Govt. tables $9.05m Supplementary Budget

By Lanuola Tupufia 16 December 2015, 12:00AM

The overseas medical treatment scheme will receive an additional $1.5million, thanks to a $9.05million Supplementary Appropriation Bill (no.1) 2015/2016. 

The Supplementary Appropriations were tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi when Parliament reconvened yesterday.

Health is one of the many ministries being allocated a portion of the Supplementary budget. 

In June this year, the 2015/2016 budget had cut back its assistance on the scheme, approving only $2.5million - a drop of $8.5million from the previous year’s budget.  

In delivering his speech, Tuilaepa maintained the theme of living within our means. 

“The ‘minimal’ supplement aims at appropriate allocation of money for the welfare of the country,” said the Prime Minister. 

He explained the additional $1.5million was needed by the overseas scheme to assist those who cannot be locally treated for different diseases. 

Also in the budget, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will get $350,000, earmarked to develop women in agriculture. 

The Ministry of Communication, Information and Technology will receive $1.1m for the Samoa Broadband Highway Project. 

On the education side, an additional $2million is allocated for the sector. 

About $1million of that sum will go towards teachers’ wages and another amount for the wages of retired teachers who have been called back to serve. 

There is also money put aside for students’ scholarships at the National University of Samoa. 

With the Commonwealth Youth Games that took place in September; $70,000 has been put aside to pay for bills for hosting the game. 

As for the Ministry of Police; $63,000 will go towards paying their debt to works and usage of the warehouse where captured dogs were sheltered. 

The supplementary appropriation budget also highlighted government revenue of $4million from S.I.F.A and more than $2million from State-Owned Enterprises dividends. 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also contributed in collecting $217,396 from government land and $1.1million from the Office of the Regulator. 

The Ministry of Revenue has only recorded a sum of $432, 802 from tax. 

Parliament has been adjourned until January next year. 

 

By Lanuola Tupufia 16 December 2015, 12:00AM

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