Second session of the Atoa o Samoa meetings underway in Apia

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Lemanu P.S Mauga is leading a delegation to Samoa for the Atoa o Samoa meeting after the initial meeting, held in July of this year in the territory.

First Lady Ella Mauga, Chief of Staff Loa Tuimavave T. Laupola, and other members of the American Samoa delegation accompanied the governor.

A statement issued by the Governor’s Office says Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponefasio was at the airport to greet the American Samoa group.

Lemanu said that opportunities such as this, allow American Samoa to strengthen cooperation between the two Samoas in areas of mutual interest.

 “It is our hope that the result of these talks lays the foundation for the work ahead, and to move both counties forward. As said before, although we are two separate countries with very different governments, we have a common goal and most importantly, duty to our Samoan people.”

The following is the tentative program for the American Samoa delegation this week:

On Wednesday, Oct. 12 — American Samoa’s delegation is scheduled to meet with their respective counterparts as planned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, followed by site visits to form the basis of agencies reporting to the Atoa o Samoa Executive meeting.

On Thursday, Oct. 13 — the Second Atoa o Samoa Executive Meeting will officially open with the Guard of Honor in the front lawn of the Government Building at 7:30a.m; immediately followed by the prayer service, with opening remarks given by both Co-Chairs Governor Lemanu and Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.

To conclude the official opening ceremony is the traditional fa’aloaloaga. Soon after, delegations, observers and special guests will travel to Taumeasina Island Resort for the bilateral meeting.

On Friday, Oct 14 — the closing of the bilateral discussions between agencies and line ministries of the two Samoas will take place.

After the meetings in July, there were some issues shared by the Cabinet Ministers in Apia, including a request by the American Samoa Government to re-open the Fagalii Airport, as well as the issue of transferring Samoa national prisoners from the Territorial Correction Facility (TCF) to serve the duration of their time at Tanumalala prison in Samoa.

And last week, the Prime Minister, during a press conference with Samoa media, commented on the status of the request by American Samoa’s biggest employer, StarKist Samoa to hire 500 workers from Apia.

 “While there are employment opportunities in American Samoa, it appears that our people need to look for a family to stay and these are issues that should be addressed.

 “The safety of our people is paramount in our view and there should be a requirement for housing for our people before they commit to the cannery’s proposal,” said the PM.

Adding that the Labor Mobility Program, which incorporates both New Zealand’s RSE (Recognized Seasonal Employer) Scheme, and Australia’s SWP (Seasonal Workers Program) and PLS (Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme) — provides housing for the workers, who are also on contract.

However that is not the case with the cannery.

Last month StarKist Samoa officials were in Apia to collaborate with the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor on a process to hire workers from Samoa on a regular basis, under the guest workers permit.

Minister Leatinuu Wayne So’oialo told Samoa News there are similar programs in place such as the  Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme  in New Zealand  and Seasonal Workers Program in Australia, but it’s quite different from American Samoa due to the requirements.

“For those hired to work in American Samoa, the candidates must have families in the territory to live with. Also the significant differences is that for New Zealand and Australia they are hired on a contract basis, whereas for the US territory, once they are hired there is no timeframe, it could be one year [or] up to ten years,” said Leatinu’u.

He said the cannery’s operations are year round and they only take breaks during holidays and considering the married men and women, they should be able to return home to be with their families.

“Otherwise, the workers need to take their families with them to live in American Samoa,” said the Minister.

BACKGROUND

During the First Atoa o Samoa Executive Meeting, the two Samoas held discussions at the ASCC Multipurpose Center, American Samoa on July 28, on issues of mutual importance.

Key issues that were discussed are as follows: Health, Economy, Education, Information and Communication Technology, Immigration, Agriculture and Fisheries, Finance, Environment, Climate, Weather & Geoscience, Transport between the two Samoas, Public Works matters, and Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Other issues/matters discussed were cultural preservation of language and literacy, and Land Swap Agreement. These matters will be on the agenda for the second executive session.