During Saturday’s “official inauguration” of Tri Marine International’s  Samoa Tuna Processors Inc., $70 million state-of-the art cannery plant in Atu’u and part of the ceremony included a “celebrity fish cleaning” segment which took place before the celebration got underway at 12noon.

The first group of four celebrities were Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, Curto and Commerce Department director Keniseli Lafaele. All of them wore rubber-knee high boots, hairnets and coverall plastic clothing.

Some 50 people all together, including several guests, watched as the first four celebrities were given hands-on instructions by STP workers on how to clean fish, before taking on the actual task.

“It was good taking part, and I know for a fact that this is not an easy task for our workers,” Lolo told Samoa News with a smile following the celebrity event. “It’s a tough job and I commend all our people working in this industry.”

Speaking during the actual ceremony, Curto explained that “we had a little symbolic event" prior to the start of the program, and he called it the “first fish cleaning ceremony” in which standing side-by-side with STP’s professional fish cleaners, several special guests showed “their solidarity, respect and appreciation for this industry and for the employees and workers of this plant.” (See inside for more photos and story for details of the official inauguration.)

In the video below, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga (left) participates in the “celebrity fish cleaning” segment of Saturday’s innguration of Tri Marine International’s  Samoa Tuna Processors Inc., cannery operation in Atu’u. Three cannery employees (looking on) assist the governor in the fish cleaning process. [Video: Fili Sagapolutele]