American Samoa

It will be at the Lee Auditorium.

Faauaa Kataferu , the head matai of Faleomavaega's family , said the memorial service is an opportunity for relatives, friends and associates of the former congressman who are unable to attend his funeral services in Utah, to celebrate his life and farewell him.

The acting Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga will be one of the speakers at the service,

The family matai also confirmed funeral services for Faleomavaega, who died last Wednesday, will be held next Friday and Saturday in Provo, Utah.

Fiji has now confirmed 143 cases, Nauru has confirmed more than 50, and 13 have been confirmed in American Samoa.

That follows outbreaks in Solomon Islands which has had more than 10,000 dengue cases in the last seven months, and in Vanuatu which has had more than 1700 cases since November.

RNZ reports in New Caledonia three people have died and a health emergency has been declared as more than 1-thousand cases have been recorded since September.

American research ship the Okeanos Explorer is on an expedition filming the little known ocean depths of the territory's conservation areas.

More than 180 scientists have been viewing a live stream of images and commenting on whether the corals, fish, and other organisms they can see are new species.

Expedition Co-ordinator Kelley Elliot said scientists would be encouraged to give any rare finds Samoan names.

Over the years, the WHO has provided a variety of support - financial and human resources - to American Samoa and other Pacific islands.

Several years ago American Samoa received more than $US300 million annually.

The money also funded travel for senior health officials to attend off-island meetings.

Motusa Tuileama Nua told lawmakers that WHO funding is down to $US70,000 and that money goes directly to the Treasury.

The Commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Lieutenant Colonel James Hoyman and a team of seven, has been in the territory looking at sites that the military used.

The American Samoa Power Authority has said that because of the seepage of oil at the site where the naval tanks used to be, any infrastructure or utility projects in the area would require a lot more funding.

ASPA has asked that the Department of Defense provide funding to mitigate the contamination.

But the US Army Corps has said no evidence to prove ASPA's position.

Dr. Annie Fuavai said of 13 confirmed cases of dengue seen at the LBJ Hospital, 8 patients needed to be admitted.

RNZ reports inspection teams are conducting a walk through of families' yards and pinpointing what can be done to minimise the threat from mosquitoes.

There will also be a focus on clean up efforts around schools.

The government boat MV Sili took on water while docked at Ofu harbor in Manu'a at the weekend.

A valve was left open and water seeped into the engine room damaging one of the boat's generators.

Meanwhile the government's new $US13 million dollar vessel, MV Manu'atele, which made a sea trial to Manu;a yesterday will return with the damaged generator to be fixed on the main island Tutuila.

The Manu'atele, which arrived Janaury 4th from the shipyard in Washington state where it was built, has yet to be certified by the Coast Guard for passenger and cargo operations.

Dean Jay Fletcher was arrested in Tonga in July for the murder but in September he escaped police custody on Vava'u.

RNZ reports the 54 year-old then fled the country on his yacht, eventually arriving in American Samoa, where he was arrested.

An American Samoa court dismissed a midemeanour charge of entering the territory without authorisation.

However, Mr Fletcher was last week handed over the federal authorities, who transferred him to Honolulu to face the extradition process back to Tonga.

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.

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.