Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An open letter from Launiu Saelua addressed to Samoa’s Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour, Wayne Sooialo calls for “efficient and less painful operations” when the Lady Naomi arrives at the Fagatogo inter-island wharf in American Samoa.

Dated June 28, 2022 it cites extreme chaos at the inter-island wharf each and every time Lady Naomi arrives to offload and load cargo to/from Apia.

The letter was also  copied to the Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC) Leiataua Samuel Phineas.

The Lady Naomi is one of the vessels operated by the SSC, which is an agency of the Government of Samoa.

 “The ordeal and experience is outdated and we humbly implore the Honorable Minister and General Manager of SSC to re-tender or instruct the local agent in American Samoa for a more efficient and less painful operation for the people that hope to clear incoming cargo to American Samoa, and more important the cargo to be sent from Pago Pago to Apia.

“The current system is outdated with pushing, nepotism, unorganized operations that is very strenuous to the people that are both Samoan citizens and American Samoa families that try to send cargo from Pago Pago to Apia.”

However local agent Polynesia Shipping Operations Manager, Kana Siafuafu says the process in place at wharf is the American Samoa Government’s purview, not the agent’s.

 “I would like to make it clear as all operations going on at the Inter-Island wharf are not from the Agent. 

“We are just Agents trying to service the people with Lady Naomi both the inbound and the outbound. The operation is run by the government departments, usually the Port, Customs, Department of Health and Quarantine, as we only follow their instructions,” said Siafuafu.

Adding that the main reason for the lack of space ever since the COVID restrictions is that the vessel only travels every two weeks, and that can double the usual amount of inbound and also outbound cargo that was shipped before the cut back on voyages. 

 “That's another reason why there's a lot of people at the wharf, lots of cargo in the cargo fale behind the registrar's office kills the space,” said the Operations Manager.

The letter further cited the lengthy process.

 “The lining up at 12pm and finally able to leave the wharf at 4pm is completely unnecessary with manageable and possible improvements to develop this service for the people.”

The letter also attacks the agent citing the lack of proper care “in providing this service at a less chaotic manner,” suggesting that SSC opt to re-advertise for a local agent and called for “a better company that considers a better service for the people and not have a condescending view and not care about their service to the people.”

The Minister and General Manager of the SSC were also called to travel to the wharf to see first-hand the disorder and ineffective service encountered by the people.

 “You will see familiar Samoan business owners, faifeau & faletua, the elderlies all struggle to send/ receive their cargo in the most unfashionable means.

“If the management of the Pago Pago agent that handles Lady Naomi also happens to read this, our humble request is to act on it. Not for any other ill feeling towards your company, but for the people of Samoa & American Samoa that depend on you for good service.”

The local agent says there were changes that were put in place on May 26, 2022.

In an email reply to Samoa News queries, Polynesia Shipping Operations agent said, “There was an announcement on all medias about the schedule time for pick up and outbound to be there, set up a tent & chairs in the fale cargo for the people to wait to pick up cargo,” and this new protocol has continued from May 26 through last Thursday (06/23/22) on Lady Naomi's last trip to Apia, the agent wrote.

Siafuafu thanked the Port Administration team for the meetings with Customs, DOH, DPS, Agent and other necessary departments involved with Lady Naomi operation to try to better the services at the wharf.

 “I just want to say, it's a free world, and a freedom of speech, for anyone to complain, as we all know, our people [are] never satisfy with anything, no matter what and how we try,” concluded the Operations Manager.

BACKGROUND

New protocols were instituted at the inter-island dock on May 26, 2022. Chairs were set up 6 feet apart in the terminal building and protocol is for members of the public to get in line and be served on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis.

A senior Port Administration staffer explained that those picking up cargo are now given a designated time to be at the dock, while those sending cargo were relegated to the latter part of the day.

One of the big factors for the improved service is the effort by the Port security. They make sure everyone who came to the terminal building is knows and is in compliance with all the instructions.