The American Samoa Government has spent $9.5 million on repatriation flights from Hawaii and Samoa and quarantine costs since the first repatriation flight in February.
All but $229,861 of that amount was spent on flights from Honolulu. A total of 1,548 residents have been repatriated.
Of that number 200 were from Samoa and 7 were from Tonga.
Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga said in his speech at the opening of the Fono session yesterday that the first commercial flight from Honolulu is planned for the third week of August.
He said the medical staff and all those who have been involved with repatriation and quarantine efforts will take a break in the first two weeks of August.
He thanked all those who have spent the past several months ensuring the safe return of residents while keeping the virus out of the territory. He also thanked the private sector and churches for their support.
The 7th repatriation flight which arrived Friday brought 253 passengers who were quarantined at Tradewinds Hotel and Fatuoaiga. 131 fully vaccinated passengers were released yesterday after final negative COVID test results. The remaining partial and unvaccinated passengers are scheduled to be released tomorrow after final testing.
The last repat flight will be on July 29th and flight intake or registration at the quarantine site in Honolulu will be on July 18th. A total of 270 travelers have been confirmed including standby passengers.
Other topics that the governor touched on in his speech was the political status study commission which is planned for next year, legislation to set up a Samoan language Commission, a bill to remove the off island members of the Board of Directors of the American Samoa Power Authority and other bills which we reported on this morning,
Regarding the general wage increase for ASG, Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said the Fono supports the increase, but did ppoint out there should be review of how the private sector will be impacted.
He said, “We all want higher wages for our people,” and added that everyone should be treated equally.
He said the Fono has observed the salaries in ASG departments and offices and takes note of the “wonderful salaries” of the Governor’s Office.
He quoted a Samoan adage, “o le moa e latalata i le matutuai e tele ana pegu.” which means chickens closest to the coconut scraper gets the most scraps.
