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Tis the season: Woman gives up ticket for STP worker

Some of the STP workers who have been laid off, packing all their belongings and things first to take to Samoa. Tickets for the ferry Lady Naomi were sold out, but Polynesian Shipping made it possible for the STP  and StarKist Samoa workers to have first priority to leave on Thursday.  [Photo: Ese Malala]

And that’s what Kolopa, who bought a ticket for herself for yesterday’s MV Lady Naomi sail, but decided at the last minute to give it away to one of the hundreds of Samoa Tuna Processors Inc., cannery employees, laid off as of last Friday.

Samoa News learned of Kolopa’s generosity at the inter island ferry terminal yesterday, when others at the dock were talking about it. Kolopa wanted to use only her first name.

Kolopa said though she wanted to go to Apia for Christmas, she felt that this individual need it more than she did, especially after losing their job.

Employees of STP have come to accept that the canning operation has shut down indefinitely this month because of adverse business conditions. The shutdown has put some 600 workers out of jobs  and has sent a ripple effect throughout the community and also to Samoa, where the majority of production employees are from.

Around 9a.m. yesterday, the inter island terminal was filled with people preparing their packages and shipments for Samoa.

Kolopa thought to purchase another ticket for Thursday’s (tomorrow) sail but it was all sold out.

An official with Polynesian Shipping, the local agent for the Lady Naomi told Samoa News, “We have no more available, especially for Thursday, we have mainly set this day for the workers at the canneries so they can make it back to their homes in Samoa in time for Christmas.”

Kolopa mentioned that some of the cannery workers showed up early morning to drop off most of their things, such as couches, music systems, and kitchen utilities, and boxes of food to take first on the boat and then would leave on Thursday’s sail.

She also said she knew it was a sign for her to not go because her Certificate of Identify (CI) was not ready — so she was grateful to see that some of her other relatives and others who worked at the canneries get to go first.

“It is the season to give and to help someone out as Jesus would do for us” says Kolopa with a smile.