Governor thanks donors to COVID-19 response

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Businesses, organizations and campaign parties have made contributions to the government to help it help in the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

These include 5,000 pounds of fish from the Chief Executive Officer of Tri Marine, owners of Samoa Tuna Processors, water, cleaning supplies and hygiene products from the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce and care packages donated by political campaign organizations .

Governor Lolo Moliga in accepting the generous gift from Mr Renato Curto of Tri Marine said , “Although the physical presence of Tri Marine on island is limited, it has not severed the partnership fashioned years ago based on mutual commitment to collaboration and pushing for mutual sharing of benefits,  and for that I sincerely thank you.”

The 5,000 pounds of fish was distributed to LBJ Hospital. Hope House and the Territorial Correctional Facility.

The American samoa Chamber of Commerce, under the proactive leadership of  lChairwoman Ella Gurr donated water, cleaning suplies, hygiene prodcuts and basic necessities , some of which were distributed to residents in the quarantine centers.

Governor Lolo said, ”I am, fully aware of the struggles being faced by our business community perpertrated in part by harsh measures being implemented to protect the lives of our people, so I  find this donation special because your financial burden didn’t deter you from making this sacrifice for our people…”

He thanked the Chamber’s leaders for “transcending its challenges and focusing on the needs of others.”

The governor acknowledged and expressed thanks to the contributions of businesses particularly those involved in ensuring that our supply chain and food security are not compromised.

Lolo also thanked varying political campaign groups who distributed care packages to residents at quarantine centers.  The press statement from the Governor’s Office didn’t name the campaign organizations.

The governor took the opportunity to thank church leaders for the use of their facilities to quarantine travelers.

He expressed his appreciation to the leader of the Catholic Church, Most Reverend Bishop Peter Brown for the “quick and decisive favorable response” when approached for the use of the Fatuoaiga facilities to accommodate the overflow of those needing to be quarantined.

He also thanked the leadership of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa for allowing the Kananafou facilities to be used as one of the quarantine centers.

Governor Lolo went on to say, “As much as I wish to follow the constitutional precept separating state and religion , this line of demarcation is very blurred here in our territory because we have placed God first in all of our collective endeavors.”