Starkist Samoa has been granted an exemption to the 6am-6pm business hours under the COVID-19 emergency declaration.
So too have businesses that supply Starkist Samoa.
The exemption was granted after Starkist submitted to the governor for review a cannery advisory and guidelines for COVID-19.
The governor said in a letter to Starkist General Manager Jason Kim, “American Samoa’s economy is pillared on StarKist and the government and if one faces financial hardship the entire economic system will collapse because all, if not most of the secondary and tertiary businesses, depend on StarKist.”
Lolo noted that American Samoa’s purchasing power capacity is significantly StarKist-based.
”In essence, StarKist can trigger and unleash a lethal economic and financial tsunami with far worst consequence than the Coronavirus.”
Accordingly, he has granted an exemption from the emergency declaration for the cannery based on StarKist’s commitment that it will take responsibility in making sure its employees will be protected from infection as outlined in the cannery’s adopted Advisory and Guidance Plan.
The governor also noted that in the face of a potential food shortage, if production and processing ability is curtailed when workers are infected, StarKist can become our source of food.
Lolo also granted an exemption to the 6am-6pm business hours to the following businesses that service the canneries:
- Peter Reid Stevedoring
- Harbor Maritime
- Le Afi Energy
- Talofa System
- Cargo vessels (SWIRE, Hamburg Sud and others)
- Fishing vessels
- Contract fish suppliers
- Fuel companies (Pacific Energy And Clipper Oil)
