American Samoa

PNG 7s team thrash American Samoa

Despite their 54-0 loss against Fiji in the opening match on Thursday, the PNG women have bounced back to win the other three matches against Nauru, Tonga and American Samoa.

Cook Islands take top spot

Cook Islands position has been helped in part by rivals Tonga and Samoa playing out a 1-1 draw to claim just one of the three available points in their encounter.

Following their opener on Monday Cook Islands coach Richard Anderson spoke of his team’s need to show their best selves on the pitch and he says today’s first half was reminiscent of that nervy first match.

“I certainly wasn’t elated with the first half,” he says.

Tests confirm Zika in American Samoa

Twenty-five samples were sent off island this week for testing, Lemanu said four are positive and one of the cases is a pregnant woman.

Lemanu has issued a declaration that the Zika virus is present in the territory leading to heightened cooperation of local government entities as well as US government support from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Unified Command Center have also been activated and overseen by the Health Department and the LBJ Medical Centre.

American Samoa pay hike welcomed

A federally mandated increase in the territory's minimum wage has come into force following a three year wage freeze, despite opposition from the business sector and some in government.

The latest wage hike is a compromise, with the Senate passing a 40 cent rise to be in effect for three years, instead of the proposed 50 cent rise.

An employee at StarKist Samoa, Line Tauatama, has welcomed the increase.

Workers laid off in American Samoa

Two of the workers say that in letters with their Friday wages, they were told a shortage of funds was the reason they were being let go, not their job performance.

The workers have been told the Department hopes to rehire them in the new fiscal year.

American Samoa minimum wage to increase despite moratorium

American Samoa's Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen's office says a deal has been worked out with the local tuna companies that will provide some increase in the minimum wage but not the 50-cents that had been set.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations have been going on for weeks, forced by objections to a complete moratorium from Georgia, which is home to a rival tuna processor.

Congresswoman Radewagen made a tearful plea to the House.

Cousteau adds voice to American Samoa protest

Large fishing vessels from the United States may soon be allowed to fish temporarily in the territory's protected waters which are reserved for local 'alia' or small fishing boats.

The American Samoa Governor wants the US Government to dismiss a call for longliners to be allowed to fish in the territory's Large Vessel Protected Area.

Lolo Moliga has asked the US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to reject the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council's resolution to allow longliners access.

American Samoa Governor says US must protest fishing zone

Lolo Moliga has asked the US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to reject the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council's resolution to allow longliners access.

If the council's resolution is approved it would temporarily allow vessels of 15 metres or longer to fish within 20 kilometres of the territory's shores.

At the moment the area up to 80 kilometres offshore is reserved for alia fishing.

Samoa Bowl to be held in Hawaii

The annual event pits high school all star players from American Samoa against mainland and Hawaii players in football and volleyball.

The Director of Athletics for American Samoa's Department of Education, Tumua Matuu, says the move is about gaining maximum exposure for local athletes.

Governor Lolo has offered to provide financial support and the DOE will raise the rest of the funds needed to cover remaining expenses.

Matuu says volleyball and football have provided nearly 200 college opportunities for American Samoa athletes within the last five years alone.

Classes taught in Samoan rile some in American Samoa

The senator Galeai Tuufuli says he has advised the department to seek a law change if the Samoan language is to be used in school instruction.

At the moment English is the formal language of instruction and Samoan can be used for clarification.

There have been claims in parliament some classes are being taught in Samoan.

The government established two committees earlier this year in a bid to establish dual language teaching in American Samoan schools.