Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — StarKist Samoa production resumed last Friday after the company’s plan was approved by the Health director, says Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale, who also pointed out that U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) medical experts had provided recommendations for re-opening of the territory’s largest private employer.

Talauega, who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR), spoke about the cannery resumption of production at last Friday’s virtual news conference, thanking Attorney General Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima-Utu and Marine and Wildlife Resources director, Taotasi Archie Soliai — who “led the team to negotiate proper terms” with StarKist to reopen.

CDC Epidemiologists, Dr. Thane Hancock and Dr. Richard Brostrom “were very instrumental in advising us on how to approach the situation with StarKist,” said Talauega, who is also chairman of the COVID-19 Task Force.

Dr. Hancock and Dr. Brostrom are part of the 55-member federal team who arrived Mar. 4 to assist and support ASG-lead efforts in response to the COVID-19 spread in the community.

When asked by the media for additional information, Talauega responded that Dr. Hancock and Dr. Brostrom reviewed the proposed plan submitted by StarKist, “and reviewed by our team, and also toured the facility to make sure that we have a better understanding of the situation” at the cannery plant.

And the CDC doctors, “assisted us in terms of making requirements — such as masking, testing, and spacing — especially for the people who will be working inside the fish cleaning room — making sure that there is sufficient distances [space] between each other and also to make sure that there’s proper ventilation,” he explained.

Talauega said that terms of the requirements for StarKist to reopen were finalized and approved by the Health director.

He pointed out that reopening of StarKist Samoa requires the opening of many other businesses including buses, the stores near StarKist, stevedoring service and the Satala-based can-manufacturing plant, Talofa Systems American Samoa Inc.

“So, it was massive work that we needed proper advice on and Dr. Brostrom and Dr. Hancock were critical in that assessment,” he said. “We are confident that the plan that we’ve come up, with help, allow... StarKist and our people who work at StarKist to go back to work to earn a living and live safely.”

And the lieutenant governor promised to make the plan — which lists all of the requirements for the cannery to comply with — available soon to the news media.

Among the requirements already announced during a news conference early last week is that all employees must be fully vaccinated, wear face masks and observe social distancing. Samoa News notes that StarKist made full-vaccination a mandatory policy a few months ago.

A few hours prior to the news conference, U.S-based StarKist Co., confirmed in a statement the resumption of local cannery operations, since the shutdown about two and half weeks ago.

The company’s president and chief executive officer, Andrew Choe, expressed appreciation to Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga and his administration, and the Fono, for their leadership and support to allow StarKist Samoa to continue its planned production runs.

The statement says that StarKist Samoa can now continue its work to manufacture much-needed products to support the demands in the U.S. market and for the U.S. military.”

“This is positive news for StarKist Samoa and it could not have happened without Governor Lemanu and the ASG’s backing. We applaud their efforts to bring a positive resolution to this urgent matter,” Choe said and gave assurance that “the safety of our workers continues to be our top priority.”

“We are continuing to work closely with the entire StarKist Samoa leadership team to ensure that StarKist Samoa remains a safe and secure workplace,” he added.

Some cannery employees told Samoa News on Thursday night of being informed earlier in the day to report to their shifts on Friday. “It’s great to have jobs back for all of us, who all need the income to support our families,” said two cannery workers.