Unforeseen expenditures for the Samoa Government amounted to $12.78 million for Financial Year 2018, an increase of $3 million compared to $9.80 million in previous financial year.

This was outlined the Ministry of Finance’s prepared public accounts report for F.Y. 2018. Emails to the Chief Executive Officer, Leasiosio Oscar Malielegaoi last week on certain subjects indicated in the Public Accounts were not answered as of press time.

A total of $7.59 million was paid for overseas medical bills in India and New Zealand. The first issued in 2017 was $5 million and second bill was paid in 2018 in the amount of $2 million.

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology’s unforeseen expenses totaled $1.60 million which included the operating and maintenance of the Samoa National Broadband Highway from July 2015 to 2018 in the amount of $1.48 million and the $120,000 was utilized for the purchasing of new vehicle for the Office of the Regulator.

The National Health Services expenses not budgeted amounted to half a million which was a “payment for long service benefit to national health employees” of $543,603 and $10,000 to the Samoa Sleep Clinic.

The Ministry of Police’s expenses amounted to $382,186 and it consisted of $11,935 which was allocated for the Special Investigation Committee to investigate former Assistant Commissioner Samoa Mulinu’u and other officers in the Police Department.

There was also $50,000 paid to Mareta Taivasu’e from the Police.

The report says $320,251 was paid out to former Assistant Police Commissioner Fauono Talaleleio Tapu and Leiataua Avigsa Salale who resigned from the Ministry of Police.

The Ministry for Revenue spent $396,530 for communicating and sharing information program about tax using bearing point curacao and it was approved through Cabinet. More than $100,000 was spent on the Head of State’s house in Vailele.

According to the public accounts report, $1.3 million was allocated for sports in F.Y. 2018; whereas half a million was given to the Samoa Rugby Union; $300,000 was given for the Team Samoa for the Pacific Mini Games in 2017 and $220,000 was donated to Team Samoa for the Commonwealth Youth Games while $20,000 was the government’s donation to Toa Samoa’s preparation for the Rugby League Cup in 2017.