30 Apr 2013

Manu'a grateful for free American Samoa goods shipping link

3:24 pm on 30 April 2013

Manu'a residents in American Samoa are looking forward to thanking the governor in person about no longer having to pay to ship food and supplies in from Pago Pago.

Lolo Matalasi Moliga plans to visit Manu'a with a delegation tomorrow on his first official trip there since becoming governor.

The MV Sili's first sailing with free cargo for residents begins this week, and will be on offer fortnightly with each sailing until further notice, but travelling passengers still pay fares.

The American Samoa governor made the announcement last week, saying it will assist Manu'a residents, who are heavily dependent on goods being shipped from Tutuila, at high costs.

Manu'a residents like Ale Filoialii are pleased the Governor's administration will bear the cost.

"So we talk, a lot of businesses, we talk together, and we decided 'oh that's a good idea that the governor made because it will help us in doing transportation."

The Governor's office says the Legislature recently approved the 2013 supplemental budget for all of MV Sili expenses, which will also cover the shipping costs.