It shall be a mystery to all curious Samoans, who will continue to ask questions as to why the 2025/26 Budget was rejected outright before its First Reading.
The question of no confidence had been settled twice before, and there was a sense that our nation would quietly sail towards a general election on its due date at the end of the parliamentary term in 2026.
However, the Budget never saw the light of day and was stopped dead in its tracks before the public heard a word about its content.
Was this a slap in the face to the public? Was this behaviour in contempt of the people’s intellect? Was this action another middle finger salute to the nation?
Understandably, HRPP, the real Opposition, did their job and moved the motion to reject the Budget. What’s puzzling was the support from FAST Rebels, who effectively rejected their own Budget and condemned themselves to the consequences of their broken manifesto promises.
In a move that some may describe as dirty, HRPP made sure that Samoa wouldn’t hear anything positive that could be in there. They went for the jugular vein and put an end to the Budget’s existence. They won with the support of the FAST Rebels in a historic defeat of the Government’s fiscal proposals for the next year.
Now that Parliament has been dissolved and the election date announced, the game of thrones has begun in search of the new kings and queens of Samoan politics.
The lolly scramble of sweet promises and rewards is now hitting the airwaves, TV screens, Facebook pages, and many other platforms. The greedy traits associated with people in this profession have reared their head once again. The answers to everyone’s prayers have been pronounced and the masses are cheering with joy and thanks.
But going back to the failed Budget, the Caretaker Minister of Finance, afioga Lautimu’ia Va’ai, had revealed that in his 30 years working for the Government, he had never seen Samoa in a better financial state.
The Budget had included the $1.8 million for 51 districts which would have stood a better chance of being distributed on time with the new Steering Committee.
A 50 percent rise ($300) in the pension rate and also a 50 percent raise ($150) for those with impairments and disabilities per month.
The issue of overseas Samoan citizens who wished to vote in the General Election was also defeated, along with the proposals to rezone the electorates, reinstating the Saleaula seat.
And all because of the actions of the FAST Rebels who were yelling out their commitment to fulfil their election manifesto. They have gone back on their word. It is a betrayal of the trust they were given by the people. FAST have failed.
It wasn’t a failure of Fiame Naomi Mataafa and her Cabinet but the selfishness and obsession for power by the man who is facing criminal charges and has singlehandedly destroyed the FAST party and the Government of Samoa.
Fiame Naomi Mataafa and her steady Cabinet have now formed Samoa Uniting Party (SUP) to contest the elections. It is a smart move so they can now distance themselves from the endless chaos happening within the FAST Rebels and the Opposition on a daily basis.
