By Monica Miller, Pacificmedia@WCPFC13
Only 100 employees of Samoa Tuna Processors will retain their jobs when the cannery closes its canning operations next week.
Joe Hamby, Chief operating officer of Trimarine international which owns STP, told reporters covering the annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission in Nadi, Fiji, that the final day of production is most likely December 16.
KHJ news asked if the cannery is involved in efforts to help the displaced employees.
One of the final orders that STP employees will be packing before the lines are closed indefinitely is for the US department of Agriculture, which funds the school lunch program.
Hamby shared some I formation which led to their decision to suspend canning operations .
The Samoa Tuna Processors plant had banked on large scale customers to buy its tuna cans. Hamby said they didn’t have a brand and were targeting the private market label and food industry market hoping they would consider other factors, instead of just price.
Hamby said I cannot comment when asked about companies which have shown interested in buying the plant.
