Govt. forks out $11.49m for ‘unforeseen expenditures’

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 24 September 2017, 12:00AM

A total of $11.49 million was spent on “unforeseen expenditures” for the financial year ended 30 June 2016. This was revealed by the Public Accounts of the financial year for 2015-2016 compiled by the Ministry of Finance. 

A copy of it has been obtained by the Sunday Samoan. The document was presented to the Legislative Assembly on 20 June 2017. 

The unforeseen expenses were approved by Cabinet. 

The biggest expense is $2million presented to the Samoa Commonwealth Youth Games 2015 Committee. 

The second largest government expenditure was $1.95million for the long service benefits of School principals.

A sum of $1.7million was given to a request from the Samoa Trust Estates Corporation for Budget Support.

A payment of remaining funds of $1,030,312 to the Building Contractors that constructed Small Island Developing States work in 2015. 

The government also paid $909,910 for the Government Committee Report Regarding Land which was “outlined in the Cabinet Directive FK (12) 27 27th-8th July 2012 FK (15) 31,” says the report. 

It unclear what was outlined in the Cabinet directive as that information was not available on the report.

A total of $500,000 financial assistance was approved by Cabinet for the Samoa Rugby Union from the 2015/2016 appropriation. 

Also approved by Cabinet was financial request for tuition fees at the Faculty of Education at the National University of Samoa to the tune of $601,794. 

According to the public accounts report, $178,763 was paid for the Tenders Board Resolution. This was payment of services provided by Computer Services Ltd for maintenance of the Samoa National Broadband Highway from 1 July 2014 - 30th June 2015. 

There was a request for payment of overtime for the Office of the Electoral Commissioner of $81,304 and $122,349 for digital printers.

According to the financial report, $34,441 was spent on renovation costs for the Prime Minister’s V.V.I.P Lounge. 

There was also a payment to clear the area for the constructing of new prison fence at Tafa'igata worth $118,600, according to the financial report. 

A payment of $70,200 was approved for consultancy work provided for architectural designs for New Prison at Tanumalala. 

$10,000 was for financial assistance for the International Rugby League game between Toa Samoa and Mate Maatonga in Hawaii.

Other expenditures include the government’s luncheon for the Manu Samoa Rugby Team prior departure for the Rugby World Cup. It cost $52,649. 

There was also financial assistance for the Deaf Services-SENESE to Prepare for Rugby Tournament in June 2015 and International Games in 2016 of $5,000. 

“Government Lunch to Welcome the Archbishop of the Anglican Church-Archbishop of York: The Most Reverend and Rt Hon. Dr John Semtamu” was for $4,710. 

There was also payment of retention to A.L.C.C. Brown from the output of the Attorney General for the Construction of S.R.O.S. Laboratory at Nafanua amounted to $3,423. 

According to the report, there was financial Request from the Samoa Returnees Charitable Trust for $30,000. 

The review of the recruitment and selection process for contract positions Consultant amounted to $17,391. 

“Financial Donations for the official dedication of the Seventh Day Adventists Church of the Second Coming (SISDAC)” is $20,000. 

A literacy festival hosted by National University of Samoa around December 2015 was for $8,000. 

An amount of $7,859 was spent on the provision of Samoan 'Afa (Mamanuina o le 'Afa) for the Maota o Samoa in Auckland- New Zealand. 

According to the financial report, a request of financial assistance to fund tuition Fees for students and teachers at the National University of Samoa for $404,705.

A total of $50,000 was the government assistance for the Constructing of Sporting Field for the Methodist Technical School in Savaii. 

The swearing in ceremony for new members of the Council of Deputies cost $10,649 with an additional payment of $279,405 for benefits of the Council.

The Samoa Government Assistance for Cyclone Winston amounted to $125,010. 

An amount of $657,391 was used for the returning of the DS3 currently under the CSL and Samoa's Participation in the 12th Festival of Culture in the Pacific cost the government $277,290. 

The government donated $50,000 to the Samoa Returnees Charitable Trust and also helped clear off a debt for the Construction of the Sagaga College worth $50,000. 

A total of $128,880 payment of remaining items from the 54th Anniversary of the Samoan Government, says the report. 

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 24 September 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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