Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi says American Samoa should think really hard about their status.
As a “disorganized and unincorporated territory,” they “will always fall behind the United States of America when they come together for global meetings, like the Small Island Developing States (S.I.D.S) conference.”
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Tuilaepa made the comment during an interview with Samoa News in Apia last week. Told that the correct status is “unorganized,” the Prime Minister repeatedly said “disorganized”.
For the S.I.D.S conference, the PM pointed out with a conference such as this, American Samoa should have its own voice.
“This is similar to village council meetings, when the chiefs meet, the chief’s son always sits at the back behind his father. This is what’s happening here, when the world meets, the chiefs meet and American Samoa sits behind and waits for the United States.”
“That’s what American Samoa should really think about, if they should continue to be sitting behind the U.S.”
About the Bumble Bee cannery, Tuilaepa told Samoa News that Bumble Bee President and CEO Chris Lischewski is slated to break ground for the new cannery in December. Tuilaepa said initially the plan was to break ground early next year, however the date has been changed to December.
He confirmed that the cannery operations will be at Matautu Wharf in the town area of Apia where Bumble Bee plans to build a processing plant for pre-cooked loins and frozen tuna products and the company expects to start with 250 – 300 direct employees.
Tuilaepa told Samoa News this is a promising project and they are happy with it, as they have been waiting for a cannery to open in Samoa, because not only will it benefit the Samoan government, but mainly the Samoan people, as they will be gainfully employed.
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