Recognized as the largest tuna processing plant in the world, local Star Kist Samoa Inc., the largest private sector employer in American Samoa, celebrated its 40th anniversary last Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tafuna.
Taeaofua Dr. Meki Solomona, General Manager for Star Kist Samoa's Total Quality Management Division told that the presence of Star Kist Samoa Inc., which he referred to as "the backbone of the local economy," has been "a blessing to our people and the government of American Samoa."
Taeaofua described Labor Day weekend as the traditional time that StarKist honored all employees, considering it "Labor Employee Appreciation Day".
This year, as a show of appreciation, each employee received a "mea alofa" of four cases of wahoo, an umbrella, a t-shirt, and a Charlie the Tuna swimming raft.
"For all the years the company has been in American Samoa, it has helped in every aspect of developing the Territory - helping the 'small man', and having an impact in every sector of the community," said Taeaofua.
Celebration festivities kicked off with a colorful parade of most of the 2,858 cannery employees in their department colors of red, aqua blue, yellow, black and burgundy led by StarKist officials local and visiting dressed in dark blue.
PC Fuimaono Asuega was singled out by StarKist officials as one of the earliest StarKist Samoa "founding" employees and long-time supporter of the company and was honored with a special plaque during the ceremonies for his years of faithful service.
Other long serving employees were also honored during Saturday's celebration.
Moaga and Hunkin were given the honor of raising the American and Tutuila flags with the Leone High School Taumafai Swing Choir delivering their well-received renditions of the National Anthems.
Mr. Henry Bernard spoke on behalf of the cannery employees and shared his story of how the cannery had grown and expanded way since he first took a job there in 1968.
Bernard recalled how there were only 180 employees and three tables for skinning and cleaning the fish when StarKist Samoa Inc. first opened its doors here in 1963. Now 40 years later, the numbers have increased tremendously to include nearly 3,000 active employees and many, many more tables.
The long time StarKist employee also noted the overwhelming increase in the number of production and gave much credit for Saturday's celebration to Western District Governor Fuimaono Asuega, whom Bernard said was "one of the main reasons why StarKist Samoa is here today". He also gave special thanks to Phillip Thirkell and Barry Mills for their "excellent" leadership.
Off-island StarKist officials like Mr. Brian Murphy, a former manager of StarKist Samoa Inc. who now heads the StarKist Ecuador branch addressed the employees and guests.
He remembered when the local cannery could barely produce 200 tons of product because of the lack of fish and marveled at today's cannery capacity of over 600 tons.
Among other StarKist Samoa ranking officials present were Heinz's Vice President of Seafood Operations and Procurement Barry Mills, local General Manager Phillip Thirkell, and Vice President Ed Stockwell.
Several StarKist workers enthused that they were "excited" about the celebration and were "looking forward" to remaining with the cannery as a means of providing for themselves and their families.
When asked about the threat of the cannery relocating elsewhere, StarKist employees collectively agreed and told that such an incident would be "devastating" to the local economy, not to mention the high rate of unemployment with thousands of people having to search for jobs that require certain skills and qualifications that most of them (cannery workers) do not possess.
Charlie the Tuna at StarKist Samoa's 40th anniversary ceremony