Tuilaepa says “There is No Money, Plain and Simple”

2026-02-14 - 23:10

Letter to the Editor by HRPP Leader, Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. All statements made herein are the writer’s opinion and have not been verified by SGN. “We have heard the Minister of Finance promise that some of the Government’s campaign commitments will finally be honoured once the New Year’s budget is approved. However, the goalposts keep moving with ad-hoc conditions and one excuse after another. The reality is that revenue is projected to decline progressively through 2028, particularly as some of the Government’s “get rich quick” schemes fail to gain the confidence of development partners and investors. Overseas taxpayers also demand accountability for the use of their donor aid funds. Unaudited village development projects, FAST Party officials found guilty by the courts of corruption for using project funds to campaign, refusing project financing for districts under HRPP leadership, and the purchase of a $13 million tālā ferry that cannot be located are serious red flags for donors. Meanwhile, Prime Minister La’auli continues to speak of new sources of funding and even the purchase of two jet aircrafts, to be financed by overseas FAST supporters, many of whom are pensioners. He is showing that it is easy to dream and make big promises while in the opposition. But as leader of the country, the public will follow up and hold him to his word. The situation becomes even more serious with criminal cases looming on the horizon. What will happen then? The country watches as our Treasury is being drained, public funds are being diverted to corrupt projects, no new revenue streams, no long-term investments in infrastructure, health and education. We can only pray that honest leaders, if any within FAST, will step up and make the right decisions in the interest of our nation and people. This requires leadership with integrity and moral courage to resist the temptation of personal gain and greed. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Leader of HRPP