AMERICAN SAMOA’S KACHMARIK ARGUES FOR CUSTOMS PAY RAISE
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (March 28, 2002 – Radio Australia)---An official in American Samoa has argued at a territorial Senate hearing that a pay raise for Customs agents is justified, to prevent them from taking bribes.
Governor Tause Sunia’s government is asking for US$ 200,000 to fund the raises.
Manager of the Office of Revenue and Collections in American Samoa, Jack Kachmarik, says most of the Customs workers earn an annual salary of less than US$ 8,000, which is inadequate pay for the work that they do.
He says alert customs officials are responsible for intercepting drugs, illegal cigarettes and other contraband cargo at the island’s port and airport.
Mr. Kachmarik says if customs agents earned decent salaries, and were respected, they would be unlikely to give in to the temptation of bribes.
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