It is not really a secret… something ain’t right on this island. The absurd is so common that is often on the local newspaper, and the news pass by kind of unnoticed, or noticed, talked about for a while and then forgotten…
I though for a while why this happens here in particular, and the idea is that this place is so small and remote, that if somebody does something wrong, well, he should be either forgiven or killed or go off-island.
We have stories of all types, of which these particular ones I discussed and learned about on a dinner table with some friends last weekend:
ALCOHOL: When I came here, a couple of guards from the airport, the ones that make sure that none steals from the duty free, stole a very big quantity of liquor. They got catch, and lay off the job. They said they were sorry, but it was not their fault, the temptation was too big. They now work for the police.
MARIJUANA: smoking marijuana it is just not worth it here. If they find you with a join, you get 5 years of prison. Also, when I got here… The police found a very big marijuana plantation. Trouble. What to do with all that grass? Well, remember when in Kenya their burned all those illegal elephant tasks in the main square as a lesson against contrabands? Well, that sounded like a good idea. Tons of marijuana were burned in the main square in front of the police station (where we sing for the governor in Christmas), in front of the Fono (the local government). I did not know about the event, so after work I drove home… I remember commenting with paul about that strong skunk smell that day. Next day on the newspaper there was an article first page, with a picture of 3 big samoan policemen standing, arm crossed behind a smoking barrel… there was a relax big smile, quite a giggle, on all of their faces. The article was singing what a good act it was. I honestly cannot believe I missed it.
SHIT: A certain doctor was taking stood (shit) samples home and analyze them there (a part the fact that, who would ever want a house full of other people shit, how did he analyze them? Smell it, say, “uhm, yeah right, it smell like shit. Next”). He was charged of felony, he lost his medical sample and he was also made the director of public health! (ministero della salute).
NAME: well, this is about the Lt. Governor. There was a joke around for a while, than every time somebody would see a big plane outside the Thursday-Sunday night flight, it was the FBI that came back to arrest him. He has at least on felony was trafficking with school children furniture… but he is running for Lt. Governor again this election. And not only. He changed his name for the first time, since he already got in trouble with the first and then again with the third name. Rumors says also that he stole his 3rd name (it is a samoan thing, the name are related to certain titles… stealing a name is like stealing a title)
“BUT I WILL PAY BACK”: this is what usually people say when they get caught… even if it is about $400.000 already spent! Three government employees are under federal invistigation now for making all this money disappearing. A fourth one instead in under investigation for using number for ID that were already taken. They way the found out is because of a couple comlaining that the ID were not being made on the office, but “later on” at the employ house. They thought they were going to get a deal, but went this did not happen, and they had troubles entering in Samoa with their ID, they complained.
The other 3 persons have a different case. They just did not turn the receipts for the ID to the department of treasury, which keep on asking… but samoan times can be long, as, oh well, we will eventually get them. The funny thing (to me) is that the 3 kept all the receipts, even if they used the money for their own use! If I were there, I may have burned any proof, and through everything into a state of perpetual confusion, that work well here. This part I will just copy:
“When questioned about this, Fuavai-Burgess - whose duty also included collecting money for the CIs - denied depositing any money. She told investigators that she was "uncomfortable" with answering their questions at the office, so arrangements were made for them to discuss the matter later that day.
The government's case states that one of the investigators got a call from Fuavai-Burgess' father, former police commissioner Te'o Fuavai, who was upset that his daughter was being questioned. According to the criminal complaint, Te'o (the father) told the investigators that he will contact Attorney General Fepulea'i Afa Ripley, Jr., to lodge a complaint regarding the investigation.Investigators said when they arrived at the AG's Office to talk with Fuavai-Burgess, Fepulea'i (the Attonery general) had sent her home.”
I suggest to read the all story at: http://samoanews.com/thursday.08282008/story16.html
Moral of the story? This is today’s news:
“Moi Masaniai, the assistant attorney general who was behind the move to file criminal charges against four employees of the Attorney General's Office last week, was given a notice of termination yesterday afternoon, government sources said.”
(http://samoanews.com/thursday.09042008/story16.html)
Something ain’t right.
Moi is my hero. He is a big sweet guy. I did not see or went out with him a lot, but I have a profound love and respect toward him as he brought justice in a case I was very emotionally involved last year. He is really my hero here on island, and I cannot believe he is being fired for doing a great job for the people of American Samoa. He is a good lawyer. Very good. How could have I done without him??
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