pago pago, american samoa wednesday, april 25, …

� is photo provided by a local resident, who was a passenger on board a Talofa Airways � ight, shows � re� ghters at the Faleolo International Airport in Samoa on Tuesday (Samoa time — Monday, American Samoa time) surrounding the aircra� , hosing it down. Smoke seems to have originated from the engine on the le� side of the plane. � e passenger told Samoa News yesterday that the � ight took o� for Pago Pago but turned back to Faleolo airport, because of smoke coming out of one of the plane’s engines or props. According to the passenger, when the plane landed � re-� ghters quickly surrounded the aircra� , spraying it down with water. � e passenger credits the calm pilot in ensuring the safety of the passengers, landing the aircra� safely. No one was injured.

With its plane down Talofa Airways passengers are being accommodated, since yesterday morning, by Samoa Airways, according to a Talofa Airways employee, who answered the phone yesterday at the airline’s local o� ce at the airport. � e employee said this will continue until later this week.

� e airline’s chief executive o� cer, Toleafoa Je� rey Hunter didn’t immediately respond to Samoa News questions sent via email early yesterday a� ernoon for con� rmation on what hap-pened to the plane. [courtesy photo]

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PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA $1.00WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2018

DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM

� e ASCC Business Communication (BUS 160) class held its spring 2017 “Diversity Day” last week, with students giving an overview of the economic, social and cultural aspects of di� erent coun-tries. Instructor Dr. Faofua Fa’atoafe (front, center) is pictured with students representing Spain, Italy and Egypt. [photo: J. Kneubuhl]

Performers from Saleimoa, Samoa during their special dance routine — Samoan style — depicting a scene from the popular animated � lm, “Moana” during the 2018 Flag Day celebration on Apr. 17th, at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tafuna. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]

by Ausage FausiaSamoa News Reporter

Sentencing for Tao Liu has been continued to May 18th so the court can get information regarding his immigration status, espe-cially the status of his 2-year-old son, who is under the custody of the Department of Human and Social Services.

Liu appeared in High Court last Friday for sentencing; how-ever, Chief Justice Michael Kruse ordered to continue Liu’s sen-tencing for another 4 weeks, because it seems there’s missing information from the pre-sentence report that the court needs.

Kruse said that according to the information the court has, the defendant was brought over in 2012 to work at the Karaoke Bar in Satala, which is owned by a lady who was convicted of promoting prostitution.

“And according to the information before the court, this lady passed away not long ago,” Kruse said. Government attorney Christy Dunn responded, “Yes your honor, and my understanding

Tao Liu pleads guilty to drug possession, asks to return to China with 2-yr-old son

(Continued on page 8)

samoa news, Wednesday, April 25, 2018

by Fili SagapoluteleSamoa News Correspondent

The US Federal Aviation Administration has explained the situation surrounding the needed repairs for the Instru-ment Landing System (ILS) at Pago Pago International Airport that prompted Hawaiian Air-lines to reschedule the time for its fl ights in and out of Amer-ican Samoa.

Instead of Monday and Thursday nights, Hawaiian’s fl ights — starting yesterday — now arrive and depart during the daytime, on Tuesday and Friday mornings. And this will be the schedule through July 27th. (See Monday’s Samoa News edition for details.)

Responding to Samoa News inquiries from the weekend, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor provided background informa-tion and explained that FAA took down the ILS on March 23 to make needed repairs.

“Technicians replaced a corroded tower and installed new antennas and transmission lines,” he said via email from Los Angeles, adding that the FAA expected to return the ILS to service on April 11.

He explained that the FAA fl ight checks all new and repaired systems with an FAA aircraft. “Equipment on board

the aircraft tells us whether the system is working properly. Our April 9 fl ight check of the ILS showed it was not working properly. Further investiga-tion found that the replace-ment antennas were defective,” Gregor continued.

He said the FAA has ordered new antennas for the ILS, and once those are installed, FAA “will need to fl ight check the system again.” FAA expects to return the ILS to service in July.

“Hawaiian Airlines was landing at night for a while after we took down the ILS on March 23,” he pointed out.

If Hawaiian has been oper-ating in and out of Pago Pago at night since Mar. 23rd, Samoa News asked the airline why it has decided to stop now.

“We did keep our schedule intact when we thought the repair was going to be fairly quick,” was the response from Hawaiian spokesperson Ann Botticelli. “But with an extended period of time without an ILS, and the increased pos-sibility of having to proceed to an alternate airport if weather conditions deteriorate, we have decided it’s best to re-time the fl ights.”

As to when the FAA informed Hawaiian and other carriers operating out of Pago Pago of the repairs to the ILS, Gregor responded, “30 days before we shut the system down.”

Botticelli said over the weekend that until the ILS is repaired, “our pilots are required to land our aircraft using visual references.”

Gregor told Samoa News there are other Pago Pago Inter-national Airport approaches based on other navigation aids, “but none provide the level of precision of the ILS.”

There also are visual lighting

systems, including a Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) and Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System (MALSR) available to all Pago Pago Airport users, he said.

“The purpose of all FAA procedures and navigation sys-tems is to help pilots fl y safely. However, it’s up to an operator to determine under which con-ditions they will use various procedures and systems,” Gregor explained further. “Operators might have policies that preclude their pilots from using certain systems in certain conditions.”

When asked if Hawaiian is using “other approaches” as outlined by the FAA, Botticelli responded, “other approaches require visual maneuvering of the aircraft. Tafuna Airport is right by a mountain — as you know — and so visual maneu-vering is best done in daylight.”

She said the “nearby moun-tain makes visual landing in the dark more diffi cult.”

“Any inclement weather could result in diversions. It is best, therefore, to re-time the fl ights through the summer to ensure daylight arrivals and departures,” she added.

Samoa News received word from two local residents, who claimed to have called Monday morning to the Hawaiian #800-reservation number regarding the changes in the scheduled time for fl ights. The two residents said they were told by an agent at the #800-number that they had not been informed of any changes to the fl ights.

Samoa News shared this information and concern with Botticelli, who said she would pass the information on to the airline’s reservations department.

DEPARTMENT of COMMERCEProject Notification & Review System

Legal NoticePNRS BOARD MEETING

May 2, 2018Notice is hereby given that the Department of Commerce/American Samoa Coastal Management Program has received a Land Use Permit Application from the following individuals. 1. Matamatafua Semaia .................................................................................................................... 18-5195-LVB Proposal for a new construction of a Fish Market with utilities - Faleniu2. ASPA c/o Ake Basil ........................................................................................................................ 18-5231-L Proposal for a new construction with utilities-Tafuna3. Bob Tinae & Dorand Chandra....................................................................................................... 18-5128-L Proposalforaperimeterwallsandfilling-Iliili4. Pearly & Liava’a Moevao ...........................................................................................................18-5258-L Proposalforanewconstructionofaresidentialstructurewithutilities-Iliili5. DOE/DPW c/o /Faleosina Voigt .....................................................................................................18-5254--L Proposal for a new Gymnasium building with utilities - Pago Pago

Personsinterestedinoraffectedbyaproposedproject,areinvitedtoreviewtheprojectfileandprovidecommentsbasedonenvironmentalissues,bycontactingAokusotino Maoat633-5155,attheDepartmentofCommerceinUtuleiduringregularASGworkinghours.Publiccommentsmustbereceivednolaterthan4:00p.m.onTuesday,May1,2018.InterestedindividualsarealsoinvitedtoattendaPublicHearingat9:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at DOC Conference Room, on the 2nd Floor of the Executive Office Building in Utulei.Olo’oiaiileOfisaoFa’afetauainanitalosagamoPemitaeFa’atagainaaileFa’aaogainaoFanuamaLaueleeleetusamaalaoleTulafono.Aiaisetasiefa’aseapefiatusiasemolimauiniafainaolesi’osi’omagapeagalueainaneigaluega,telefoni mai ia Aokusotino Mao i le 633-5155. E mafai fo’i ona e auai i le fono a le Komiti Fa’afoe ia Me 2, 2018, ile itula e 9 ile taeao.

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FAA explains ILS situation at Pago International Airport

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� e 2018 MISS SOFIAS Pageant held last Saturday eve-ning to a SRO crowd showcased highly creative costumes during a very competitive event. [photo: THA]


by Ausage FausiaSamoa News Reporter

HIGH COURT ISSUES ANOTHER BENCH

WARRANTThe High Court issued

another bench warrant last Friday for yet another defendant who is accused of disobeying conditions of his probation.

The Order to Show Cause (OSC) hearing for Faaili Mata’u, a.k.a ‘Whistle” was scheduled for last Friday, after the Proba-tion Offi ce fi led a revocation motion in court, when Mata’u failed to comply with several conditions of his release.

According to the Chief Pro-bation Offi cer, Mata’u was sen-tenced about a month ago. He came in to their offi ce about 2 weeks later and provided a urine sample, which tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse asked the defendant’s attorney, Michael White whether he had a chance to communicate with his client, and White said no.

Kruse then issued a bench warrant; and attorneys from both sides did not object.

“Marshal, fi nd this man and hold him in custody until his next court appearance,” Kruse said. During his sentencing last month, following a convic-tion for unlawful possession of marijuana, Mata’u was ordered to remain alcohol and drug free.

As a condition of his 5-year probation, Mata’u was ordered to serve 20 months at the Territo-rial Correctional Facility (TCF); however, after the court accepted the attorney’s submission and the defendant’s apology, the court ordered the defendant to only serve 4 1/2 months in prison, which he already served during pretrial confi nement — with the remaining 15 1/2 months stayed.

During his sentencing last month, Kruse told Mata’u that the only reason the court accepted his apology was because he mentioned some-thing about going back home to care for his sick father’s sister.

“We can allow you another chance to go home but we’re not sure whether you will be going back to your same old lifestyle if we grant you a second chance. And if you go back to your old lifestyle and the police fi nd you again with some drugs, the gov-ernment will spend its resources to take care of you,” Kruse told the defendant. Mata’u was arrested after police found him sleeping at a bus stop with marijuana and little ice on him. According to the police investi-gation, the defendant has a drug

addiction problem.JACOB LALOVILI

A 39-year-old man from Iliili who is accused of using a rock to assault another man has been arrested and charged with felo-nious second degree assault and two misdemeanor charges: prop-erty damage and unlawful use of a weapon. Jacob Lalovili made his initial appearance in the Dis-trict Court this week where he waived his right to a prelimi-nary examination. His next court appearance will be this Friday at 9 a.m. in the High Court where he is expected to enter a not guilty plea.

According to the govern-ment, Lalovili and the victim got into a disagreement and the victim allegedly attempted to assault Lalovili but in the end, it was Lalovili who assaulted the

victim — with a rock.Lalovili’s attorney, Assis-

tant Public Defender, Ryan Anderson, asked the court for a reduction of bail — from $5,000 to $1,000. Anderson told the court his client is a hardworking man and he’s the only member of his family who works to pro-vide for his wife and two chil-dren. He said his client is not a fl ight risk and he has no inten-tion of leaving his family.

Prosecutor Jillian Sadler opposed the defense’s motion, saying bail set by the court is the appropriate amount for the offense the defendant is accused of. District Court Judge Fiti Sunia denied the defense’s motion and bail remains at $5,000; and because he is unable to post bond, Lalovili remains in custody at the TCF.

GENERAL MEETING Date: Thursday, April 26, 2018Venue: Sadies by the SeaTime: 6:00 pm.

TOICS:The new Alternate Minimum Business Tax AND Increase in the excise tax from 5% to 8%. The Alternate Minimum Business Tax went into effect on January 1, 2018. The excise tax increase was passed by the Fono in January of this year and is scheduled to take effect shortly. Deputy Treasurer Keith Gebauer will be the keynote speaker. This meeting is open to Chamber members and the general public. For more information, please contact Chamber Secretary John Wasko at 733-0833.


TORONTO (AP) — A chilling Facebook message posted before a van plowed onto a crowded Toronto side-walk has raised the possibility the suspect in the attack nursed grudges against women and it is bringing back memories of a 1989 massacre of 14 women that remains one of Canada’s most traumatic acts of violence.

A crowd gathered late Tuesday in Toronto’s North York community to pay their respects to the van victims at a makeshift memorial of roses, candles and messages of condolence.

“I needed to come here to show that I’m not afraid of this city,” said Meena Chowdry, wiping away tears. “That one man’s actions cannot taint an otherwise beautiful, welcoming city.”

Earlier in the day, the 25-year-old suspect, Alek Minassian, was charged with fi rst degree murder in the deaths of 10 pedestrians mowed down by a rented van that he sent careening along a mile of a busy walkway. Fourteen others were injured.

Toronto Police Services Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson said at a news conference that those killed and injured were “pre-dominantly” women, though he declined to discuss a possible motive.

“All the lanes are open with this investigation,” said Police Chief Mark Saunders.

Authorities had yet to release a list of victims. Those known to have been killed include a 30-year-old woman from Toronto, Anne Marie D’Amico, who was active in volunteer work, as well as a female stu-dent at Seneca College, which Minassian attended. A Jor-danian citizen and two South Koreans were also among those killed.

The gender issue arose because of what police called a “cryptic” Facebook message posted by Minassian just before the incident that suggested he was part of an online commu-nity angry over their inability to form relationships with women.

The now-deleted post saluted Elliot Rodger, a com-munity college student who killed six people and wounded 13 in shooting and stabbing

attacks near the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2014.

Calling Rodger “the Supreme Gentleman,” the Face-book post declared: “The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys!”

Rodger had used the term “incel” — for involuntarily celibate — in online posts raging at women for rejecting him romantically. Like-minded people in internet forums some-times use “Chad” and “Stacy” as dismissive slang for men and women with more robust sex lives.

The anti-women sentiment also recalled Canada’s 1989 massacre at the Ecole Polytech-nique, an engineering college in Montreal, when 25-year-old Marc Lepine entered a class-room, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fi re, killing 14 women before killing himself. In a suicide note, he blamed feminists for ruining his life.

Since then, there have been sporadic mass shootings in Canada, but none with a higher death toll — reinforcing the view among many Canadians that their country is less violent than the United States.

Wendy Cukier, a professor in the business school at Toronto’s Ryerson University and presi-dent of Canada’s Coalition for Gun Control, said Canada may avoid some types of violence because its social programs are stronger than those in many U.S. states and there is less income inequality.

But the main difference, she contends, is tighter gun regula-tions in Canada.

“If you take guns out of the mix, Canada and the U.S. are identical,” she said, citing sta-tistics indicating the two coun-tries have similar rates of non-fi rearm homicides.

Although police said Mon-day’s rampage did not appear linked to international terrorism, the use of a vehicle to kill mir-rored tactics used by terrorists in France, Germany, Spain, New York City and elsewhere.

Since 2014, there have been at least two terror-related cases in Canada of vehicles being used as weapons — they caused several injuries and one death.

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Toronto van attack suspect may have felt anger against women

People read and pay tribute at a memorial along Yonge Street, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Toronto, the day a� er a driver drove a van down sidewalks, striking and killing numerous pedestrians in his path. (Nathan Denette/� e Canadian Press via AP)

© OSINI FALEATASI INC. RESERVES ALL RIGHTS.dba Samoa News is published Monday through Friday,

except for some local and federal holidays.Please send correspondences to: OF, dba Samoa News, Box

909, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.Telephone at (684) 633-5599 • Fax at (684) 633-4864Email advertisements to [email protected] the newsroom at [email protected] business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm.Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements, in

whole or in part, is required. Please address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above.

Please visit samoanews.com for weekend updates.


by Fili SagapoluteleSamoa News Correspondent

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved more than $14 million under the Individual Assistance program while the US Small Business Administra-tion has approved just over $2 million in low-interest disaster loans for those who were affected by Tropical Storm Gita earlier this year in February.

FEMA and SBA offi cials stressed that the close of busi-ness on May 1st, next Tuesday, is the deadline to submit an application for federal assis-tance. Anyone with ques-tions about their application or the registration process at the Disaster Recovery Center, inside the DYWA Pago Pago Youth Center, can call the Helpline at 699-2018.

FEMA ASSISTANCEFEMA public information

offi cer, Victor Inge said that at the close of business on Apr. 23rd, the total approved for individual household program — Individual Assistance — was $14.2 million and “most of that is for housing assistance” at $9.7 million and $4.5 million for “other needs assistance” program.

Other needs are “items essential to the home, things that were damaged or destroyed, that were essential elements in the home, such as...bed, stove,” he said in a Samoa News inter-view yesterday.

According to him, as of Apr. 23rd, a total of 7,246 people have already registered at the DRC, where SBA also has staff to assist the community.

He explained that because there are no street addresses in American Samoa, the ASG came up with the pre-registra-tion process at the village level where people were given a tag number “so we can identify where the house is and who lives there” during the DRC registration process and the follow-up FEMA inspection.

“Now, it’s just picking up people who have been missed during the pre-registration so they can come to the DRC to register,” said Inge, who added that if a person impacted by the storm didn’t get a chance to pre-register they can come directly to the DRC to pre-register and then register at the same time, all under one roof.

“We don’t want to miss anyone,” he said, and noted that there have been 9,368 visitors to the DRC and some of them have come more than once, because they may have had to provide additional documents, or they had questions.

He said everyone who visits the DRC is counted.

SBA ASSISTANCEAs of the close of business

on Monday this week, the SBA had approved $2.3 million in low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, private-non profi ts, and businesses, according to SBA public infor-

mation offi cer, Yolanda Stokes, during a Samoa News interview with Inge.

“That’s an aggregate total of the loans that we’ve approved for all segments of the com-munity — folks that were affected by the storm,” she said and noted that “we continue to process these loans as quickly as we can — as quickly as we receive them.”

Both Stokes and Inge emphasized the deadline to submit an application, so no one misses out. “We’re encouraging everyone to please complete their SBA loan application…we are nearing the deadline,” Stokes said.

“We want people to com-plete the application, even if they don’t think they’ll need a loan,” she continued. “Because often times, as people begin their rebuilding process or reconstruction they fi nd that they need additional monies and we wouldn’t want them to miss out on applying for SBA,

as they could possibly get some additional disaster recovery funds.”

If some disaster survivors are still reluctant to apply for a SBA loan, Stokes reiterated the following points:

• These loans are low interest, they start at 1.813% for home loans; 2.5% for private-non profi t; 3.58% for businesses;

• Of the low interest loans, we also have a term of up to 30 years and there’s also a little known component in that all disaster loans have an automatic deferment on the fi rst loan payment. No loan payment for the fi rst fi ve months;

“So we want people to know — go ahead and apply for the loan. If you fi nd you don’t need the loan, you can cancel it, or if you fi nd that you need addi-tional funds then you can work with your loan offi cer on pos-sibly getting an increase in the loan amount,” she explained.

JULIA TALI PATI MCMOORE MALAKIJULIA TALI PATI MCMOORE MALAKIJULIA TALI PATI MCMOORE MALAKIa beautiful Mother, Grandmother & Great-Grandmothera beautiful Mother, Grandmother & Great-Grandmothera beautiful Mother, Grandmother & Great-Grandmother

In L�ing Mem�y of

JULIA TALI PATI MCMOORE MALAKIJULIA TALI PATI MCMOORE MALAKIJULIA TALI PATI MCMOORE MALAKI

Proverbs 31: 28-29“Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband(s) also, and he praises her; many women do noble things but you

surpass them all.”

Heaven Sent: Jan 23, 1955 • Heaven Bound: April 3, 2018

FUNERAL PROGRAMFRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018

8:00am - 10:30am “Lotu o le Nu’u” & Family Service Public Viewing & Sharing Aua Voice of Christ Church

10:30am - 12:00Noon Final Church Service

12Noon - 3:00pm Final Viewing & Burial at the Fesilafa’i Family Residence in Aua

FEMA Update: Lions Club Pago presents special awards to FEMA offi cials

US Small Business Administration (SBA) public information o� cer, Yolanda Stokes speaking at last � ursday’s meeting of the Lions Club of Pago Pago on the type of low interest disaster loan programs available to help those impacted by Tropical Storm Gita. Stokes was presented a special Lions Club award for her “remarkable support and assistance with SBA” following Gita.

[photo: Leua Aiono Frost](Continued on page 9)


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ASCC students who are part of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) took part in the “Kick Butts Day” tobacco awareness drive with a banner that attracted the signatures of more than 150 students, faculty, and sta� at ASCC.

Pictured: (l-r) Sungne Lee, HOSA ASCC chapter president Chesiah Javier, Reina Sotto, and Nicole Vergara. [photo: J. Kneubuhl]


WASHINGTON (AP) — There were no celeb-rity guests, Hollywood entertainers or superstar chefs. But as she stepped out of the background to host her fi rst state dinner, Melania Trump sought to sparkle in her moment in the spotlight.

After ditching her trademark dark sunglasses for a white skirt suit and hat earlier Tuesday, the fi rst lady appeared in a Chanel gown to greet President Emmanuel Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte, as they arrived for the fi rst state dinner of Trump’s administration.

It was a big moment in fashion — and public life — for the former model, who has kept a relatively low profi le since Trump took offi ce and who is playing hostess at her highest-profi le event yet as her husband is shadowed by a legal threat from a porn actress who says she was paid to keep quiet about a sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies.

With her fi rst state dinner, Mrs. Trump seemed to be aiming to make a statement. In a nod to France, she wore a black Chantilly lace Chanel haute couture gown, hand-painted with silver and embroidered with crystal and sequins, according to her spokeswoman. Her French counterpart wore Louis Vuitton.

The president lavished praise on his wife as he gave a toast at the opulent affair, calling her “America’s absolutely incredible fi rst lady.”

He went on to hail the bonds between the United States and France, saying: “May our friendship grow even deeper, may our kinship grow even stronger and may our sacred liberty never die.”

With 123 attendees, the event was smaller and more intimate than some of President Barack Obama’s dinners. Among those in attendance were Vice President Mike Pence, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and two Winter Olym-

pians, who fl ashed their gold medals on their way into the pre-dinner reception.

Guests seated at Trump’s table included Apple CEO Tim Cook and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, the president’s nominee for secretary of state, as well as Macron and his wife.

In his toast, Macron talked about the countries’ “unbreakable friendship” and referenced both his and Trump’s rapid political ascents, saying: “On both sides of the ocean some two years ago, very few would have bet on us being here together today.”

While Ivanka Trump, a senior White House adviser and the president’s elder daughter, and Louise Linton, the wife of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, wowed in designer gowns, there were no surprise celebrity guests, in con-trast with past years.

Asked what she was looking forward to, Linton said: “Everything French!”

The White House stressed that Mrs. Trump, who planned her 2005 wedding, had a hand in every aspect of the social denouement of Macron’s visit. She released a brief video showing her working on the details with her staff, including the menu and the cream-and-gold table settings.

The guests, seated at round candle-lit tables decorated with bouquets of white fl owers, dined on rack of lamb and nectarine tart served on a mix of china settings from the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. After-dinner entertainment was courtesy of the Washington National Opera.

Earlier Tuesday, Mrs. Trump wore a stylish belted suit with a broad-brimmed chapeau for her public appearances, including on a brief outing to the National Gallery of Art with Mrs. Macron to view an exhibit of works by French painter Paul Cezanne.

First lady steps into spotlight for state visit with France

samoa news, Wednesday, April 25, 2018 Page 7

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled Tuesday against the Trump administration’s decision to end a program protecting some young immigrants from deportation, calling the Department of Homeland Security’s rationale against the program “arbitrary and capricious.”

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates in Washington wrote that the decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, “was unlawful and must be set aside.”

Bates wrote that DHS’ decision “was predicated primarily on its legal judgment that the program was unlawful. That legal judg-ment was virtually unexplained, however, and so it cannot support the agency’s decision.”

Bates gave DHS 90 days to “better explain its view that DACA is unlawful.” If the department cannot come up with a better explanation, he wrote, it “must accept and process new as well as renewal DACA applications.”

DACA allowed immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as chil-dren, known as Dreamers, to stay and work legally under renew-able permits. President Donald Trump announced last year that he would end the program started by President Barack Obama. It was offi cially rescinded in March, but DHS is continuing to issue renewals because of previous court orders.

Bates’ ruling Tuesday night comes in a pair of cases whose lead plaintiffs are the NAACP and Princeton University. He is the third judge to rule against administration plans to end the program.

Judge rules against ending program to protect Dreamers

FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2018, fi le photo, demonstrators rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) outside the Capitol Washington. A federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration’s decision to end a program protecting some young immigrants from deportation. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates says the Department of Homeland Security’s deci-sion to rescind the DACA program “was unlawful and must be set aside.” (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

is that this defendant’s immigra-tion record expired in May of last year.”

Kruse continued, “And that Karaoke Bar was shut down sometime ago consequential to the criminal case that surfaced at that time. Is he still sponsored by the lady who passed away?” Dunn responded, “That’s my understanding.”

The defendant — a Chinese national —presented his state-ment to the court through an interpreter who translated court proceedings from English to Mandarin.

He asked the court for another chance to return to China to care for his mother.

In his own words, Liu told the court he is from China, and he entered American Samoa to seek a better future for him and his family back home.

“During my stay in American Samoa, I’ve made so many bad decisions, including violating the laws of the territory, and I am here to express my apolo-gies to the court for my wrong-doings,” the defendant said.

“I understand the court will hardly accept my request and apology, but I truly seek the court’s forgiveness for my actions and ask for a chance so

I can go back home with my 2-year-old son, who is under the custody of the government. I am remorseful and ashamed of my actions.”

His attorney, deputy public defender Michael White, had nothing to add to his client’s statement to the court.

Dunn however pointed out that the defendant’s 2-year-old son has been under the cus-tody of DHSS since the day of his arrest. Kruse said the charges against the defendant are serious and the court needs to take that into consideration. He also asked the government to fi le something under seal for the court’s eyes only about the status of the 2-year-old boy who is under DHSS custody.

According to the court, the government charged Liu in two separate cases. For case fi rst case, the defendant was arrested and accused of possessing a handgun and drugs found during a traffi c stop in Aug. 2016.

The government then slapped him with eleven charges including attempted assault, unlawful possession of a con-trolled substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled substance (mari-juana) and unlawful possession

of a controlled substance (meth-amphetamine), possession of an unlicensed fi rearm, resisting arrest, careless driving and public peace disturbance.

For the second case, Liu is charged with escape from con-fi nement, a class D felony, pun-ishable by not more than fi ve years in jail, and/or a fi ne of not more than $5,000, or both.

However, under a plea bar-gain that was accepted by the court this week, Liu pled guilty to unlawful possession of a con-trolled substance (methamphet-amine), unlawful possession of a controlled substance (mari-juana) and possession of an unli-censed fi rearm in the fi rst case; and escape from confi nement in the second case. The remaining charges were dismissed.

The defendant, through an interpreter, admits that on or about the evening of Aug. 21, 2016, he was in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and an unlicensed fi rearm.

Liu, who is being held in custody without bail, is sched-uled to appear for sentencing on May 18th.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse has ordered the government to bring all items that were seized in Liu’s case to court.


(Photos: Blue)

Employees of the Territorial Registrar’s O� ce in Fagatogo were cleaning up their o� ce yesterday morning, while a � re truck with four � re� ghters assisted them from the outside. One employee told Samoa News their o� ce was � ooded following heavy rains Monday night. � e o� ce holds the records for lands, matai titles and business registrations. Samoa News was told that no records were damaged or destroyed. [photo: AF]

➧ Tao Liu pleads guilty…Continued from page 1

� e Rotary Club of Pago Pago continues to deliver dictionaries to all DOE 3rd graders across the territory. On Friday, Rotarians Joe Yandall, Joe Weilenman, Peter Tinitali, Rob Hartman, and Sam Meleisea supplied Pavaiai’s third graders with brand new dictionaries. � is is the 6th year the Rotary Club of Pago Pago has distributed dictionaries to public schools and it is an annual project for the Club to improve literacy in the elementary level. [courtesy photo]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials on Tuesday announced a nation-wide crackdown on underage use of a popular e-cigarette brand following months of complaints from parents, politi-cians and school administrators.

The Food and Drug Admin-istration issued warnings to 40 retail and online stores as part of a monthlong operation against illegal sales of Juul to children. Investigators targeted 7-Eleven locations, Shell gas stations and Cumberland Farms convenience stores as well as vaping shops.

FDA regulators also asked manufacturer Juul Labs to turn over documents about the design, marketing and ingre-dients of its product. The rare request focuses on whether certain product features are specifically appealing to young people.

Like other e-cigarettes, Juul is an electronic device that turns liquid — usually containing nicotine — into an inhalable vapor.

Thanks in part to its resem-blance to a small computer flash drive, Juul has become popular with some teenagers as a dis-creet way to vape at school and in public. Parents, teachers and principals say they are strug-gling to control the booming trend.

“The bathroom is the main source of it,” said Maureen Byrne, the principal of Dublin High School near San Fran-cisco. “As students become more comfortable, we have seen it in classrooms and on campus even out in the open.”

Health advocates have wor-ried about the popularity of vaping products among kids and the potential impact on adult smoking rates in the future. A recent government-commis-sioned report found “substantial evidence” that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to try cigarettes.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the current “blitz” targeting Juul will continue through the end of the month, with additional actions in coming weeks.

“This isn’t the only product that we’re looking at, and this isn’t the only action we’re going to be taking to target youth access to tobacco products, and e-cigarettes, in particular,” Got-tlieb said in an interview. He named several other brands of concern, including KandyPens and myblu.

Juul sales have exploded over the past two years,

accounting for 55 percent of the U.S. market for e-cigarettes, according to recent industry fig-ures. That’s up from just 5 per-cent of the market in 2016.

The San Francisco-based company said in a statement it agrees with the FDA that underage use of its products is “unacceptable.”

“We already have in place programs to identify and act upon these violations at retail and online marketplaces, and we will have more aggressive plans to announce in the coming days,” the statement read.

Juul Labs says it monitors retailers to ensure they are fol-lowing the law.

Its age verification system searches public records an sometimes requires customers to upload a photo ID.

E-cigarettes and other vaping products have grown into a $4 billion market in the U.S. despite little research on their long-term effects, including whether they are helpful in helping smokers quit cigarettes.

That’s the sales pitch made by Juul and many other e-cig-arette manufacturers: “Juul delivers nicotine satisfaction akin to a cigarette in a format that’s as simple and easy to use,” states the company’s website.

A Juul “starter kit” can be ordered online for $49.99. The company’s website is intended to only sell to customers ages 21 and up.

Chaz Nuttycombe, an 18-year-old who has never tried vaping, says it’s prevalent at his school, Hanover High near Richmond, Virginia.

“They’re not doing ciga-rettes because that’s not really hip,” he said. “I think my gen-eration has been educated on what’s in a cigarette, the poi-sons and whatnot.”

Research shows that many e-cigarettes contain trace amounts of chemicals like formaldehyde, but it’s unclear whether they exist at levels that can cause long-term health problems.

Most researchers agree any risks of e-cigarettes do not approach the long-established harms of traditional cigarettes, which cause cancer, heart dis-ease and lung disease.

The FDA gained authority to regulate e-cigarettes in 2016, but anti-smoking advocates have criticized the agency for not policing the space more aggressively to stop companies from appealing to underage users, particularly with flavors like mango, cool cucumber and creme brulee.


An Equal Opportunity Employer

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITYPosition TitlePosition Type

Report to:

Job Opening

RETAIL SALES MANAGER

ContractOne (1)Chief Commercial O�cer

Posting Date

Deadline

Starting Salary

Status

May 4, 2018/ 4 :00 pmApril 20, 2018

Exempt

GS:14/1 $26,607.00 to GS: 14/15 $40,000.00

�is position is located in the Commercial Department of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA). Work is generally performed in a standard o�ce environment, but also includes activities that occur in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings. Some exposure to varied weather conditions may be required.

Must possess a Bachelor of Science Degree from an accredited college or university with a major study in Accounting or any other related �eld. Must be able to apply business management principles and practices.• Oversee and manage the daily retail operations for all ASTCA retail stores or outlets• Manage, motivate, and train retail sta� to provide excellent customer service, increase sales

and ensure e�ciency in retail processes and procedures• Ensure and maintain high standards for quality and customer service are met• Assist with the recruitment and selection of retail sta� and ensure the successful execution

new hire training• Manage, coach, counsel, and performance manage employees• Achieve �nancial objectives by preparing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures;

analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions• Walk sales �oor regularly, talk to customers and employees, and identify or resolve urgent

issues• Secure merchandise by implementing security systems and measures; manage stock levels

and make key decisions about stock control• Maintain the stability and reputation of the store by complying with legal requirements• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops;

reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies

• Maintains operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program, operational, and personnel policies and procedures

• Assist CCO in the formulation of pricing policies by reviewing merchandising activities; determining additional needed sales promotion; authorizing clearance sales; studying trends

• Provide accurate written and verbal reporting to CCO and management• Find new ways to improve sales, meet sales targets, analyze �gures, forecast volumes and

strategize• Promote the organization locally by liaising with the community in general• Organize special promotions, displays and events• Maintain awareness of market trends in the retail industry, understanding forthcoming

customer initiatives and monitoring what local competitors are doing• Initiate changes to improve the business• Work and liaise with other internal departments (Technical, Sales, Marketing, and Customer

Service) to ensure that retail and company objectives are met.

Education/Experience:Duties & Responsibilities

Major Responsibilities:

Minimum Requirements & Quali�cations

Tel: (684) 633-9003 ext 9093Fax: (684) 699-9032Email inquiries: [email protected]

Human Resources DivisionAmerican Samoa Telecommunications Authority (A.S.T.C.A.)P.O. Box MPago Pago, American Samoa 96799

Quali�ed Applicants Apply To:

Quali�ed applicants: Please submit a completed ASTCA Employment Application with a copy of your resume to ASTCA (address listed above) by the deadline listed above. Please attach copies of credentials and transcripts. Candidates selected for hire must pass examinations (when applicable), pre-employment clearances & test negative on pre-employment drug test. ASTCA reserves the right to waive education and experience requirements as necessary

American Samoa Telecommunications Authority

(ASTCA)

And “I think a lot of people don’t realize that there’s an automatic loan deferment pay-ment built in,” she said. “Those are some of the tools that we use to make these disaster loans affordable.”

While the deadline for sub-mission of applications is the close of business on May 1st, the DRC will still be open, but with scaled back staff, according to Inge and Stokes.

Agency warns retailers not to sell Juul e-cigarette to kids

�is image provided by Juul Labs on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 shows the company’s e-cigarette device. On Tuesday, federal health o�cials announced a nationwide crackdown on underage use of a popular e-cigarette brand following months of complaints from parents, politicians and school administrators. Juul Labs says it monitors retailers to ensure they are following the law, and its age veri�cation system searches public records and sometimes requires customers to upload a photo ID.

(Courtesy of Juul Labs via AP)

➧ FEMA Updatet…Continued from page 5


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Kim Jong Un wants a historic, high-stakes meeting as soon as possible and suggested the North Korean dictator has been “very open” and “very honorable,” a sharply different assessment of a leader he once denounced as “Little Rocket Man.”

The United States and North Korea have been negotiating a summit between Trump and Kim to be held in May or June to broker a deal on Pyongyang’s nuclear program. Trump, who has struck a decidedly opti-mistic tone on the situation in recent days, said Tuesday that the United States and North Korea were having “good discussions.”

“We have been told directly that they would like to have the meeting as soon as possible. We think that’s a great thing for the world,” Trump said at the White House alongside French Presi-dent Emmanuel Macron. “Kim Jong Un, he really has been very open and I think very honorable from everything we’re seeing.”

Trump cautioned that North Korea had not followed through on previous promises, but cred-ited tough steps from his admin-istration — including sanctions and organizing pressure from international allies — for having forced Pyongyang to hold talks. And he again suggested that he would “leave the table” if the negotiations were not produc-tive or if North Korea was not operating in good faith.

“We’ll see where that all goes,” the president said. “Maybe it will be wonderful or maybe it won’t.”

Trump’s comments came days after a flurry of moves from North Korea that the White House was anxious to promote as signs that its coercion cam-paign was working. On Sat-

urday, North Korea announced it will close its nuclear testing facility and suspend nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests — a move welcomed by Trump as “big progress.”

However, the North stopped short of suggesting it will give up its nuclear weapons — as Trump suggested in a weekend tweet — or scale back its pro-duction of missiles and their related components. When pressed Tuesday on what he meant by the goal of “denuclear-ization,” Trump said, “It means they get rid of their nukes. Very simple.”

“It would be easy for me to make a simple deal and declare victory. I don’t want to do that,” the president said.

This week, U.S.-allied South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim will hold a summit in the Demilitarized Zone between the Koreas that could lay the ground for Trump’s planned meeting with the North Korean dictator. The leaders of the U.S. and North Korea have never met during six decades of hos-tility since the Korean War.

The exact date and location of the possible summit has not been determined.

As diplomacy gathered pace, White House officials and con-gressional aides said the Trump administration was considering nominating Adm. Harry Harris, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, as ambassador to South Korea. That key position has been vacant since Trump took office 15 months ago.

It would entail a shuffle in the administration’s plans for key diplomatic assignments. Harris has already been nominated to be ambassador to Australia. His Senate confirmation hearing for the Australia position had been due to take place Tuesday but was postponed.

One of the congressional

aides said both the State Depart-ment and governments in both Australia and South Korea were informed that the administration is looking at a switch of postings for Harris, although nothing has been made official yet. The aide and other officials requested anonymity to discuss the plans as they were not authorized to discuss them.

In Canberra, Australian For-eign Minister Julie Bishop said she had been told by U.S. Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan that Harris would become South Korea’s ambassador and that a new appointment to the post in Australia would be a priority for the next U.S. secretary of state.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who is Trump’s choice for sec-retary of state, told his own confirmation hearing this month that the vacancy in Seoul needed “immediate attention.” The man earlier tipped for the post, Korea expert Victor Cha, was passed over in January. He later voiced concern the admin-istration was considering mili-tary action against North Korea.

Harris has spent nearly 40 years in uniform and has a repu-tation as a straight talker. In testimony last month before the Senate Armed Services Com-mittee, Harris said that the U.S. could not be “overly optimistic” about outcomes for the planned Trump-Kim summit. “We have to go into this, eyes wide open,” he told lawmakers.

Last year, the U.S. spear-headed through the U.N. Secu-rity Council the toughest inter-national sanctions yet against North Korea in response to three long-range missile launches and its most powerful nuclear test explosion yet. The Trump administration supplemented those restrictions with unilateral U.S. sanctions against firms that had conducted illicit trade with the North.

In big shift, Trump assesses Kim Jong Un as ‘very honorable’

In The High Court of American Samoa

TRIAL DIVISIONPR NO. 05-05PR NO. 38-05PR NO. 39-05

Published: 4/4, 4/18 & 4/25/2018

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Joint Petition for the Ap-pointment of Isalei Iuli as Successor Administrator of the above captioned estates has been filed in the High Court of American Samoa. Hearing on the petition will be held on May 25, 2018 at 9am before the Trial Division of the High Court of American Samoa in Fagatogo, American Samoa. All heirs of Bernard William Gurr, Tequila Diana Gurr Halliday and Fanua Eletino Gurr and any other inter-ested parties may appear before the Court on said date to respond to this Petition.

In the Matter of the Estates of BERNARD WILLIAM GURR,

TEUILA DIANA GURR HALLIDAYFANUA ELEITINO GURR,

By STANLEY GURR AND FANUAEA GURR LEAIATAUA

Petitioners

Dated: April 11, 2018

CLERK OF COURTS

NOTICE OF HEARING ON JOINT PETITION

FOR APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATOR

OF ESTATES

In The High Court of American Samoa

TRIAL DIVISIONHCCA NO. 17-2018

Published: 04/25/18-05/15/18

TO: ALL INTERESTED PARTIESIn accordance with Rule C of the High Court of American Samoa Supplemental rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims (“Supplemental Rule C”), notice is hereby given of the arrest of the Vessel AMERICAN ENTERPRISE, Official No. 1209513 (the “Vessel”), her boilers, engines, machinery, motors, masts, anchors, chains, skiffs, tackle, and all other necessaries in accordance with a Warrant of Arrest of Vessel American Enterprise, Official No. 1209513, issued on March 20, 2018.Pursuant to Supplemental Rule C, any person having a claim against the Vessel and/or property shall file a claim with the Court not later than ten (10) days after process has been effected, and shall file an answer within twenty (20) days from the date of filing their claim.

FIRST COMMERCIAL BANK LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH,

V.AMERICAN EXPRESS, OFFICIAL NUMBER 1209513, HER BOIL-ERS, ENGINES, MACHINERY, MOTORS, MASTS, ETC. IN REM;

AND AMERICAN ENTERPRISE FISHING LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, IN PERSONAM,

HCCA No. 12--2018IN ADMIRALITY

Dated: April 23, 2018ELVIS R. PILA PATEAActing Associate Judge

as Security Trustee, Plaintiff

Defendants

NOTICE TO ALL POTENTIAL LIEN CLAIMANTS OF ARREST OF VESSEL AMERICAN ENTERPRISE, OFFICIAL NO. 1209513

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Unification is an idea that moves most Koreans, North and South, on an emotional level.

For some, especially young people in the South, it may not be a burning issue. Details like the costs, the risks and what specifi-cally both sides stand to gain are rarely given much thought by anyone who isn’t an academic, politician or activist.

But when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in meet on Friday, the prospect of unification, even if only in the abstract, will loom large around them.

Can Kim’s nuclear-armed North and the K-pop capitalism of Moon’s South ever merge into One Korea? Both leaders come to the table with distinct visions of what that would look like. And they are very different.THE DEMOCRATIC FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF KORYO

After failing to take the South by force in the 1950s, North Korea’s founder and “eternal president,” Kim Il Sung, announced a plan for what he thought a unified Korea should look like back in 1980.

He called it the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo. Koryo was an ancient Korean kingdom from which the word Korea is derived.

Kim’s plan was for an arrangement something along the lines of what Hong Kong has with China, a unified nation with two separate systems of government.

Under his plan, the North and South would respect each oth-er’s ideology, social system and autonomy. Both sides would have an equal number of representatives in a supreme national assembly with equal rights and responsibilities. The assembly would also have representatives of Koreans overseas. It would have a standing committee that would administer state affairs.

Kim stressed the need for this new federation to remain neu-tral and independent, avoiding in particular military alliances with others. Not surprisingly, that looks a lot like North Korea today, with its Supreme People’s Assembly, and the party’s Politburo and Central Committee overseeing day-to-day policies. Even the name smacks of the North, which is officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

An equal number of assembly seats would be a good deal for the North, which has half the South’s population. The inclusion of Koreans overseas would boost that advantage even further since, for historical reasons, more often than not they have at least nominal allegiance to Pyongyang, not Seoul. With so many devils lurking in the details, Kim’s grand plan has never gotten much traction.

A KOREAN COMMONWEALTH AND BEYONDSouth Korea’s three-step proposal ends in a similarly predict-

able place: its own system writ large across the peninsula.The first priority, according to South Korea’s Unification Min-

istry, is to develop a sustainable relationship and resolve the issue of North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons.

Seoul wants to substitute the unstable armistice that ended the fighting of the 1950-53 Korean War with a permanent peace treaty — a goal Pyongyang shares.

A unified Korea? Leaders bring contrasting visions to summit

President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)


One in three older Americans with Medicare drug coverage is prescribed opioid painkillers, but for those who develop a dangerous addiction there is one treatment Medicare won’t cover: methadone.

Methadone is the oldest, and experts say, the most effective of the three approved medications used to treat opioid addiction. It eases cravings without an intense high, allowing patients to work with counselors to rebuild their lives.

Federal money is fl owing to states to open new methadone clinics through the 21st Cen-tury Cures Act, but despite the nation’s deepening opioid crisis, the Medicare drug program for the elderly covers methadone only when prescribed for pain.

Joseph Purvis, a former heroin and prescription pain-killer user, said he went into a depressive tailspin because he initially feared he might have to stop methadone treatment when he went on Medicare at 65.

“I was terrifi ed that I might have to leave the program. There’s no way I wanted to go back to addiction on the streets,” said Purvis, 66, of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Methadone doesn’t meet the requirement of Medicare’s Part D drug program because it can’t be dispensed in a retail pharmacy.

Instead, in the highly reg-ulated methadone system, patients fi rst are assessed by a doctor, then show up daily at federally certifi ed methadone clinics to take their doses of the pink liquid.

Or, like Purvis in Maryland, they prove through repeated urine screens that they have earned the right to weekly take-home doses.

In Congress, legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate, and a White House commission on the opioid epi-demic also recommended the change.

The epidemic is “affecting all populations, including our seniors,” said Rep. George Holding, R-North Carolina, a sponsor of the House bill. “Medicare benefi ciaries have among the highest and fastest growing rate of opioid use dis-order, but they don’t currently have coverage for the most effective treatment.”

“We have a sacred responsi-bility to fi nd solutions that help everyone who may be affected,”

said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn-sylvania, ranking member of the Special Committee on Aging and lead sponsor of the Senate bill.

An estimated 300,000 Medi-care patients have been diag-nosed with opioid addiction, and health offi cials estimate nearly 90,000 are at high risk for opioid misuse or overdose.

Buprenorphine, a more expensive and slightly less reg-ulated treatment drug, is cov-ered by Medicare but few doc-tors who accept new Medicare patients have obtained federal waivers to prescribe it. A recent study of Medicare claims found prescriptions for buprenorphine for only 81,000 patients.

More evidence that the crisis affects seniors: Opioid over-doses killed 1,354 Americans ages 65 and older in 2016, about 3 percent of the 42,000 opioid overdoses that year.

Medicare’s policy means clinics often scramble to keep older patients in treatment if they’ve had commercial insur-ance that covered their care before turning 65, said coun-selor Angela Caldwell of Mont-gomery Recovery Services in Rockville, Maryland.

A national organization for methadone clinics says the clinics now have 25,000 Medi-care benefi ciaries who are either paying out of pocket (about $80 per week) or getting care through state-run Medicaid or block grant programs.

Mark Parrino, president of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Depen-dence, thinks more people would seek methadone treat-ment if Medicare covered it.

Many older patients rely on surprisingly high doses of opi-oids for pain relief, which can turn into addiction, said Dr. Anna Lembke, an addiction specialist at Stanford University School of Medicine.

One of her addiction patients, a woman in her mid-70s, was referred to her because her daily dose of opioids had climbed over the years to many times more potent than that of a typ-ical heroin user, Lembke said.

“She’s had a gradual devel-opment of tolerance over many decades and now is on an astro-nomical dose,” Lembke said. “If you took any random person and gave them (that much) they would die.”

Lembke said she normally wouldn’t consider methadone

for this patient because of the stigma associated with the clinics. But Medicare coverage might make them more accept-able, Lembke said, and her patient “might actually do better with methadone.”

In Maryland, Purvis remained on methadone treat-ment because his income is low enough that he qualifi es for the state-federal Medicaid insurance coverage for the poor and disabled. Medicaid covers methadone treatment in Mary-land and about 35 other states.

Purvis, who used heroin for more than a decade in his youth, later took opioids prescribed by specialists for back pain. After his pain doctor’s offi ce was shut down for overprescribing, he started methadone treatment.

“Some people think of meth-adone as a crutch for addiction but it’s not,” Purvis said. “It’s a tool that allows people to live a somewhat normal life.”

Opioid treatment gap in Medicare: methadone clinics

ASCO MOTORS (c/-TTSPH)PO Box 129, Pago Pago 96799email: [email protected]

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

ASCO MOTORS – AMERICAN SAMOAAsco Motors is a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho South Pacific Holdings and is the only authorized dealer and distributor of Toyota and Yamaha in the South Pacific. When you join Asco Motors, you will become part of a global company that promotes a family friendly environment and seeks to achieve world-class standards in all areas of our business. Asco Motors markets quality products and services with franchises that include Toyota, Yamaha, Bridgestone, Kobe, Massey Ferguson and Avis.The PositionThe Finance and Administration Manager is responsible for daily Finance and Administration functions of the company, ensures effective and timely reporting to the Head Office in (Australia) and to local statutory bodies. As the Finance & Administration Manager you would be required to coordinate and prepare the annual budget for the company and perform reviews on a monthly basis. The position is based in American Samoa and reports directly to the country Chief Executive Officer.

The successful candidate will:• Manage the company’s fully integrated accounting system • Report monthly and annually on the company’s financial performance • Meet all statutory requirements and ensuring compliance to established company policies • Coordinate the preparation of the Strategic Plan, budgets and forecasts • Cash flow management for the business • Manage internal control procedures in line with company policy to protect financial assets and

secure all systems, records, documents, cash and general office records • Oversee Payroll and Personnel administration procedures

Preferred applicants will have:• Tertiary qualification in Finance and Accounting• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a senior role and similar position• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of applications and computerised accounting and

business systems• Demonstrated management, leadership and planning capabilities• Excellent written and verbal communication skills• Proven ability to successfully manage a finance team.

THE COMPANYASCO MOTORS is the automotive market leader in the region. Asco Motors are the dealer/distributor of franchises that includes Toyota, Yamaha and is a quality-focused international organization that works to high standards of customer satisfaction.

THE PACKAGEAn attractive salary package will be offered, which includes an annual performance bonus.

APPLY TODAYQualified applicants should submit their application with resume by 11th May to:

ASCO MOTORS (c/-TTSPH)email: [email protected]

FILE - In this March 7, 2017, � le photo, the CEO of a metha-done clinic holds a 35 mg liquid dose of methadone in Rossville, Ga. � e drug is the oldest and most e� ective of approved medica-tions used to treat opioid addiction, but Medicare doesn’t cover it.

(AP Photo/Kevin D. Liles, File)

ACCURACYWe make an issue of it every day.

If you want to comment about our accuracy, call Samoa News at 633-5599

If you want to comment about our accuracy,

C M

Y K

C M

Y K


Pago Pago Game Fishing Association

I’A LAPO’AI’A LAPO’AI’A LAPO’AGAME FISHING GAME FISHING GAME FISHING TOURNAMENTTOURNAMENTTOURNAMENT

28 April - 05 May, 2018


I’A LAPO’AI’A LAPO’AI’A LAPO’AI’A LAPO’AI’A LAPO’AI’A LAPO’AGAME FISHING GAME FISHING GAME FISHING TOURNAMENTTOURNAMENTTOURNAMENT

28 April - 05 May, 2018

and the

present thepresent the

19th

in association with thein association with the

Thank Y� f� y�r supp�t

To be part of this fantastic event, or if you would like to discuss your sponsorship options, please feel free to contact Debbs Cox at 254-5531 email: [email protected].

Your Support is Sincerely Appreciated


Thank Y� f� y�r supp�t

PROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMPROGRAMApril 28th

Registration & Opening CeremonyApril 30th & May 1st Game Fishing Tournament

May 2nd Ladies & Junior Day Competition

May 3th & 4th Game Fishing Tournament

May 6th Closing Ceremony/Awards

and theand the

present theThank Y� f� y�r supp�tThank Y� f� y�r supp�t

• Steinlager (Sunshine Inc)• American Samoa Visitors Bureau• South Seas Broadcasting - 93KHJ/V103• StarKist• Tool Shop• Industrial Gases• Island Cargo Support• Samoa Motors, home of Ford & Hyundai• Sadie’s Hotel• Harbor Maritime & Stevedoring Co.• Accord’s Collision & Towing• Pago Pago Marine Charters• PacificEnergySWP• Polynesian Shipping• Samoa Maritime• Manua’s• Hamburg Sud• Samoa News• Turtle & Shark Gift Shop• Carls Jr.• KS Mart• ASCO Motors• Tisa’s Barefoot Bar• NPI• Sunrise Oil Company• Cost-U-Less• J-Len - T’s• Pago Print ShopOVERSEAS SPONSORS: • Darius Ltd.• Golden Bay CementGOVERNMENT AGENCIES:• OfficeoftheGovernor• Department of Commerce• Department of Port Authority and all

ASG Agencies that make it all possible

pago pago, american samoa wednesday, april 25, …

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