Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The first 50 workers from Samoa, under the local Guest Worker Permit legislation for StarKist Samoa started arriving on Wednesday this week, over a four-day period, says the acting governor, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale, who is also chair of the COVID-19 Task Force and the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR).

The update on workers for StarKist Samoa under the guest worker permit was among the subject matters covered during a task force news conference on Wednesday afternoon, as the first flight with workers for the cannery arrived earlier that day.

Attorney General, Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima-Utu, who attended the news conference, spoke of the entry permits, under the COVID-19 restrictions, which gives exemptions for workers from Samoa for the cannery under the Guest Worker Permit law.

He said that about 100 workers, arriving this week, have completed and complied with all local entry requirements such as being fully vaccinated, while another 100 workers are in the process of meeting local requirements before flights are scheduled later for their entry into the territory.

Talauega added that workers for the canneries are scheduled to arrive in the territory over a four-day period starting Aug. 11th to Aug. 14th. And travelers, under local requirements, will undergo a 24-hour quarantine period at the Tradewinds Hotel. The first-group of travelers are at Tradewinds and will be released after the 24-hour observation, he said.

He said the first approved group for StarKist totals 105 and they have all completed local COVID-19 requirements including the required shots. He revealed that besides the workers for StarKist, there are also charters approved for entering the territory bringing travelers, such as local residents that traveled to Samoa for personal reasons or to obtain VISAs.

StarKist Samoa had initially requested 200 workers from Samoa. And Alailima-Utu said the cannery has requested an increase in the number of workers. He recalled that when the governor met with StarKist officials, it was made clear to the cannery that the government will work with them to bring what ever number of workers are needed to meet production for U.S. demands.

News reports from Apia state that Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Matafa announced recently that negotiations are ongoing with American Samoa to resume weekly scheduled flights between the two Samoas, under a “travel bubble” agreement.

Asked for a comment on this issue, Talauega said that ASG’s Health Department and the Governor’s Office are having ongoing discussions and therefore negotiations are ongoing with their Samoa counterparts. He pointed out that there are local requirements — such as being fully vaccinated and testing negative prior to arrival, which must be met, as well as the 24-hour quarantine period upon arrival in the territory.

He also said that Samoa has its specific requirements for local residents heading to Apia, along with a special requirement for travelers transiting through American Samoa to Samoa. Talauega didn’t give a time-frame on when negotiations will be completed.