COLLEAGUE PETER LAMY FRONT PAGE NEWS IN PAGO PAGO

CII President Peter Lamy returns to the office this week after ten days in American Samoa. His visit to that South Pacific Island paradise coincided with a tuna industry conference. Since the demise of San Diego and San Pedro as the U.S. tuna fishing and processing hubs twenty odd years ago all activities moved to Pago Pago. Tuna fishing is the back bone of American Samoa’s fledgling economy. Less than three months after the Tsunami disaster, production was back into full swing with all the credit going to the Obama administration, the quick actions taking by the processors to restore production but most importantly the resilience and dedication of the local population to get stuck in with the back breaking job of rebuilding the infrastructure.

Peter’s fame in Pago Pago has taken on another dimension. His previous visits were strictly business and even though we have had a presence there for only three years in the making, he and VP Tony Feist have built up many personal friendships from what originally were business relationships. Six or so years ago through Peter’s hobby of fishing he met up with a couple of guys who were deep into M.M.A. (mixed marshal arts) fighting. One was in clothing appropriately named Booyaa and the other was the owner of “The King of The Cage”, a fight promoter. Somehow or other family man Peter felt he could make a contribution behind the scenes of growing both businesses. Outside of work this hobby now consumes much of his spare time as he is heavily involved in management and promotions of fight gear and the fights themselves. Partners now include Mark Burnett of reality T.V. fame and billionaire Mark Cuban, cable TV and Dallas Maverick’s owner.

Polynesian men are gifted by unbelievable genetics and will power to achieve at sport and today American Samoa, population 60,000, boasts more NFL players per head of population than any county in America. Peter sees a huge potential for M.M.A. recruits from the South Pacific and has already put out the feelers to the local community to help find the next “Muhammad Ali” of M.M.A. The article here is a great human interest story and especially so for all those young men in Samoa, who dream of becoming professional sportsmen. Peter all his life has put his money where his mouth is. Because this is the case, this small island territory has embraced Peter as a “local hero”. Already 3,500 young Samoans proudly wear their Booyaa “T” shirts in appreciation, with pride but above all with affection for a man dedicated to maintaining close personal and business ties with all Samoans who come in contact with him. Little wonder our South Pacific Island division is the crown jewel of CII’s operations.

Tags: American Samoa, Booyaa, Mark Burnett, Mark Cuban, MMA, Pago Pago, Peter Lamy, south pacific, The King of The Cage