mission chief in Greece, told reporters in a conference call.
Thomsen, speaking about the IMFÕ s latest report on GreeceÕ s progress, said the countryÕ s structural reforms have fallen “well short” of expectations. But he said it was too early to say whether new austerity measures would have to be taken next year.
Greece has relied on euro110 billion ($145 billion) bailout loan package from eurozone countries and the IMF since May 2010 to stave off default. In return, it has taken a series of debt-reducing measures, including slashing sal-aries and pensions and imposing several rounds of tax hikes.
GreeceÕ s austerity program Ò has relied, in our view, too much on taxes and I think one of the things we have seen in 2011 is that we have reached the limit of what can be achieved through increasing taxes,Ó Thomsen said. Ò Any fur-ther measures, if needed, should be on the expenditure side.Ó
Greece has consistently missed deficit reduction targets, and it quickly became clear that the ini-tial bailout would not be enough to prevent a potentially catastrophic default that could drag down other eurozone countries and affect the entire global economy.
European leaders in October agreed on a second rescue deal worth euro130 billion ($171 bil-lion), with key details still being negotiated. Part of the deal includes provisions to write off 50 percent of the value of Greek bonds held by private creditors, potentially cutting the countryÕ s overall debt by euro100 billion ($132 billion).
Thomsen said the IMF has not been asked yet to join in the second rescue package. He would not comment on the bond-swap negotiations still under way, except to say the IMF was hopeful banks would have a Ò high partici-pationÓ in the voluntary deal.
In its 161-page report, the IMF said successful efforts to reduce GreeceÕ s national debt to sustain-able levels now hinged on Ò near-universal participationÓ in that bond swap deal. If the bond swap deal goes according to plan, it aims to reduce GreeceÕ s debt to 120 percent of gross domestic product by 2020. However, if there is low participation by banks and other private creditors, the IMF warned, GreeceÕ s debt could stick above 145 percent of GDP in 2020.
GreeceÕ s reforms have also been troubled by a lack of broad political support for the bailout program, Thomsen said. The country has also been rocked over the last year by frequent strikes and demonstrations, some of which have turned into riots.
However, a political crisis led to the appointment last month of an interim coalition government headed by a former European Central Bank governor, Lucas Papademos. With the countryÕ s two main political parties, plus a smaller nationalist party, now holding government seats, the situation has improved.
Thomsen and other interna-tional debt inspectors are currently in Athens to review GreeceÕ s finances. They will meet with the ministers of transport, develop-ment and labor on Wednesday, Finance Minister Evangelos
Veni-zelos on Thursday, and Papademos and the finance minister on Friday.
Venizelos on Tuesday dis-cussed ways of kick-starting the countryÕ s depressed economy with European officials.
GreeceÕ s budget performance has continued to slip with a deep recession unraveling the revenue gains from additional taxes. The central government’s deficit from January to November this year widened by 5.1 percent compared to the same period in 2010, reaching euro20.5 billion ($27 billion) from euro19.5 bil-lion last year, finance ministry preliminary figures showed.
Separately, Greece raised euro1.625 billion ($2.14 billion) in the sale of 26-week treasury bills at a yield of 4.95 percent, slightly higher than the 4.89 per-cent interest rate from a similar sale last month.
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Miss Cook Islands woos the crowd in the Talent Category of the Miss South Pacific Pageant last Saturday night in Apia.
[Photo: Naenae Productions]
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tusia Ausage Fausia
O le alii e 19 tausaga lea na o latou osofaia ma nisi le faleoloa o le SamoaOne.com i Tafuna, ua faÕ asala e le FaÕ amasinoga Maualuga i le toÕ ese i Tafuna mo le umi e 5 tausaga, o se tasi lea o tuutuuga o lana faanofovaavaaia e 15 tausaga.
E ui e tusa ma le $10,000 le tau aofai o meatotino sa gaoia i lenei osofaiga, peitai e lei poloaina e le faamasinoga le toe totogiina atu lea e le alii o Fotu Aokusitino i le kamupani na aafia, ae ua fautuaina e le faamasinoga le malo, o loo i ai le avanoa e mafai ai ona faila e le kamupani na aafia sana tagi i le Faamasinoga faasaga i le ua molia, mo le toe totogiina atu lea o meatotino uma sa faaleagaina ma gaoia.
Ao lei tuuina mai le faÕ asalaga a le faÕ amasinoga faÕ asaga ia Aokusitino, na saunoa le alii faÕ amasino sili ia Michael Kruse, mai tausaga e tele talu ona avea o ia ma faama-sino, o se tasi lenei o mataÕ upu ua ia maitauina le tula’i so’o mai, o le a’afia o nisi o pisinisi i gaioiga faÕ asolitulafono ma faÕ aletonu ai le tamaoaiga o ia pisinisi, e pei o le faÕ alavelave lea ua taÕ usalaina ai Aokusitino.
O se pisinisi na mafai ona faÕ ailoa mai e Kruse sa a’afia i faiga faasolitulafono nei e aofia ai le Swiss Jewelry, lea sa ola ma manuia taumafaiga peitai ua afaina le itu tau tupe ona o faiga nei.
Saunoa Kruse, o ituaiga amioga nei, e le gata ua a’afia ai le tulaga ola lelei o pisinisi, ae ua a’afia ai ma le tamaoaiga o le atunu’u ma aiga, ina ua pe le pisinisi ma le toe maua ai galuega sa galulue ai tagata e fesoasoani ai i le tausiga o latou aiga.
Na talosaga le ua molia i le faamasinoga mo se isi avanoa mo ia, ina ua maea ona ia faatoese e tusa ai o le solitulafono sa ia faia. Na taua e Aokusitino, e le o se taimi muamua lenei ua tulai ai i luma o le faamasinoga ona o solitula-fono tau i le talepe fale ma le gaoi.
Sa ia faatoese foi i ona matua e tusa ai i lona le usitai ma lona le faalogo, lea ua mafua ai ona saisaitia lona olaga i le toese.
Na talosaga le loia a Aokusitino o Leslie Cardin i le faÕ amasinoga ina ia faÕ anofovaÕ avaÕ aia le ua molia, ma ia tuÕ uina atu i ai nisi o polokalama e fesoasoani ai i lona olaga. Na taua e Cardin i le faÕ amasinoga, e ui o lea ua taÕ utino le ua molia e le o se taimi muamua lea ua tulai ai i luma o le faamasinoga ona o solitulafono faapea, peitai e i ai lona talitonuga e manaomia lava se fesoa-soani mo ia.
E ui e lei tetee le loia a le malo e faanofo-vaavaaia le ua molia, peitai sa ia finauina se faasalaga faafalepuipui e tuuina atu ia te ia.
Na taua e le tamaitai loia o Mitzie Folau i le faamasinoga, e le o se taimi muamua lenei ua tausala ai le ua molia i ituaiga solitulafono nei.
Na fesili Kruse ia Folau pe o le a le taimi mulimuli na asiasi ai i le toese i Tafuna, na tali Folau pe a ma le lua masina talu ai, ae na saunoa Kruse, o vaiaso uma lava e asiasi ai le Ofisa Faanofovaavaaia i le toese i Tafuna, ma o iina lea o loo maua mai ai e le faamasinoga nisi o faamatalaga e faatatau i le toese, ma faafitauli o loo tulai mai ai, e le gata i le toatele o pagota o loo taofia ai, ae foliga mai foi o le faatele ma le umi e taofia ai se tagata i totonu, o le faate-teleina foi lena o le leaga o lona olaga.
O Aokusitino na uluai tuuaia e le malo i moliaga o le talepe fale i le tulaga muamau, gaoi atoa ai ma lona taliaina o ni oloa sa ave faagaoi, ae i lalo o le maliliega sa ia sainia ma le malo lea foi na talia e le faamasinoga, sa ia tali ioe ai i le moliaga o le talepe fale, ae solofua isi moliaga e lua o loo totoe ai. I faamaumauga a le faamasinoga, o loo taua ai le faatonu e Aokusi-tino o ni alii laiti se toatolu latou te talepe ma osofai le faleoloa na aafia, lea na ia aveina ai loa nisi o oloa sa gaoia mai i lenei osofaiga.
Loka i le 5 tausaga i le gaoi
tusia Ausage Fausia
E leÕ i taliaina e nisi o le atunuÕ u saunoaga a le kovana sili e faapea, e tua siitaga a le ASPA i le moli matagi ma le fagu karasini, ae o tua o siÕ itaga a le falemaÕ i o le oti, na taua e nisi na mafai ona fesiligia e le Samoa News i lenei mataupu, e talitonu latou e tutusa lava le oti ona o siitaga a le falemaÕ i ma le oti ona o siitaga a le ASPA.
Ò E oti foi le tagata pe afai e leai se tupe e faÕ atau ai se meaÕ ai ona ua alu uma e totogi ai pili a le ASPAÓ , o le saunoaga lea a Ifopo Maiava o Tafuna, o se alii e galue i se tasi o konekarate fau fale i le atunuu. Na taua e Maiava, e le tatau i le kovana ona tau-mafai e fai ni saunoaga e ufiufi ai le tulaga matuia ua i ai siitaga a le ASPA i le taimi nei, ona o le aitalafu a le malo lea e oÕ o mai lava i le taimi nei e lei totogia mo le pili o le eletise ma le suavai, lea ua oÕ o atu i le $7.2 miliona.
O manatu foi ia o ni tina faiaoga talavou se toalua sa faaalia e uiga i lenei mataupu e le’i finagalo e faailoa o laua suafa.
Na taua e tina faiaoga nei, e atagia mai i saunoaga a le alii kovana o loo ia lagolagoina siitaga a le ASPA.
Ò Ou te manatu, e sili atu foi ona mafatia le tagata soifua pe afai e popole lona loto ona o le leai o se tupe e tausi ai lona aiga ma faatino ai nisi o manaoga, ma o ituaiga lagona na e mafai foi ona oo ai le popole, atuatuvale ma iÕ u ina oti ai le tagata,Ó o le saunoaga lea a le isi o tamaitai faiaoga ia e toalua.
Saunoa le alii faipule ia Maneafaiga Faoa, tusa lava po o fea e tafe agai i ai le Ô au i siitaga a le falemai ma le ASPA, o le mea mautinoa lava e le fesiligia le tulaga pagatia o le atunuu o lo o i ai.
Ò E oti le tagata pe a le alu i le falemai ona o siitaga fou i totogi, e oti foi le tagata pe afai e leai se tupe e tausi ai lona aiga, ae o le itu e sili atu ona matuia, o le aafia o le mafaufau ui le pologa ma le atuatuvale ona o le tau sailiga o se tupe e tausi ai le aiga, totogi ai pili ma le tulaga pagatia lava ua i ai le tau o le soifuaga i lenei taimi,Ó o le faamatalaga lea a le alii ave pasi o Panapa Iuliano.
Saunoa le afioga i le alii kovana sili ia Togiola Tulafono i luga o lana polokalame i le faaiuga o le vaiaso na tea nei, e mafua ona ia talitonu e matuia atu aafiaga o siitaga a le falemai ua faia nei nai lo le ASPA, afai e leai se tupe e totogi ai e le aiga le latou pili o le ASPA, e mafai ona faatau le karasini ona fai ai lea o le moli matagi e mumu ai le aiga, ae o siitaga a le falemai, e le mafai ona faia lea ituaiga alofaga o le leai o se tupe e vaai ai le fomai ona nofonofo lea i le fale, aua e na o le oti lava le mea e oo mai ai.
O le aso lea ua faamoemoe e toe feiloaÕ i feiloai ai le kovana sili ma taitai o le Fono Faitulafono, i le tau sailiga o se fofo o le faaf-itauli tau tupe lea ua feagai nei ma le falemai i Fagaalu, le LBJ.
O le po o le kerisimasi lea ua faamoemoe le pulega a le falemaÕ i e amata faamamalu ai a latou siitaga fou i vaega eseese o le falemai mo le atunuÕ u, ina ua maitauina se tulaga faaletonu i le itu tau tupe o loo faatautaia ai galuega a le falemai.
E toatele le atunuu ua faailoa lo latou teena o nei fuafuaga, atoa ai ma lo latou fesiligia o le malo i le mafuaaga ua ala ai ona le totogiina tupe ua maea ona faatulafono i le falemai, e fesoasoani ai i a latou gaioiga.
E tusa ai ma le molimau a le falemai o loo taua ai, e tusa ma le $5 miliona le tupe e lei totogiina atu e le malo ia i latou, mai tupe ua maea ona faatulafono e fesoasoani ai i le latou tautua.
Feso’ota’i mai i le tusitala ia [email protected]
“E tutusa lava le oti
ona o pili falema’i
ma le oti pili ASPA”
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Se vaaiga i nisi o fanau na mafai ona auai i nisi o faagaioiga e pei o taaloga sa faia i le taelega i Utulei i le afiafi o le aso Gafua na tea nei, i le taimi na faatautaia ai polokalame a le kamupani telefoni o le Bluesky, ao lumanai ai le faamanatuina o le kerisimasi ma le tausaga fou i lenei tausaga. [ata AF]
O se va’aiga i le fonotaga a le ASOA lea sa faia i le latou Ofisa i le Paka Liona, lea sa latou tapunia ai lenei tausaga i mataupu tuai ua fa’amae’aina, ae maise o le mataupu fou o le a latou fa’amalosia: “Tete’e i le Si’itaga Maualuga tele a le Falema’i i Faga’alu!” Sauni, ua i ai le latou fuafuaga e ao ina fa’ataunu’uina : o le a silamio i ai le atunu’u, aua e le fai mea tu’u le a Asosi i le taimi nei. E sau soli lea ua pasia nei, ma e faia lava! [ata: Leua Aiono Frost]
Le taimi o le tulai faaaloalo a le Vaega o le Ami Faaleoleo atoa ai ma le momoliina atu o le tagavai a le malo tele, e ufi ai le Sa o se tasi o tamali’i o le atunuu ua loa tausaga o tautua i vaega ‘au a le malotele, susuga Aufotu Saafiga Malaefono Lemafa, i se sauniga faapitoa sa faatautaia lea i le malumalu i le maota gasegase i Fagaalu i le taeao ananafi, ma molimoli atu ai loa lea o lona Sa i lona aiga i Aunuu. [ata AF]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Project Notification & Review System
Legal Notice
PNRS BO ARD MEETING
December 21, 2011
Notice is hereby given that the Department of Commerce/American Samoa Coastal Management Program has received a Land Use Permit Application from the following individuals.
1. ASPC: c/o John Goeke 11-0700-L
Proposal for Federal Consistency Certification, demolition of existing office, Gataivai construction of a two story building with utilities, driveway and paving.
2. CCCAS c/o Talavou Ale 11-0775-L
Proposal for demolition and construction of a new church building with utilities Fagali’i
3. Happy World c/o Jaeuhng Myung 11-0822-L
Proposal to construct new extension to existing commercial structure Nu’uuli
4. Taumaoe Taufete’e 11-0608-L
Proposal for filling and construct new rock wall Nu’uuli
5. Ronald Meaole 11-0630-L
Proposal for construction of a new building with utilities, driveway, paving, Vaitogi clearing, filling and septic tank
6. Talavave Ma’ae 11-0707-L
Proposal to construct new commercial Samoan beach fale(s) and with utilities Taputimu
7. American Samoa Red Cross: c/- Lolo Moliga and Robert Tuala 11-0381-L
Proposal for Construction of a New Red Cross Office Building with Utilities. Tafuna
8. Catholic Church (Our Lady of the Rosary) c/- HC Fuamatu 11-0709-L
Proposal for a playground and walls (Retaining Wall) Afao
9. ASCO MOTORS: c/- Pani Nglam 11-0784-L
Proposal for demolition, new construction, utilities and paving Tafuna
10. Togotogo P.S. Sotoa 11-0662-L
Proposal to construct new retaining wall, filling and utilities Fagaalu
11. Continental Transport Corp c/o Tony Togiai 11-0358-LVB
Proposal to construct and operate a new quarry site to include drilling Tula and excavating
MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
12. Ernest Haleck 10-0722-L
Proposal to construct new residential structure, Ottoville roads/ driveways, walls/fences to include clearing, paving, and excavating (rainforest)
Persons interested in or affected by a proposed project, are invited to review the project file and provide comments based on environmental issues, by contacting Marvis Vaiaga’e at 5155, at the Department of Commerce in Utulei during regular ASG hours. Public comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 21, 2011. Interested
individuals are also invited to attend a Public Hearing at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 21,
2011 at DOC Conference Room, on the 2nd. Floor of the Executive Office Building in Utulei.
O lo’o iai ile Ofisa o Fa’afetauaina ni talosaga mo Pemita e Fa’atagaina ai le Fa’aaogaina o Fanua ma Laueleele e tusa ma ala ole Tulafono. A iai se tasi e Fa’asea pe fia tusia se molimau i ni Afaina ole Si’osi’omaga pe a galueaina nei Galuega, telefoni mai Marvis Vaiaga’e i le 633-5155. E mafai fo’i ona e auai Ile Fono a le Komiti Fa’afoe ia Tesema 21, 2011, ile itula e 9 ile taeao.
tusia Ausage Fausia
GAfAtASI tAvEUvEU & LOGO fAAMAUSILI O alii talavou e toalua ia o lo o tuÕ uaÕ ia i lo la faÕ aoÕ o o ni manuÕ a i se isi alii i le nuÕ u o SeÕ etaga, e ala i lo la faÕ aaogaina o se fagupia ma o la lima, ua faÕ atulaga e le FaÕ amasinoga Maualuga le aso 4 Iulai 2012 e faia ai le la faÕ amasinoga autu, e ui o lo o faÕ aauau pea talanoaga a itu e lua mo se maliliega.
O Gafatasi Taveuveu ma Logo Faamausili, o lo o tuÕ uaÕ ia e le malo i le moliaga mamafa e tasi o le faaoolima i le tulaga lua, ma le moliaga mama o le faatupu vevesi i nofoaga faitele. O ia moliaga na afua mai se faalavelave na tulai mai i le vaiaso muamua o le masina o Novema i Seetaga, lea na manuÕ a tigaina ai se alii, ina ua fasi e Gafatasi ma Logo, e pei ona tuÕ uaÕ ia ai i laÕ ua e le malo.
O le vaiaso nei na faatulaga e faia ai le uluai iloiloga o lenei mataupu, peitai na faailoa e tamaitai loia fautua o loo tulai mo Gafatasi ma Logo ia Ruth Risch-Fuatagavi ma Leslie Cardin, o loo faaauau pea talanoaga mo se maliliega i lenei mataupu, faapea ai ma le manaomia o se isi taimi faaopoopo mo nisi suesuega, ona o nisi o faamatalaga fou ua mafai ona maua mai e le malo e uiga i lenei mataupu.
O le aso 9 o Ianuari 2012 lea ua toe tolopo i ai le uluai iloiloga o lenei mataupu ma le tuutuuga, afai e oo atu i le aso lea e lei maua lava se maliliega, o le a faataunuuina loa le faamasinoga autu i le masina o Iuni. O loo tumau pea poloaiga a le faamasinoga o loo tatala ai Gafatasi ma Logo i tua mai le toese i Tafuna.
SAUNI LE tAMA fAI E tALI IOE I ONA MOLIAGA O le Tama Fai lea o lo o tuuaia i lona faia o ni amioga mataga i lona afafine fai, ua i ai le faamoemoe o le Aso Tofi o le vaiaso nei lea o le a tuu aloaia atu ai lana tali ioe i moliaga ia ua manatu le malo na te ioeina, i lalo o se maliliega ua maea ona sainia ma ua tuuina atu foi i le faamasinoga maualuga.
O le vaiaso nei na faailoa ai e loia i le alii faamasino sili lago-lago ia Lyle L. Richmond, ua maea ona sainia e le ua molia ma le malo se maliliega e faamuta ai lenei mataupu, ma ua uma foi ona tuuina atu i luma o le faamasinoga.
Ae talu ai e lei lava se taimi e iloilo ma faitau ai e alii faamasino le maliliega ua maea ona sainia, o le mafuaaga lea ua toe tolopo ai lenei mataupu i le aso Tofi o le vaiaso nei, e fofoga aloaia ai loa le tali ioe a le ua molia, lea o loo taofia pea i le toese i Tafuna i le taimi nei e aunoa ma se tupe na faatulaga e tatala ai o ia, ona o le tulaga matuia o moliaga o loo tuuaia ai o ia. O le step father e 49 tausaga le matua o loo tuuaia i le faiaiga faamalosi, faia o amioga mataga, faiaiga i se tagata e aiga i ai, atoa ai ma lona faia o ni gaioiga e ono lamatia ai le soifua maloloina o se fanau laititi.
MARIAIvA MAALONA
O le tamaita’i mai Pago Pago lea na taofia i le falema’i i le masina na teÕ a nei, ina ua manuÕ a i se vevesi na tulai mai i le va o ia ma le isi foi tamaitai, na tulai i luma o le faamasinoga i le taeao ananafi, mo le tuuina atu o lana tali e tusa ai o moliaga ua faia e le malo faasaga ia te ia.
O moliaga ua faila e le malo faasaga ia Mariaiva Maalona e aofia ai le faaoolima i le tulaga tolu, ma le faatupu vevesi i nofoaga faitele. O se faalavelave na tulai mai i le aso 19 Novema i Pago Pago, ina ua fufusu le ua molia ma le isi foi tamaitai lea foi o loo tuuaia e le malo i le mataupu lava lenei, na faaiÕ u ai ina ua u e le isi tamaitai le taliga o le ua molia ma taofia ai loa o ia i le falemai mo le faia o ni togafitiga i lona manu’a.
Na faatali le malo sei malosi mai Mariaiva ona faatoa faila lea o moliaga faasaga ia te ia, ma o le vaiaso nei na tulai ai loa o ia i luma o le faamasinoga, ma ia teena ai moliaga a le malo.
O le aso 22 Tesema lea ua faatulaga e toe fofogaina ai lana mataupu, ma ua poloaina o ia e le faamasinoga e aua nei ona toe taumafai e faafesootai le tamaitai lea na la vevesi, pe na te toe soliina foi se tulafono a le malo, a ia auai i ona faamasinoga uma ma fesootai vavalalata ma lana loia.
E le ma’ima’i lava nai tama o le Tauga ‘Apu, o se fa’afiafiaga na tatala aloa’ia ai le po mo le sa’iliga o se Tausala ma se Manaia a le a’oga maualuga a Kanana Fou, i le afiafi o le Aso Faraile o le vaiaso ua mavae. [ata: A. Tuna]
vAEGA 70
Na liliu nei Lameko ma faÕ apea ane i lona tausoga, Ò Ia Mase-lina, saunoa ia oe le tina, pe i ai se mea na e sau ai?Ó O le fesili ane lea a Lameko i lona tausoga. Ò Ioe Lameko, o lea foÕ i e alaala mai le tina nei i a Tagiilima, ua uma foÕ i ona ou talanoa i a Tagi-ilima e tusa ai ma laÕ u savali na sau nei, na ou oÕ o mai e taÕ u mai saoga a le tatou aiga i le maliu o le toÕ alua o Lumepa.Ó
Ua faÕ ateÕ ia Lameko i lea tala faÕ anoanoa, ae faÕ apea le faÕ amatalaga o le maÕ i oso o le toeaina ua mafua ai. O lea la e taoto nei i le falemaliu, se i sauni le aiga, ma fai fuafuaga uma ona au mai ai lea i tua.
“Oi, talofa se i a Teofilo, ae na malosi lava si toeaina, ia soia ia, e le o se olaga tumau lenei tatou te i ai, e sau lava le valaÕ au latou ma alu faÕ asasao le tagata i le mea e alu i ai.Ó
Ua na o le punou o le loÕ omatua o Tagiilima i lea taimi. Ua teÕ i lava ua oÕ o ona mafaufauga e faÕ apea, pe o le a faÕ afefea ia pe a uma lona ola i le aiga o lona toÕ alua, o lona uiga, e le tuÕ ua i se pusa oti, na ona uma lava, ave saÕ o e le aiga o Lameko ia i le sami. Ua le tautala le loÕ omatua, o ona mafaufauga ia ina ua ia toe manatu mulimuli ane i mea o loÕ o tutupu i totonu o le aiga o Lameko, e taulamua ai lava ia i mea e fai. Ua fai foÕ i ia ma avega mamafa i le toÕ atele o le auaiga. Ua talatalanoa nei Lameko, o Tagiilima ma le loÕ omatua o Maselina i lea taimi, ae o loÕ o fai lava le muimuiga a Loimata I lona tuagane ona o uiga o lo latou tina.
Ò Eteuati, e te iloa oe, e Ô ese lava uiga o le tatou tina, na te le faia mai ni tala e lelei ai lo ta mafaufau, ae na o tala malolosi e lafo mai ia te aÕ u. VaÕ ai foÕ i oe, e leai lava se mea tele na tupu i le fale o le faifeau, ae le mafai lava.Ó Ua le tautala le tama i le muimui a lona tuafafine e to’atasi, na pau le tala na lafo e Eteuati, “Loimta, tu mai i lou tofi, o le mea fo’i le na e otegia so’o ai oe, o le teine e leai se mea e pau i totonu o lona aiga, a’o lou teine, e te fia papalagi a oe i taimi uma, tu mai i lou tofi e tatau ona e tu mau ai.”
Ua pisi solo nei Etuati i le gaoÕ oina o le meatausami, aÕ o lea na o le nofo o Loimata ma fai ana faÕ amatalaga e uiga i lona tina. O le mea moni, a faÕ apea e lagona mai e le loÕ omatua, ua leva ona taÕ u le se se o Loimata. Na aÕ apa ane nei le lima o Loimata ma uÕ u ane le tui ma tau mafai e Ô eu aÕ e i luga le fasi povi, lea na amata ona saka mai i le taeao, ua toetiti nei ta le ono i le afiafi o tau faÕ amalu.
Na tilotilo ane nei Lameko i a Tagiilima pe o le a se tali o le a tuÕ u ane i a Maselina, ona o lea o loÕ o faÕ atalitali le loÕ omatua e tusa ai ma le talaÕ iga i saoga mea a le aiga. Na iloa e Lameko, o lea na faÕ atali atu Tagiilima ia te ia, ma e tatau ona ia tautala ane i a Maselina e tusa ai ma le savali na alu ane ai le loÕ omatua. Ò Ia Maselina faÕ afetai atu pau le mea e sili ona taua ua e oÕ o mai, o le mea moni lava sa tatau ona fai se talanoaga a le aiga potopoto e tusa ai ma le faÕ alavelave ua tupu mai. AÕ o lea ua ou vaÕ ai atu ua, e sau e talaÕ i mai saoga o le faÕ alavelave. O se mea ua sili ona le fetaui lea tulaga. Silasila foÕ i oe le tina, e le o se mea laÕ ititi, manatua fo’i e oe le tuafafine, afai ae tupu mai se fa’alavelave faÕ apea i le isi itu o le tatou aiga e tatau ona faÕ atino e tatou mea uma. O le uiga o laÕ u tala, o le tatou feagaiga osi, o lea la ua faÕ ateia aÕ u, ma ou te le iloa poÕ o le a se tala a Tagiilima, ae o le tulaga lea e tatau ona fai.Ó
Ua na o le punou o le loÕ omatua o Maselina e aunoa ma se tala, ua toe manatua nei e le loÕ omatua, e saÕ o lelei lava Lameko, aÕ o le tonu lea na alu ane nei ma ia ua matuaÕ i le fetaui lava.
Ò Maselina, ia o le na ua tuÕ u atu le tali a Lameko, ma o le mea tonu lava lea na ou faÕ atalitali ai se i manava mai le galuega a le tama o le aiga. E pei ona ou fai atu ia te oe i lou taunuÕ u mai, e le fetaui, ma o i latou foÕ i na faia le tonu o ni tagata ua sili ona vaÕ avaÕ a mafaufau, o le uiga o laÕ u tala, o ni tagata ua le iloa fai ni mea a se aiga. O lea la Maselina, ne i e faÕ apea ua ma talitualima lau savali, ma ou te lagona fo’i, ua e silafia lea itu. E saÕ o lelei Lameko, o le feagaiga osi a le tou aiga, le la itu, lea ua tupu mai ai le faÕ alavelave, o le tatou aiga la, e faia mea uma. O faÕ aaloaloga, o mea uma lava e patino i le maliu, o tatou e fa’atinoina tulaga uma na. Ou te talitonu fo’i, o lo’o silafia e le na itu, aÕ o lea ua e oÕ o mai ma le talaiga, ia ou te faÕ amalie atu Maselina. Ae e sili pe a e toe alu, fai i le tatou aiga potopoto e fai le talanoaga i le afiafi a taeao, pe a le na tonu Lameko e talafeagai ma au fuafuaga?Ó
fA’AILOA MAI E LE NASA - LE ISI “USO
O LE LALOLAGI!” saunia: Leua Aiono Frost
Mai le aÕ ai o MOUNTAIN VIEW, Kalefonia, ua faÕ ailoa mai ai e le VaÕ a o le Vateatea a le NASA, le Kepler, o lo Õ o i ai se paneta fou i le Iunivesi ua Ô iloga mai e pei lava o le Lalo-lagi, e mafai ona lelei lona ea Okesene e manava e tagata, ma e i ai foÕ i le suavai mama e inumia e i tatou pe afai o le a tatou ola ai.
Ua faÕ aigoaina e i latou lea Paneta o le Ò Uso o le Lalolagi.Ó Ua Ô iloga mai e i ai ma isi paneta e silia ma le 1,000 i le ala lava lea e i ai ma le paneta fou lea ua maua nei e le Kepler. O se tala faÕ asalalau lea mai le NASA ia tesema 5, 2011.
O lenei paneta fou ua maua nei e le Kepler, ua mautu ai le aofaÕ iga e 2,326 o le aofaÕ iga o paneta ua maua e lea vaÕ a o le vateatea a le NASA ae naÕ o le 16 masina talu mai ona fana lea vaÕ a saÕ iliÕ ili i le vateatea. Afai foÕ i ae faÕ amaonia uma le saÕ iliga a le vaÕ a lea o Kepler, o le a faÕ afaina ai le aofaÕ iga o paneta o loÕ o faÕ amauina e le lalolagi atoa lea e faÕ ailoa mai e naÕ o le 700.
O le Uso lea o le Lalolagi, ua faÕ ailoa mai i faÕ amaumauga a Kepler, e i ai foÕ i le paneta o lo Õ o taÕ amilo ai, e foliga mai e tasi lona la. O le faÕ amaumauga lenei ua Ô avea foÕ i ma se laÕ asaga agaÕ i i luma o faÕ amaumauga
ma saÕ iliga a Saenitisi ina ia saÕ ilia se isi paneta e faÕ aoÕ o atu i ai ni isi o tagata soifua o lo tatou lalolagi e amata faÕ amautu ma soifua ai.
Ò Ua tatou tulata atili atu lava i le faÕ amoemoe ina ia tatou mauaina se isi Paneta e pei lava o le lalolagi, ina ia faÕ amaonia ai le valoÕ aga a se tasi saenitisi ma ia faÕ ailoa ai le Ò Paneta o Goldilocks.Ó O se tala lea a le aliÕ i faÕ atonu o le NASA, Pete Worden mai Moffett Field, Kalefonia.
O le Uso lea o le lalolagi, ua faÕ ailogaina nei o le Kepler -22b ma o lona tulaga tonu o i ai nei e 600light years le mamao ma i tatou, ma o lo Õ o taÕ amilo ai foÕ i le la e tasi. O le ogatotonugalemu o le Kepler-22b ua faÕ ailoa mai e faÕ aluaina [2.4radius] le oga-totonu o le Lalolagi, ae ua Ô iloga mai foÕ i o le vevela o i ai lea paneta e tusa lea ma le 72tikeri Farenheit [22 tikeri Celcius]
O le vaÕ a lenei o le vateatea Kepler Observatory na fanaina aÕ e ia Mati 2009 ina ia mafai ona saÕ ilia ni isi paneta e tali tutusa lelei ma le Lalolagi, ina ia mafai ona maua se isi paneta e faÕ amautu mo le soifua ai o le anoanoaÕ i o tagata o lo tatou lalolagi, pe afai ae faÕ aumatia lenei lalolagi!
O se mea e lelei ai, aua o le sone o le vateatea lea e faÕ atulaga ma taÕ amilo ai le Lalolagi o lo Õ o taÕ amilo ai foÕ i lea uso o le lalo-lagi ae pau lava o lea, e mamao tele. E matua moÕ omia la
