Articles Search

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, Dec. 31) - Death struck the core of both the political and cultural arenas in American Samoa in 2003 leaving behind unfulfilled legacies and a new generation of leaders.

The most devastating to American Samoans both here and abroad came in March when Governor Tauese P.F. Sunia died while onboard a flight to Honolulu from Apia, seeking medical care.

The news of his death was carried by international news organizations. Tauese's last term in office is now being carried out by Governor Togiola Tulafono.

Another cultural and political death came two months later with the passing of Senator S.E. Sala, 62, while still in Honolulu after medical treatment and preparing to return home.

Senator Sala represented one of the two Ituau district seats in the Senate. But in July the Ituau district and American Samoa suffered another loss, when Senator Maluia P.T. Filoitumua died in the territory at the...

NUKUALOFA, Tonga (Maganti Tonga, Dec. 30) - There was no Christmas cheer for the Tongan media from the Tonga Government this year. In the Christmas Eve mail postmarked "Nuku'alofa December 24, 2003" were the gazetted copies of the government's new Media Legislation, which had been with held from the eyes of the local press after being signed by the King in November this year.

The new acts include an Amendment to Clause 7 of the Constitution restricting Freedom of Speech, the Newspaper Act 2003, and an Act requiring the Licensing of Media Operators.

For weeks, copies of the legislation were made available only to a select few people, including foreign diplomats and the upper echelon of the public service. While the foreign media ran stories about Tonga's new oppressive media laws, the local Tongan media were left in the dark for a month about whether the King had actually given his consent to the bills or not.

The Government Printing Office, which prints and...

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, Dec. 30) - Aloha Airlines has revised its free baggage allowance rules for its international flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago, Rarotonga, Cook Islands and Marshall Islands.

"The revised tariff is effective December 29, 2003," Aloha spokesman Stu Glauberman told Samoa News via e-mail from Honolulu yesterday.

When Aloha first launched Pago Pago flights on Dec. 16, the airline said that each ticketed passenger could check in up to two pieces of baggage free of charge, up to a maximum weight of 70 pounds per bag.

An excess baggage fee was charged if a passenger checked in more than two pieces of baggage, or if one or more of the bags exceeded weight or size restrictions.

However, the airline said yesterday that the new baggage rules on its international flights still allow passengers to check in the two bags, but now the combined maximum weight of both bags is restricted to 70 pounds....

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, Dec. 30) - Governor Togiola Tulafono says the American Samoa Government (ASG) had a very successful fiscal year 2003 with about $1.6 million in excess revenues at the close of the fiscal year.

The Governor's statement responding to Samoa News inquiries, confirmed what other cabinet members had said recently of ASG's "another positive financial record at the close of FY 2003."

"ASG closed a very successful year in FY2003," the Governor reported. "ASG closed another year in the black, except this time, we did not utilize any loan or settlement funds to meet the budget."

"ASG has excess revenue of approximately $1.6 million in FY2003," the Governor points out. "We will be discussing that with the Fono next year when the session opens."

A senior government official told Samoa News earlier last week, that preliminary unaudited financial reports show that the "government is again in the black...