The Government postponed the releasing of $1.8 million tala each for three districts — Siumu, Anoamaa 1 and Faasaleleaga #2

2026-02-17 - 00:29

Chairpersons from across Samoa gathered at the To’oa Salamasina Hall for the signing ceremony of the $1.8 million tala allocation for each district’s development. However, three districts were not included in the signing ceremony: Siumu, Anoamaa #1 and Faasaleleaga #2. For Faasaleleaga #2, the Prime Minister had previously during his press conference announced the discontinuation of its project due to issues surrounding the appointment of the district’s chairperson. However during his keynote address Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi told the gathering that the the reasons is due to different opinions in regards to the project. “Sei vagana ai itumalo e 3 o lea e iai le to’a ona o nisi foi o fuafuaga nae tou te silafia. “E iai lava tulaga e le o toe nameselaina ona o tulaga foi i le feeseeseaiga o manatu ma lagona.” However the Minister of Women, Community and Social Development Moefaauouo Julius Tafunai told TV1 Samoa that the reason why the Siumu District Funds are hold is because their district action plan is not yet ready. As for his own constituency, Anoamaa #1, Moefaauouo also told TV1 Samoa that the situation is similar to that of Faasaleleaga #2, where some matai had politicised the matter, resulting in disputes within the village. In his keynote address, Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi Schmidt reminded chairpersons from all 51 districts that the success or failure of their development initiatives rests in their hands. “Ole tuualalo a au nei o le taitai o le malo ma le kapeneta. “O outou uma ua filifilia e avea ma taitaifono ma taitaifono soofaatasi aemaise i latou ua taiulu iai ofisa tutotonu o Fono Faavae, matou te tatalo atu ma le agaga faaaloalo. “O manuia, o lelei ma le taunuuga o le faamoemoe o le tatou malo ia taunuu le miti a le malo o lena ei outou aao.” He urged them to work together in unity for the benefit and progress of their respective districts. “E le sau lesi itumalo e fai le lelei o lesi itumalo. O le taitaifono onia e nafa ma le vaaiga o mea uma lava, fafo, totonu, fale, mea uma, faatonutonu. “O le tiute o le taitaifono o le taitaia lea o le tatou poloketi i ona vaega uma, o lona uiga o lelei ma faaletonu ua i le ao o le taitaifono.”