By Staff Writer
Direct budget support of ST$91m Australia is giving Samoa over the next 8 years, is being carefully watched so as not to favour political support for the governing party.
Former Prime Minister and HRPP opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, told the local media last week that his party is already alerted to the possibility.
His open admission was at a boastful reassurance by the Minister of Women, Social and Community Development, Mulipola Ms. Anarosa Molio’o, the ST$3m balance in handouts to each electoral constituency will be paid in full as promised.
Tuilaepa, however, has rubbished the Minister’s assurances of full payment, when considering Australia is forking out ST$36.7m in direct budget support for CHOGM this year.
Grants of ST$1m a year per electoral constituency over the next 5 years, was an election promise the Government has been struggling to honour fully since it took office.
The budget payouts so far are only up to $2m for each constituency, about a year out from general elections.
The total unpaid balance for all the 51 recipients is ST$153m with the final year left of the Government term.
“For a former Minister of Finance to give full payment assurances while already fully aware of the severe financial constraints by Government is worrying,” Tuilaepa admonished while talking to the local media.
The former PM is wary of public speculation, especially when learning that Australia is giving close to ST$130m overall, to bolster Samoa’s national budget over the next 8 years,.
The CHOGM support funding is added to the total amount.
The budget funding was signed last year by the Minister of Finance Lautimuia and the Australian High Commissioner in Samoa at the time.
“With this kind of money involved the public will surely be left to wonder whether Australia or even New Zealand are giving political support to the FAST party.”
Tuilaepa felt that the Minister of Women should have been fully aware of these public anxieties.
He berated her for being reckless by going ahead with assurances of full payment for constituency grants.
“This is the same sort of political concern currently happening in Papua New Guinea where Australia is perceived as having an overpowering influence.”
Tuilaepa did gave assurances of his own that these outside country influences are not lost on the opposition party.
“We as a party are not fools, we are keeping close watch on all this.”
Australia has already asserted that its budget support is in “partnership with development partners that are committed to Samoa’s long-term sustainable development – New Zealand, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the European Union.”