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AMERICAN SAMOAN GARMENT FACTORY WORKERS WANT THEIR PAY CHECKS

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (March 1, 2001 - PIDP/CPIS)---Local residents who formerly worked for the Daewoosa Samoa garment factory believe they are entitled to unpaid wages and they no longer want any excuses.

The Samoans are looking for ways to get action, according to former factory assistant manager Nuuuli Ioane, who is something of a spokesperson for the group of about 30 people.

The Vietnamese and Chinese workers secured attorneys to fight their battle, but the Samoan workers have been unable to obtain any local attorney to take their case.

Ioane said that in the past there were times the Samoans had to wait "a while" to get their paychecks, "just like the Vietnamese. But we never complained. This is our homeland and the company was providing money to feed our families," he added.

Most of the 100 former local Daewoosa workers are from Samoa.

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CONGRESSMAN ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD Delegate from Guam U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

NEWS RELEASE March 2, 2001

RETURNS AS RANKING MEMBER ON
MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATION (MWR) PANEL

Congressman Robert A. Underwood was selected today by Congressman Ike Skelton (D-Mo), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, as ranking member of the Committee's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Oversight Panel.

"This is a very important position," Congressman Underwood said. "It gives me the opportunity to be of assistance to our people in uniform around the world, as well as affect the nature of commissary and exchange services on Guam. Hopefully, we'll be able to pursue increased opportunities for businesses in Guam to sell at the exchanges and commissaries."

The MWR Panel has oversight responsibility for the Department of Defense's non-appropriated fund activities, which include childcare centers, recreation...

APIA, Samoa (March 4, 2001 – Agence France-Presse)---Samoa was facing political instability Saturday after the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) was returned to office but with less than half of the seats in the Fono or Legislative Assembly following general elections Friday.

HRPP has suffered an electoral massacre with six cabinet ministers tossed out and 25 new MPs in a Fono of 49 seats.

But in what is a customary feature of Samoan elections, many of the winning candidates hold thin majorities that are inevitably challenged in the Electoral Court, which often overturns election night results.

Unofficial election night results give Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele’s HRPP 23 seats. The Samoa National Development Party (SNDP), led by former prime minister Tupua Tamasese Efi, has 13 seats and independents hold 13.

Traditionally, both parties spend the next several weeks luring independents into their camps, but it appears HRPP has an advantage...

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (March 1, 2001 - PIDP/CPIS)--- Rainmaker Hotel shareholders now are scheduled to decide March 16 on several matters, including the sale of the aging hotel.

The official notice to place the hotel on sale was originally schedule to be released at the beginning of the month. But the Governor's Office said the notice is now postponed until the March 16th Board meeting.

The meeting will include election of a properly constituted Board of Directors for the hotel, a review of the annual financial report, and a vote on a motion to authorize announcing that the hotel definitely is for sale.

The report is expected to outline the accomplishments and the downfalls of the hotel during the past 12 months.

The hotel is 80% owned by the American Samoa Government. Twenty percent is owned by several minority shareholders.

Some shareholders now oppose the sale, but because Governor Tauese Sunia votes the...