Local residents seeking assistance at the Immigration Office yesterday were shocked when they were told that the hours of operation had changed to 8 a.m. - 12 noon (as per the sign in the photo).

Samoa News visited the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei yesterday at 1:30 p.m. to find nobody waiting outside in the EOB sitting area, and not a single person in the immigration line.

Samoa News spoke to an employee of the Immigration Office, who explained that on Hawaiian Air flight nights, immigration officers who are assigned to work inside the airport terminal at the departure area only work from 8 a.m. - 12noon during the day and the three hours that they miss during the day are made up for when their shift at the airport begins.

So just how long has this practice been going on? For a while, Samoa News was told.

Apparently, the Immigration Office is short staffed to the point that the employees who are not on airport duty during flight nights are not able to handle the work load at the main office during normal business hours.

Samoa News understands that in addition to the recent reduction in work hours for government employees, the fact that there will be no more overtime paid out is the cause of this change — which was not publicly announced.

Irate local residents stopped by Samoa News yesterday to voice their frustration, wondering if there isn’t any other way to address the issue without having to close up early.

Samoa News understands that between 12noon and 4 p.m., local residents are still able to pick up applications and ask questions but no paperwork will be handled (i.e. issuance of clearance certificates, ID renewal, etc.)

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga in announcing the government’s reduced hours to his cabinet, he said that this should not affect ASG’s ability to provide service to the public; and he expected them to find a way to do so.