Dear Editor,  The Samoa News issue of August 8 contained several
articles that individually and collectively help explain why
American Samoa struggles.  ASG lost a lawsuit brought about by
Pacific International Engineering, which claimed that ASG owed
PIE money related to a Public Works contract-gone-bad in Manu’a
many, many years ago. Judgment against taxpayers: $320,000  ASG
lost a lawsuit brought by an insurance company, which claimed
that the damages at the Laufou fire in 2002 were due, in large
part, to problems with the Public Safety Fire Department.
Judgment against taxpayers: $6,600,000.  ASG lost an arbitration
brought by Marisco, which claimed ASG owed money for work done
on a tugboat and some barges related to a Port Administration
contract-gone-bad. Judgment against taxpayers: $800,000.  Since
ASG cannot afford to pay these judgments, stuff happens. This
week, the court ordered ASG to pay the widow of PIE owner Warren
Fisher $25,000 for his funeral expenses. Fisher died before he
could collect fro