By Staff Writer
The local fishing and farming communities have good reason to feel merry this week when cargo are once again allowed to be shipped from Samoa into American Samoa.
Inter-island travel closed when sailors from a foreign container vessel were recently tested positive for the coronavirus while in American Samoa.
The container ship called into the Apia Port for less than 24 hours before sailing on to Pago Pago.
The Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi confirmed on local media towards the end of the week an agreement reached with the American Samoa Governor to re-open travel between the islands.
Up to 400 tonnes of fish are shipped every month in catches to the canneries in American Samoa from Apia.
Since the travel ban the foreign fishing fleet based at the Matautu-tai wharf are unable to export out to the territory.
Local farmers also sent 25 tons of taros a month on the Lady Naomi to meet the demand on the territory.
The Prime Minister was in a meeting with representatives of foreign shipping companies in Apia concerned about the re-scheduling of port calls for the vessels
“ These container vessels have to call into Apia to off load and upload cargo like local fish shipments for the canneries in the territory,” PM Tuilaepa said.
“Being directed to call into American Samoa first before coming to Apia is stopping them from doing that.”
Regular weekly sailings by the Lady Naomi are on again but only for cargo if coming from Apia and no passengers as it was the agreement when the pandemic started last March.
The boat is allowed to ferry back any stranded Samoans from the territory.
The same arrangement is in place for passengers on flights from Tafua Airport to Faleolo Airport.
No passengers are allowed to fly into the territory from Apia.
