Dear Editor,

Poverty remains a global issue, affecting both developing and developed nations.

Even in some of the world's wealthiest countries, such as the United States, the homeless and the poor are forced to sleep under bridges and in makeshift shelters.

At my press conference last Friday, I was asked to respond to questions from the Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi breakaway faction regarding how the Human Rights Protection Party intends to fund its proposed relief policies, should we be elected in the upcoming General Elections.

My response was clear.

We will apply the same decisive, results-driven leadership approach we used in 1982, when Tupuola Efi’s government fell after a vote of no confidence, and I was appointed Minister of Finance.

The HRPP has navigated major challenges before, and we are still around today.

Our proposed COLA and PELEGA initiatives will be implemented within the first 100 days of an HRPP government, God willing.

These are just the beginning.

Additional components of our comprehensive relief project will be announced in the coming days.

The estimated cost for the COLA and PELEGA initiatives is $178 million tala.

This is a realistic target, made possible by significant savings we have identified by eliminating wasteful public spending and addressing inefficiencies caused by a lack of transparency and accountability, as we had witnessed in the last four years.

In addition, our Policy Platform, which will be released next week, will outline key development projects aimed at driving economic growth.

We firmly believe that social and economic development must go hand in hand, and that these goals can only be achieved through stability and strong, visionary leadership.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Leader of HRPP