In his Flag Day address, Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie paid tribute to American Samoa’s forefathers who ceded the Eastern Samoan islands to the United States and thanked the private sector for their contribution to the territory's economy.

Speaking to a crowd of over 2,000 at the Veterans Memorial Stadium, Gaoteote took the podium with a call to the audience for cheers in marking the 114 years since American Samoa became part of the U.S. family.

He says the Flag Day celebration remembers and honors the deed of cession signed by the territory’s forefathers giving these islands to the United States.

“This day holds special meaning and significance because it honors the wisdom of our forefathers when they entrusted, the hopes and dreams of our people to the greatest country the world, the United states of America,” he said.

“We are here to celebrate...the rights that we enjoy today - freedom, justice, and liberty. We owe it to our ancestors, to safeguard and expand these rights for the next generation,” he said.

To the private sector Gaoteote thanked them for their contribution to the local economy. He pointed out that two businesses will participate in the siva and pese. Additionally, the two companies “have made a huge impact on our economy”.

The first one is StarKist Samoa, which “employs over 2,000 people - the majority of the employees are from our sister island of Samoa,” he said.

The other group, is Bluesky Communications “with roots that extend across the ocean to our sister country of Samoa, provides jobs and opportunity for over 200 people,” he said.

More details in Saturday’s edition.