The launching on Friday, June 6 2025, of the Human Rights Protection Party Poverty Alleviation Initiative flagship policy platform called the “Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)” is a welcome and timely solution to the ongoing hardship that many of our people have endured from the high cost of living and other misfortunes over the last 3 years and 8 months of FAST’s mismanagement of our economy.
The initiative forms part of the HRPP’s broader campaign strategy, with additional policy platforms to be announced in the coming days as we draw closer to the general election in late August.
The poverty alleviation platform is HRPP’s answer to the persistent challenges facing Small Island Economies that have graduated from Least Developed Country (LDC) status but remains highly vulnerable to climate change and, in the case of Samoa, poor governance and mismanagement of the economy.
The situation highlights critical capacity shortages often found in nations with small populations where individuals placed in leadership positions within key institutions lack the necessary leadership knowledge.
And as we all know, little knowledge can be very dangerous.
Under the HRPP’s leadership, Samoa graduated in 2014 from LDC status to become a middle-income country.
And building on that legacy, the COLA initiative proposes a subsidy of $500 tala per person every year for 5 years.
Thus, a family of 10 will receive $5,000 tala per annum.
For a Country of just over 200,000 people, the cost to implement the COLA would be slightly above $100 million tālā per annum.
This project is a realistic and affordable investment for all Samoans and not just a wild stab in the dark.
Most importantly, the relief assistance will be paid directly to beneficiaries, thereby eliminating opportunities for corruption through middlemen schemes.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP