Gov. Togiola Tulafono left last night for Thailand for meetings with officials of Thai Union, owner of San Diego-based Chicken of the Sea International and COS Samoa Packing.
Information provided last night by the governor’s office says Togiola will be discussing with Thai Union officials the future of the COS plant in American Samoa which was officially closed Sept. 30.
The Governor will also be meeting with other cannery owners with an interest in the Samoa Packing plant.
An administration bill seeking $5 million to purchase Samoa Packing assets remains pending in the Fono, and Togiola, during his State of the Territory address on Monday, pointed out that this measure is still with the Fono for consideration.
According to the information from the governor’s office, Togiola does not hope to convince the objecting members of the Fono to pass the bill, adding that not all of them are opposed to the proposal.
To the objectors of the bill, Togiola said he hopes these individuals will come up with better options to restoring jobs and restoring the “lost part of our industry.”
“Just to object to keep this initiative from moving forward is personal and it is wrong. To keep people from regaining their jobs, and for the business to be restored for American Samoa is wrong,” the Governor said. “In my opinion, the voters who are not able to go back to their jobs should be asking their own faipules and Senators why they oppose [it], and why are they not able to go back to their jobs.”
“Its nice to object and take home the taxpayers monies and do nothing. They keep saying the government should not be engaged in business,” said Togiola and pointed out that the government is involved in a business— such as American Samoa Power Authority, American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority and the American Samoa Community College— all businesses. “Do they see those things failing under my administration?”
“They keep pointing to the Rainmaker: Four years ago, I let it go to the private sector to develop. Nothing [happened],” he said. “It’s going to take this administration to go back and fix that again. Are they going to tell me to stay out of this business? The failures they keep pointing to are not mine.”
“The only part of the Rainmaker I was able to do something [about] before all the previous Fono objections, is running and operating. I can do the same thing for the Rainmaker and for the cannery,” he said. “All I need is a little cooperation from the Fono. Just a little help.”
The Governor also has meetings in Honolulu, which include attending the annual Executive Board meeting of the Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council, where he represents American Samoa, who is part of the Council.
Togiola is also meeting in Honolulu with management of Blue Sky Communications, KVZK-TV and Honolulu-based television station KGMB-TV with regards to program permissions, delivery and inter-connections.
“We hope to resolve these issues before Super Bowl,” said Togiola, who returns to the territory on Jan. 24. During his absence, the acting governor is Attorney General Fepuleai Afa Ripley. |
Comments to this story (21)
lefefe wrote: |
22 Jan 2010 09:57 AM |
| ASPA under Abe Malae was not a failure. It is now. Check that fact out. The TeleCommunications Authority is kept in "bygone era" by Mr. Sene because it serves his business purposes,objectives, and interest. He, his family, and friends have become Samoan Millionaires operating both the governments telecommunication and now their own privately owned telecommunication and airline businesses. A major "conflict of interest" no one dare to investigate. I wonder why? The hotel is a dead and the college is counting it's days. The hospital will survive only because, like ASPA, it's needed service.
Now Governor Togiola want ASG to add a fish authority to ASG's collection of smelly things. Why not? Everything smell like dead fish anyway. How appropriate a legacy to leave behind. |
speculator wrote: |
22 Jan 2010 09:23 AM |
OMG, the Governor is disregarding the Fono and the citizens of American Samoa's plea to forget this worthless notion. He chose instead, to be lead around on a leash by Carlost Sanchez. Hear us out Governor Togiola; GIVE IT UP!!!!!! |
Mike wrote: |
20 Jan 2010 01:37 PM |
| In response to "No Welfare Checks For Me": Last time I checked there were no welfare or unemployment checks handed out to anyone in American Samoa as there are no welfare or unemployment systems in place here. Also, asking for a $25 million subsidy for the tuna industry in American Samoa (known as ASPIRE) from US taxpayers is just as much a handout (known as ‘corporate welfare’) as any welfare check given to an individual. In fact, it’s even worse because StarKist is both: a) already making money, although not as much as they would like to make, and b) not even a US company. The same goes for COS or any other foreign owned tuna company that wants to do business here. Add to that the facts that: a) most of the cannery employees are foreigners, b) the canneries never paid federal corporate taxes and paid very little in the way of local corporate taxes (although ASG didn’t have any problem collecting payroll taxes from the workers), while c) the cannery employees made extensive use of social services provided by the local government (e.g., hospital, schools, prison, etc.) courtesy the US taxpayer, and d) the whole thing is nothing but a big time RIP-OFF and SCAM. So I say, “Let them leave, good riddance, and don’t forget to take that rotten fish stench along with you.” (Maybe then the Territory can begin to attract some real tourists.) |
NO WELFARE CHECKS FOR ME! wrote: |
20 Jan 2010 09:07 AM |
| UNLESS any of you have any great ideas of how to provide JOBS for our people - and not just fish cleaners - managers, secretaries, supervisors, stevedores, bus drivers, store owners and cashiers, agents, etc.. for all of the people that depend on the canneries, etc.. YOU really need to stop bitching. It is really irritating to hear all of the complaints that offer absolutely no value or solutions. People - we need to move on- move forward. If you are going to criticize - be constructive and offer solutions! One solution I DO NOT WANT is to have everyone on welfare - too proud of my Samoan heritage to accept welfare and unemployment checks when I know that I was raised to be much more than that! |
The Ombudsman VSM/Ph wrote: |
18 Jan 2010 01:48 PM |
| Whats the main purpose of his trip to Thailand, and how much his trip will cost, and whos all behind his trip there seeking for help and opinion. It is obvious that he is going to make a deal with the people of Thailand, and perhaps more money might enrounting to there as I surmise. Keep your eyes open American
Samoa, and the (FBI), (C.D.), and (OIG). Could be finding crevise to slide money through. |
fed up wrote: |
17 Jan 2010 12:25 PM |
| IMPEACH AND GET RID OF I SAY!!! YOU GOVERNOR DO NOT QUALIFY TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT....I VOTE TO IMPEACH, WHOS WITH ME? |
alien wrote: |
16 Jan 2010 11:23 AM |
| sole koe aumai foi ga aliens - ua uma Daewoosa, sau Saiga - ua lava se gei aliens ma le maga'o kele o le vaega o le imigration. |
Manu'a wrote: |
16 Jan 2010 09:29 AM |
| Gov, your problem is you promise things and don't deliver, or when you do deliver its not what you promised. You say one thing and do another. Like the Incentive Bill and the rest of other things. you said no more rehire of retired people. Than you turn around and hire retired judge Lefiti to run DOA, while there are people with degrees and experience in that particular field. You have a lawyer running ASPA, not a engineer or someone with technical and management skills. You know there is close to 3000 to 4000 people living in Manu'a and you get them a toy boat and plane. You blind-side the fono and use $200,000.00 of tax-payer money for Hawaii Heritage Week with some of your fono member friends to enjoy yourselves while there was no one to await the Congressional Delegation from DC. You confuse ASG departments with real business companies that rely on pure profits to exist. You use tax-payer money to invest in fiber cable that hasn't produced 2000 jobs like you said it would. Now you want to pay 5 million to purchase COS equipment...etc Where is your business background? Business people are your modern day Samurai. They are cut-throats. The objective is to eliminate your competitor swiftly and fast. That is why Asian business is everywhere in American Samoa. Your proposal will cost the people of this government dearly and it won't work. This is your Rainmaker you was never able to do anything about because you have no business background. |
LAME DUCK ARROGANCE IS A SIGN OF "MAKA VALEA" wrote: |
16 Jan 2010 02:39 AM |
| Gov. Togiola.....please, wake up and smell the coffee! You are a "Lame Duck Governor"....your time left in office is limited to accomplish all that you say. Your arrogance shows a sign of "maka valea". |
Angel wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 05:02 PM |
| The Governor wasted more money on airfares for nothing. Why don't you just stay home and do some cleanning on your administration. Dust off some thiefs and crooks out of the Government jobs. I mean the people you hired that stole tons and tons of "cashs and funds". |
Vietnam Veteran wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 03:20 PM |
| To bad the governor has to fly to Thailand to seek more firewood for the fire that is already burning within ASG. 'Cmon governor, invest in something else that don't waist anymore taxpayers money.
Why don't you dish out the $5 millions to 17 thousands register voters of American Samoa, or whatever the correct number. Everyone will receive roughly $3000.00 to spend on something better than buying the cannery back.
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TB wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 02:36 PM |
| Does the governor really think the COS want another competitor on the market? Nooooo, I dont think so.You're running out of solution give it up and surrender.Give that 5million to upgrade the hospital at least in going to a good use. All the best of luck with your trip to Friedland & come back with all the goodies. |
Sau wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 01:53 PM |
Governor Togiola, you might not have created the hotel situation but, as a leader you had to show those qualities that able and capable leaders have, LEAD. Just because you did not have anything to do with the Rainmaker Hotel does not mean you would spend time barking up another prospective failed propostion. All you want is close this deal and make your cut from the $5 million and walk away. If I was the Fono I would propose a bill that says, If this COS purchase goes throug and it proves a huge mistake, as we know it will, you will pay back every penny ASG wast on this project. |
Mike wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 12:52 PM |
| UPDATE 1-Thai Union Frozen sees higher 2010 net profit (dateline: Thursday Jan 14, 2010 4:06am EST) BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Union Frozen Products TUF.BK, Asia's biggest canned tuna exporter, said on Thursday it expected 2010 net profit to top its estimated 2009 profit of more than 3 billion baht ($91.2 million US dollars). (Side note: Chicken of the Sea tuna provides about half of Tahi Union’s profits) (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE60D07D20100114). It is so sad to see this poor, pathetic, self-deluded little man (I’m sorry, I mean the Governor) crawl on his hands and knees to beg, borrow and plead before his corporate masters. Does he have no dignity? No sense of shame? (Wait, sorry, his CNN performance regarding the siren warning system pretty much answers that question.) Wait...maybe he’s on a “fact finding mission” to see if there are any Samoans in Thailand who might be in need of a Samoan Heritage week or two!
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Snowy wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 12:26 PM |
| Whoooohoooo! Free trip to Thailand! Aren't you glad you were able to provide this Governor with this well needed trip?! |
Tama Samoa Moni wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 10:03 AM |
| In case the Governor did not think of the flip side of democracy, the Reps have a right to disagree and not approve his proposed legislation. Their reason? It's not something prudent and viable to spend $5 million of the taxpayers money. Additionally, Governor pls stop preaching to the Representatives, the most urgent preaching is for you towards your directors and dept heads who continue to embarrass us around the world. Second, no one in their right mind believe that it's worth your continue badgering of Representatives when you don't even have a Business Plan and concreted outline of what it is that you want done with Samoa Packing facility. Third, Samoa Packing is still using their facilities (huge freezer storing fish to be transported) for their benefit. Now the Governor and his senior advisor Carlost Sanchez are on their way to Thailand to talk to the owners. Gentlemen, pls as the kids would say sometimes..."give it up already." |
Ask the Question wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 08:44 AM |
| If ASPA, ASCTCA and College was a not for profit enterprise, and it has not failed under your administration, then why go to the Fono for bailouts on good and bad years?
Is it meek to say, that it would have failed without Fono handing out funds from the taxpayers to keep them above water?
ASPA just borrowed a whole lot of money from fono on a loan, ASTCA cannot keep up, yet but under a monopoly with their lines over and under, and College cannot pump out enough engineers and doctors, tu supply the region with DOCTORS AND ENGINEERS, sir. What did you expect? We do not invest heavily in Education, we spend more on putting prisoners away, and we have a fono that's asleep for thats how you spend like a Party for Festival Heritage's-- why blame the waves or the seashore?
you know, my village has the sweetest tasting ali'lis, but you gotta catch em at night, sir. But we we're not born last night. get off the stage already! |
Manu'a wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 07:58 AM |
| Thailand COS pay their workers I believe $1.00 a day or hour. Why would you want to chase after a company who's main interest is profit at any means. If a cannery does open again people will be paid slave wages even more. The world recession is not clear out of the woods. Anything could happen that might create more problems than good. The logical thing to do is to solve the problems ASG is facing at the present moment. ASPA, ASTCA and ASCC are not true business in a sense they answer to ASG leadership. Like ASG make a loan and ASPA or ASTCA pay for that loan. Than the poor workers get small raises or none. ASG can chose there time of paying ASPA the government electrical bill while your average person has to pay his bill always on time. Most of the istitution the governor mention survive on grants and handouts from the federal government. Those are not pure business like, Makisi, Leala, Cost-You-Less, KT mart and so on. There is a big differance. They do not receive $300 something million dollars every year from the federal government to run ASG. The Rainmaker problem is like the Manu'a transportation thing. 16 years in the executive office and he has very little to show for it. |
amouliresident wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 07:15 AM |
| just a humble opinion governor togiola, the astca and aspa are utilities, yes they operate as businesses, but unless i'm mistaken, they were there before your administration took over. aspa was reported as doing okay until new management took over. i understand that there are no other alternatives "right now on the table" but that does not mean we jump head first with really exploring other alternatives. i'm not a supporter but i would support if and when you bring some viable and feesable options. lets not try to swing for the fence, but try to get on base, meaning start somewhere, even if a call center with any employees locally. gotta stimulate the local economy first. hope you read this and post some of you thoughts. just hoping. take care samoa |
Yes-- all Government Business has failed-- test it out, let them stand on their own and see what hap wrote: |
15 Jan 2010 05:14 AM |
| government is involved in a business— such as American Samoa Power Authority, American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority and the American Samoa Community College— all businesses. “Do they see those things failing under my administration?”
ASPA is a failure can cannot stand alone as a business. So is ASCTCA and the College.
You commit an error when you disingenuosly say, are these business running or more to the question, are they run like a normal business?
Rainmaker is still in government control, so their is NO doubt who owns Rainmaker and it is a complete failure. The Private sector has NOT stepped up for lack of a better term, you got no terms to give. Is their any other question you should ask, then to knock it down?
The Phone company is technology of a bygone era. It saw its day. Operation of management, to technology stinks and ALL know's this?
Compare these business so called run by government to the real outside world and how it acumens technology, moves management, controls cost, creates new opportunities, cuts labor, new contracts outside of American Samoa, streamline accounting, legal etc etc. To compare these operations to same competitive operators in the same business, is proof that will downgrade such stupid statements from a Governor that has not control at all.
Fono is right to hold the purse strings of the treasury, for what YOU are buying in a completely dog eat dog business in the cannery packing, is a brown bag of air that goes pop. Run the numbers. It will tell you that its bad business to chase white elephants. |
matai wrote: |
14 Jan 2010 11:48 PM |
| Talofa e isi Gov..ua la ana e poto e fa'apaleni le budget ele tigaina mulimuli a ea...ua fai si tele o miliona ae po'o fea le mea o goto ai...ua e koe fifiki aku ua leai se aoga..hahahaha.... |
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