Fautasi: Villages-$10000, ASG & Fono-$2000

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The Flag Day Committee today presented checks of $10,000 to all of the village fautasi that competed in the controversial Flag Day fautasi races.

The Fono and ASG fautasi were handed  $2,000.

The checks were presented at a meeting this morning at the Office of Samoan Affairs led by Committee co chairs Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and  Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega , in the presence of Eastern District Governor Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson.

Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs Tuiagamoa Tavai was also present.

All of the village fautasi were represented by the captains or chiefs of their villages.

The co-chairs thanked all of the fautasi for their hard work, and acknowledged the efforts by all of the villages and crews which fielded entries.

Mauga said that the Committee in consultation with Governor Lolo has decided to award cash prizes of $10,000 to all of the village fautasi.

He also announced that the governor had mentioned at a previous meeting with the captains setting  up a commission that would be in charge of fautasi races.

The commission would set rules and regulations for the sport and will operate fautasi races independently without  government involvement.

Some of the cash prizes for villages that performed cultural entertainment at the Flag Day celebrations but were not at the awarding of prizes, were given their checks today.

The only check which KHJ News was able to see was the one for the Manu’a dance group and the value was  $20,000.

Faiivae Alex Godinet and Soliai Tuipine expressed appreciation for the Committee’s decision.

Soliai also spoke in support of the commission, noting that it was first proposed by former Governor Togiola Tulafono.

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