Free money. Bigger pensions. No GST on food. And now, a bridge connecting Upolu and Savai’i.

It’s a campaign platform full of generosity and ambition, and it’s coming from the same political party that held power for more than 40 years. The question many are asking is: where was this vision then? The Human Rights Protection Party, now in opposition, is pledging over $200 million a year welfare scheme and a bridge across the ocean.

There’s no denying the reality. Families who require support need serious attention. But the idea of giving $500 to every citizen, $1,000 to every fully vaccinated newborn, and removing GST from basic food items would more than triple Samoa’s current budget deficit. And that’s before we even consider the bridge.

Let’s be honest. A fixed link between Upolu and Savai’i isn’t a development plan. It’s a political fantasy. Just the engineering would run into the billions. The ongoing maintenance would cost millions more. For a country already managing limited public resources, this sort of commitment isn’t visionary. It borders on reckless. It might make for a catchy slogan, but it doesn’t reflect the financial or geographic realities we face.

Then there’s the issue of giving everyone $500, regardless of their situation. Why include those who are already wealthy? Welfare should support the vulnerable, not those who are already doing fine. 

And if we’re serious about building a better Samoa, let’s start with what really matters. We need better hospitals. Not just new buildings, but enough doctors and nurses so that people aren’t sent overseas for basic treatment. We need better education. Not just more scholarships, but classrooms that work, teachers who are supported, and schools that prepare our young people for the real world.

We also need to talk honestly about the private sector. It is the backbone of our economy. Instead of throwing hundreds of millions at blanket cash payouts, we should be supporting businesses to grow, invest, and hire. That is how you build a country and its people, from the ground up, not by handing out cheques.

And just because FAST promised $1 million for every constituency through its district development programme doesn’t mean HRPP has to one-up them. Sometimes the little things make the biggest difference. When campaign promises start to sound like an auction, the public starts to see them for what they are: a desperate attempt to win back power.

Let’s be clear. Help is needed. People are hurting. But leadership isn’t about saying what sounds good. It’s about making decisions that are thoughtful, honest, and realistic.

This election will be a test of whether we choose promises or plans. Whether we want a better future or just another bridge too far.