By Staff Writer
The cargo barge Fotu-o-Samoa arrived at the weekend with a full cargo of food, personal effects and the bodies of two people brought over from American Samoa.
The bodies are understood to be cremated in Apia and the ashes returned home to the families.
Eye witnesses on the Matautu-tai wharf at the unloading of the cargo looked on as local officials including police ran an inspection check on the bodies before they were released to a local funeral parlour.
A senior health official confirmed that it is not often that bodies from the American territory are brought across for cremation. Most are for burial at the wish of the families.
The senior health official also allayed any concerns about the risk of the coronavirus COVID-19.
“Remember American Samoa is also free of the virus like us so the risks are low,” the health official assured.
Travel between the two islands picked up again after border controls were relaxed, encouraged by both still free from the pandemic spread of the virus.
Cargo trips from American Samoa are reported to be bringing in full loads, mostly of personal effects, from families on the territory for kinsfolks at home.
The Fotu-o-Samoa wobbled home at the weekend under a full load that included stacks of chicken boxes, reportedly for local retailers in a rush to import the popular freezer goods for the home market.
The high demand recently cleaned out stock available in shops around the country until it was restored recently.
Boxes of chicken were piled up all over the domestic wharf for waiting importers to cart off.
Reports circulated by shipping officials on the wharf are that the boat was forced to leave behind part of the big cargo for the next boat trip to Apia.
The Samoa Shipping Corporation is yet to respond to email enquiries into the current demand for cargo shipments between the two Samoas.
