Fono Report

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Tualatua faipule, Samuel Ioka Ale Meleisea continues to fight for a law to protect enforcement animals in the territory.

In doing so he has sponsored a bill that criminalizes harming of law enforcement animals. An identical bill was introduced during the 37th Legislature, but it was automatically defeated when no action was taken at the time. 

It was submitted again this week in first reading. According to the bill the principle purpose of law enforcement animals is to aid in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, or apprehensive of criminal offenders.

The bill states that a recent incident brought light the importance of recognizing “cruelty to these law enforcement animals and establishing penalties to protect then from harm” … and “it is important to provide penalties for individuals who would intentionally or negligently inflict harm to them.”

According to the bill the proposed measure would create a Section 46,4812 in Chapter 48 of Title 46 which reads: 46.4812 Harming Law enforcement animals 

“A person commits the crime of harming law enforcement animals if that person intentionally inflicts harm or injures a law enforcement animal.

Also when a person “ negligently harms or injures a law enforcement animal.”

“If the Offense permanently disables or disfigures the animal, or causes serious bodily injury or the death of the law enforcement animal then it will be classified as a class C felony, punishable by the term of imprisonment not to exceed 7 years, a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both.”

QUESTIONS ON ASPA’S $12 WASTE WATER CHARGE

A hearing has been scheduled before the House next week Wednesday to discuss concerns raised by Faipule Titialii Kitara Vaiau, concerning the monthly $12 waste water service fee by the American Samoa Power Authority.

He said consumers are complaining about this service fee and want to understand why it’s being charged by ASPA.

These are fixed costs to serve each customer no matter how much wastewater is produced.

Speaker of the House Savali Talavou Ale was asked to set a hearing date for this matter.

UNPAID LOANS TO ANZ

Tualauta Rep, Samuel Ioka Ale Meleisea this week, said with the ANZ bank closure, members of the public that have existing loans want to know how they can continue to pay their loans with the bank ending its services permanently on the last day of January.

“The issue with their existing loan accounts is something I wanted to ask ANZ about.

“What happens to those people and what options do they have for them before they permanently close down in March.”

ANZ officially shut down operations in September last year, saying that the banking environment has changed significantly since ANZ entered the U.S banking community.

A hearing is now scheduled for Tuesday before the Commerce and Development Committee.