The American Samoan governor, Lolo Moliga, says Washington's concept of 'one-size fits all' has never worked for American Samoa, and never will.
Pago Pago, American Samoa. Photo: AFP
Speaking at the White House group on Insular Areas in Washington D.C. he said the local tuna canneries, Starkist Samoa and Samoa Tuna Processors, needed special help, including economic incentives that American Samoa could not give.
He said without federal help, the canneries would go and would be an economic disaster for American Samoa.
"I can predict those two canneries, if they can not make money in the next five years they will be out of our territory."
Lolo Moliga said issues for the canneries included the minimum wage and the recent decision by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration compressing the fisheries zone.