The 5th Atoa o Samoa meeting between American Samoa and Samoa opened this morning, Wednesday, at the ASCC Multipurpose Center.
Rev. Elder Faataape Faataitai of CCCAS Peseta-tai gave the opening prayer before Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa addressed the meeting. 
In his remarks, Governor Lemanu said they need to ponder on two questions in order to evaluate the usefulness of these meetings. Whether the people are benefitting? And are there other goals they should aim for in order to make improvements for Samoa and American Samoa?
Samoa Prime Minister Fiame thanked the Governor for the warm welcome extended their delegation and spoke about what has been achieved at the Atoa o Samoa talks.
Play Audio
The meeting continued with presentations on achievements since the last talks in October relating to the economy, labor mobility and immigration, border security, health, education, infrastructure and transportation, telecommunications, environment and climate change and agriculture.
A report from the Labor Mobility and Immigration sector says as of April 2024, 1,222 guest workers from Samoa are employed at StarKist Samoa. The cannery recently requested an additional 500 guest workers from Samoa which has been approved.
ASG is encouraging StarKist Samoa to make a commitment to building a housing facility in American Samoa for their guest workers this year.
Since American Samoa approved the entry permit waiver for citizens of Samoa for a 7-day visit to the territory from October 19 last year to March 31 this year, ASG has approved 870 visitors from Samoa under the program.
Also in the report, last year the Department of Legal Affairs, working with Samoa’s Consul General in American Samoa, Fata Brian Kaio and the Samoa Government, returned 19 inmates who were ordered by the court to return to their country of origin after serving their sentences.
For this year from January to April, at least 20 inmates have been sent back to Samoa.
