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Community leaders discuss statistics for high schoolers

By Louella Losinio

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety Guam, Feb. 5, 2013) – Data culled from the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed a 15 percent rate of intimate partner violence and at least 11 percent rate of forced sexual intercourse among public high school students surveyed by the Guam Department of Education.

Dr. Annette David, who chairs the Guam State Epidemiological Outcomes Group, cited the figures during a roundtable meeting on sexual violence held at the Legislature yesterday.

"This is a regular survey that is done among public school students by GDOE. What it does is it asks a series of questions on different risky behaviors including violence," David said.

She added: "From the existing database, we found two questions: one on physical abuse within intimate relationships, or what they call intimate partner violence; and the other, which was about having sexual intercourse...

Sanchez quits as governor demands 3 board members resign

By B. Chen

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Feb. 4, 2013) – Chairman of the American Samoa Shipyard Services Authority Carlos Sanchez announced his resignation last Friday, a day after Gov. Lolo M. Moliga issued a memorandum requesting the resignations of Toetasi Tuiteleleapaga, Motu Laau Seui Jr., and Leilua Stevenson. A copy of the Governor's memo was given to Sanchez, who has held the chairman post since June 2011.

His resignation was announced during a celebration of the shipyard employees and management on a "job well done" on the largest vessel to date the authority has completed, the Cape Breton.

According to Sanchez, the celebration is a tradition since the shipyard was returned to ASG in June 2011 — a thank you and congratulations for the successful completion of projects. For this one, Sanchez promised three roasted pigs for the event if the work was completed on time and...

House members allege Fitial tried to influence voting process

By Haidee V. Eugenio

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Feb. 5, 2013) – Days ahead of the full House of Representatives vote on a resolution to impeach Northern Marianas Governor Benigno R. Fitial, the administration said yesterday that "at the end of the day, the decision will be made by each lawmaker."

A House session will be called for either Friday or Monday to vote on a resolution impeaching Fitial for 18 allegations of corruption, felony, and neglect of duty, depending on when the Special Investigating Committee on Impeachment adopts a final report and recommendation.

A 51-page draft of the impeachment panel report is now under review by committee members, who will meet again today, tomorrow, and Thursday, committee chair Rep. Tony Sablan (IR-Saipan) said.

Press secretary Angel Demapan said yesterday he is not aware of any statutory prohibitions that bar the governor from discussing...

400 college hopefuls expected to retake classes

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Feb. 3, 2013) – The ongoing problem of local high school graduates failing college entry English exams was one of the issues raised in the Senate during Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau's confirmation hearing last week. This was also an issue that Hunkin-Finau raised during her gubernatorial campaign last year.

At a campaign rally last August for educators, Hunkin-Finau, who was a candidate for governor, told the audience that for decades, the national and local test scores for public school students in reading and math "continues to stalemate below average" resulting in heart breaking attempts to pass the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

She pointed to the most recent placement test of about 400 high school graduates, in which "93% of those high school graduates were placed in remedial...