21 Jul 2014

American Samoa warn against Bumble Bee

7:40 pm on 21 July 2014

American Samoa's governor has warned that a deal between the Samoan government and a United States company to set up a fish loin plant in Apia will cast economic uncertainty over the territory.

Lolo Matalasi Moliga says while there are bright hopes for the territory's economy with the tuna industry and fisheries doing well, the MOU signed between Bumble Bee and the Samoan Government is a threat.

He also says bold investments in fisheries development by China and European countries threaten the competitive advantage of American Samoa's canneries and place them on an unstable footing.

He says mandatory minimum wage hikes that apply to American Samoa need to be halted as a safeguard to the viability of the fisheries in the territory.