Dear Editor,

Last Tuesday, the Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Ale – Molio’o, tabled the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Government’s Budget Estimates totalling $1.2 billion, with estimated expenditures expected to exceed targeted revenues by $215 million, to be mysteriously financed by new monies from somewhere.

The FAST Government core development strategy continues to be the promise of large payouts through Fono Faavae projects.

As we've previously witnessed, much of these project funds are used for vote-buying schemes or end up paying for lease arrangements or salaries linked to the FAST Party family members.

We can certainly expect more of this free flow of taxpayers’ money at the upcoming opening of the Samoan Fale on Parliamentary grounds at Tiafau.

Of course, most of it will likely find its way back to Government leaders through envelopes and fine mats.

In Samoa, the traditional opening of buildings is a way to raise funds to pay for the construction itself, which makes this event a very odd one, considering that it is a government project fully funded by public money.

With the Budget Estimates now before Parliament’s Finance Committee for detailed examination and reporting back to Parliament, no further action should be undertaken under the Standing Orders.

However, the Prime Minister has already announced district meetings throughout Savai'i and Upolu in the coming days for the Government to effectively re-present the Budget to the public, even before Members of Parliament have had the opportunity to debate it following the Committee’s report as required under current Standing Orders.

It means all Members of Parliament, including FAST MPs, are incapable of doing their jobs in Parliament.

To make matters worse, a motion has now been introduced for Parliament’s Privileges Committee to investigate the Prime Minister’s extraordinary allegations that the Leader, Deputy Leader, and Secretary of the HRPP have committed treason against the FAST Government simply for carrying out their duties under oath as the opposition of the day in accordance with the Constitution of Samoa.

This latest attack on democratic principles shows how La'aulialemalietoa's increasingly erratic behaviour is systematically destroying Samoa's public institutions.

Parliamentary processes have been ignored, freedom of the Press has been threatened, church pulpits preach division, elections are being bought, civil servants' expertise is ignored, constant interference with law enforcement, and the private sector is struggling with the cost of doing business.

It is no surprise that Samoa's international reputation is now linked to mafia-type assassinations.

It fits perfectly well with FAST’s proposed cryptocurrency scams, methamphetamine epidemics, a missing multi-million tala ferry, and a long trail of broken promises.

Every day, the Prime Minister is becoming less of the Saviour of Samoa that he loves to portray and is behaving more like the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada.

And just like him, La'auli will soon run out of people to blame and persecute for his broken promises.

Many now realise just how dangerous a forked tongue can be.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Leader of HRPP