American Samoa

RNZ reports the airline is operating three Twin Otter aircraft to service the inter Samoa route as well as flights to Tau and Olosega, Manu'a

The Polynesian station manager in Pago Pago Toe Loia said Apia bound flights are packed while flights to Pago Pago are fairly light.

Some of the travelers are heading to Hawaii and opting to catch the Fiji Airways weekly flight to Honolulu.

Mr Loia advises travelers to be at the airport on time and make sure those needing entry permits to Samoa obtain them form the Samoa Consulate.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission is meeting in Nadi next week with American Samoa and others calling for more fishing days on the high seas for the US fleet.

Restrictions have impacted fish deliveries to the two canneries in American Samoa.

ATA executive director Brian Hallman said the association's main approach would be to ensure that all management proposals are science based.

He said that in the past that had not always been the case and rules should be applied and enforced equally for all fishing fleets.

The 19 year old spoke with Loop Samoa about her aspirations as a young leader for her country in pushing for better climate change resilience, and also promoting  effort in preserving and taking better care of their environment.

“Our Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA is a well grouped organization that seeks to protect and preserve American Samoa’s lands. Through various programs we have managed to help preserve some of our key areas by just basically adopting land and then making it our responsibility to look after them,” she said.

Savali confirmed that the legislators have met three times and they have all lent their confidence and support for him as Speaker in the new legislature.

He said it was an honour which he didn't take lightly and was thankful for the confidence and respect extended to him by his colleagues.

Savali, who has been a faipule since 1981, ran unopposed in the House election for the Alataua District.

The election of Speaker will be held on 3 January when the representatives and senators are sworn in.

The pageant week begins with a church service and over the course of the week will assess each contestants through various activities planned.

Contestants representing eight Pacific Islands - American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga have all gathered in Apia, Samoa.

Contestants and their teams started arriving in Samoa last week for the 30^th anniversary of the Miss Pacific Islands.

Fuiavailili Egon Keil had been charged with one count each of wrongful arrest, perjury, disorderly conduct, and providing a false statement to the Ombudsman.

In a memo to government entities regarding time-off for employees, the governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga pointed to local law, in which a qualified elector for general election is entitled to be absent from his or her place of employment for two consecutive hours for the purpose of casting their vote.

Voters are also protected from having their wages deducted for being absent during that time.

The two hour absence excludes any lunch or rest periods.

Tri Marine announced today that it is suspending canning operations indefinitely beginning December 11th.

Mr Fiaui told a House committee that in the three and a half years he has been with the office, he has observed many young people being arrested for minor and misdemeanour offences.

RNZ reports it will be the third locally operated airline alongside Polynesian Airlines and Samoa Air.

Talofa Airways will operate two nine seater Twin Commander aircraft between the two Samoas and also plans to fly to Vava'u in Tonga.

The airline is managed by a former CEO of Polynesian Airlines Taua Fatu Tielu and Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter who is the new airline's CEO.