Fono Report

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A bill to amend the permanent revocation of driver’s license after a third offense for driving under the influence (DUI) and would provide the Court new sentencing guidelines to use in DUI cases was introduced in the House Chamber this week.

The bill is sponsor by Su’a #2 Faipule, Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava, along with the support of ten other faipule including Speaker of the House, Savali Talavou Ale.

Suspension or revocation for driving under the influence as stated in the American Samoa Code Annotated (ASCA) 22.0212 is amended to read:

(a)      A court shall upon conviction of driving under the influence under 22.0707 or 22.0708, suspend or revoke a license or driving privilege cards as follows;

(1)      upon first conviction, for a period of 6 months;

(2)      upon second conviction, for a period of  2 years;

(3)      upon third conviction “and any thereafter, the court may at its discretion sentence an offender to suspension of a license for a period of no less than 5 years” or permanent revocation.

The bill is now assigned to the House Judiciary and Legal Affairs Committee, chaired by Faipule Vailoata E. Amituana’i.

MANU’A NEEDS A NEW BOAT

Manu’a faipule in the House have requested a new boat to improve the service between the islands to Tutuila and Manu’a.

Manua’s #1 Faipule Alumamalu Filoiali’i Ale and Vice Speaker, Fetu Fetui Jr requested that from the Director of the Port of Administration, Christopher King during the confirmation hearing for members of the American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA) last week.

Alumamalu stated during the hearing that the problem of transportation for Manu’a is a challenge and he hopes that this Administration will come up with a good plan including a new boat for the people of Manu’a.

Fetu echoed his colleague’s request and told King that people in Manu’a are suffering due to bad transportation.

“My people need a good boat to serve them like the new boat the Samoa Government has just bought to serve people between Upolu and Savai’i,” Fetu told King.

Fetu said the American Samoa Government (ASG) needs to bring a boat that can fit in both wharfs in Ofu and Faleasao. He further stated that a boat like the MV Fotu o Samoa is the right choice for the people of Manu’a, because it has enough space for vehicles and cargo and can dock inside both wharfs in Manu’a, instead of docking out at sea and using alia vessels to transport their cargo to the shore.

Fetu said Manu’a needs a boat with an open landing craft that would make it easy for passengers to load and unload their cargo in or out of the vessel.

This week, the Samoa Government celebrates the arrival of a new inter-island ferry to improve the service between the islands of Upolu and Savaili. The vessel named the Samoa Express II arrived in the country from Australia last week. The vessel is said to have cost $10 million tala.