Travel and trade between 2Samoas is ‘booming’

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Trading has been good between the two Samoa’s and continues at a heavy pace.

 The upward trend of exports and imports seen in March this year continues, as evidenced in the flow of business through Samoa’s inter Island ferry.

The Lady Samoa which sails into the territory once a week brings in a full load of passengers of more than 250 including visitors, returning residents, and business traders.

Assistant General Manager for Peter. E Reid Stevedoring Inc. Ms Vaitafao Lui, American Samoa Agent for Lady Samoa, confirms they have been very busy.

“Full loads and passengers on the Lady Samoa is the new norm for the Lady Samoa going both ways.

“And with Church Conferences in the last few months, and family delegations attending funerals between the two Samoa’s,” she said.

Adding that when passengers come to the office to buy their tickets they have the same reason for taking the Lady Samoa, that they “prefer the ocean ferry so it can take more luggage.”

She said some of their passengers are only transiting.

“With good connections with Fiji Airways flight at Faleolo on Saturday, several passengers on Lady Samoa, are in transit, by paying a one-way ticket from here to Samoa to catch Fiji Air for the US mainland.”

She said the Lady Samoa has heard from families in Samoa that are experiencing a shortage of goods, such as sugar.

“The majority of what families are sending as cargo to Samoa are loads of sugar from here to Upolu.

“The traders from Upolu as well, are bringing up to 50-lb sacks of taro.”

According to Lui, last week the sacks were pre-sold before they arrived in Tutuila, and on Lady Samoa’s return journey, up to 300 pieces including boxes of chicken, turkey tails, corned beef, sugar, and other general merchandise were on board.

The voyage for next week is already full, going to Samoa from here, says Ms Lui.

“As of last week, I had to allow 12 passengers on the Fotu o Samoa ferry that left on Friday.

“Fotu o Samoa was here on a chartered voyage to Manu’a by one of the construction companies.”

This week there are more passengers and they had to add an extra 50 people for those traveling for appointments and transit flights.

More than 200 pieces of the  cargo were still being loaded onto the Lady Samoa lV , two hours after the passengers were called to board.  Business is brisk between the 2Samoas. [photo: AT]