National Budget

The Samoa Parliament passed the national budget totalling 983 million tālā after midnight local time on Thursday.

This means the private sector will finally be paid for their services after waiting while the government operated on emergency provisions of 25 percent of the 2020/2021 budget from July 1 this year.

Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, rose to thank the members for the lengthy sessions and for ensuring the FAST government's first budget was approved.

The budget includes a deficit of $106.2 million tālā.

“This important development will process a full budget and to lay that proposed budget on the table for parliament’s consideration in September.

“We are very pleased that the Minister and Ministry of Finance and the Ministry are now at a point where we can begin that process,” Fiame said during a press conference.

The Opposition Human Rights Protection Party will be closely watching the budget.

During a press conference held Wednesday, Fiame said last week was mostly taken up with clarifying the different budget provisions that have been made.

“I would like to acknowledge that our Treasury have in its usual work prepared an annual budget for the Year 2021-2022, and that is in place.”