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Workforce Appreciation Day is next week Friday

“AUAUNAGA LE FA’ATUAOIA — COMMITMENT TO SELFLESS SERVICE”
fili@samoanews.com

This year’s Workforce Appreciation Day, an initiative started four years ago when the Lolo Administration took office in January 2013, is set for next Friday, Sept. 1 — ahead of the Sept. 4 Labor Day holiday. The committee charged with overseeing the event gave a presentation during the recent cabinet meeting, where Human Resources director, Eseneiaso Liu reveled that this year’ s theme will be: “Auaunaga Le Fa’atuaoia — Commitment to Selfless Service”.


Liu thanked ASP A executive director Utu Abe Malae for agreeing to be this year’s keynote speaker for the event, honoring American Samoa’ s working force — both the government and private sector.

Two weeks ago, the committee met with representatives from the private sector and Liu said many businesses that didn’t participate in the past, have shown great interest in being a part of the program this year. She said some businesses have stepped up to help with the event and they will make their own official announcements in due time. According to Liu, the celebration will be held at the Veterans Memorial Stadium and will end at 12noon.

Committee representative, Muavaefa’atasi John Suisala, who is also the deputy director of DHSS, conducted the presentation, which included details of the day’ s program.

The Boy Scouts of American Samoa, accompanied by individuals representing farmers and fishermen, will raise the United States flag as well as the American Samoa flag.

Employees of Paramount Builders — a private company — will sing the National Anthems of the United States and American Samoa, while Manumalo Baptist will provide hymns for the service.

According to Muavaefa’atasi, the raising of the flags will be followed by the reading of the Workforce Appreciation Day proclamation — with the English version to be delivered by a representative of McDonald’s Restaurant American Samoa, and the Samoan version to be read by Fiapa’ipa’i Fruean, chief executive officer of Nana’s Company.

There is a segment of the program designated for special presentations, but details were not available as of press time.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga will make special remarks and Utu will deliver the keynote address.

Similar to the past four years, there will be a moment of silence observed for members of the local workforce who passed away in the last 12 months (since last year’s Work- force Day Appreciation), followed by a 21-gun salute by the Police Honor Guard.

Muavaefa’atasi said the government and the private sector are to submit no later than Aug. 28 the names of those who passed away in the past year, so the committee has a complete list before Sept. 1.

The program also includes the pass-in-review and Muavaefa’atasi said there would also be floats in the parade — as in previous years.

Entertainment will be provided by senior citizens of the Territorial Administration on Aging, followed by a performance by Nana’s Company.

A couple of Samoan games are included as part of the program and Muavaefa’atasi asked members of the committee over- seeing the games to make sure that “tug-of-war” is included, because it’ s always popular during these celebrations.

Based on the current plan, all participants should assemble at the Veterans Memorial Stadium field by 7a.m with the of offcial ceremony to begin 30-minutes later.