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$18 million would pay cannery’s lost tax credit

By Fili Sagapolutele PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, June 29, 2010) - Congressman Faleomavaega Eni says a federal measure which includes the provision allocating US$18 million to American Samoa is still alive in the U.S. Senate and he has not given up on the proposal.

As previously announced by the Congressman, H.R. 4213 ‘American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act’ includes Faleomavaega’s request to provide a direct payment of US$18 million to ASG in lieu of the 30A tax credit.

The measure passed the House and is now with the U.S. Senate. Samoa News received information yesterday that the measure is no longer on the legislative agenda following a vote yesterday in the Senate.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries late yesterday afternoon Faleomavaega says the measure "is not dead", adding that the bill didn’t get the necessary 60 ‘yes’ votes to overcome any filibuster, during yesterday’...

AUTHORITY
Dr. Nandan to enforce controversial media decree

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, June 29, 2010) - Well known Fiji born academic Dr. Satendra Nandan has been appointed by the Fiji government to chair the Media Development Authority which will enforce the provisions of the newly-enacted Media Industry Development Decree.

Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made the announcement yesterday while informing the media the decree had come into force.

"Dr. Nandan is a person that is well known and would be the best person suitable for the job," said Sayed-Khaiyum.

Nandan is presently Professor of Literature and Director of the Centre for Writing at the Australian National University in Canberra.

"Dr. Nandan will head the six member authority and he is someone who comes with a lot of experience," said the Attorney General.

The authority will include representatives from Fiji’s different groups of people.

"There...

‘Operation Tautai’ aimed at illegal fishing

By Rachel Reeves RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, June 22, 2010) – French navy is here to help the Cooks with Operation Tautai.

Several Pacific countries have this year launched Operation Tautai in a combined effort to police uncontrolled Pacific waters for illegal fishing activity.

The mission aimed to identify and apprehend vessels in breach of fishing regulations.

A number of foreign vessels, especially from Asia, fish Pacific waters which are notoriously rich in resources. But vast areas of ocean remain outside the control of any particular country.

A country controls its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which covers 200 nautical miles of surrounding ocean, but that leaves out large areas of the Pacific.

To police uncontrolled waters and preserve Pacific resources, a number of island states have resolved to cooperate and formed the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission...

Finds mold on child’s hamburger bun

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, June 29, 2010) - Two Sunday’s ago, June 20, 2010 a woman says she stopped by McDonald’s in Tafuna to purchase a meal for her son who was in the hospital.

The lady says when she got to the hospital, her son told her the burger was too big so the lady took the burger out of its box, turned it over and found that part of the under side of the burger was "discolored."

The following Monday, it has been confirmed that the lady took the burger to the Dept. of Health, which in turn showed up at the restaurant and found enough evidence to warrant a citation. The president of McDonald’s American Samoa, Tautolo Agaoleatu Tautolo, who was at the restaurant at the time the DOH people were there, asked to see the "discolored" burger bun. The lady was summoned, and according to her, handed the burger over to him.

DOH investigators during a telephone interview with Samoa News yesterday,...