21 Sep 2005

American Samoan senate studies possible cannery relocation impact

1:20 pm on 21 September 2005

The American Samoa Senate has undertaken an impact assessment if the territory's canneries relocate.

Relocation is a possibility if the tax exemptions that now apply to the canneries expire at the end of this year.

The assessment says a minimum of nine thousand jobs will be lost and if the government does not have strategies in place then more people will become unemployed.

The Senate President, Lolo Moliga, has written to the Governor commenting on the apparent political inertia over developing alternative strategies in the event the unthinkable materializes.

He says every business and all residents will be affected if the canneries go.