By Tupuola Terry Tavita

Tautua Samoa’s pre-election promises will likely sink government if ever they come into power.

Tautua has promised it will erase some aspects of the Value Added Goods and Services Tax (VAGST).

This could jeopardize up to 31 percent of government revenues. VAGST pulled in $185,749,388 to the government coffers last financial year, Treasury figures reveal.

Tautua has also promised to raise salaries for village mayors (pulenuu), Sui o le Malo (village representatives), doctors and nurses, Police officers, teachers as well as raise senior citizens’ pensions. At a supposed 10 percent increase, it will cost government $6,780,73, Treasury reports. This is notwithstanding transitional and operational costs.

How Tautua will make up for lost revenues if VAGST is scratched, party leader Vaai Papu Vaai did not reveal.

“We have some ideas,” he said.

“We will let you know after elections.”

However, Prime Minister Tuilaepa said that movement of public service salary levels is why the Remuneration Tribunal was set up.

“The tribunal monitors the cost of living and the power of people’s disposable incomes. Any raise in salary has to be holistic and comprehensive. You can’t just raise only one sector of the service. That is when disharmony creeps in to the service. If there is a salary increase, it has to be across the board.”

The Prime Minister was also unimpressed with the sectors Tautua singled out for a raise.

“Pulenuu? Sui o le Malo? Pensioners? Obviously it is a silly notion borne out of the elections. They’re bandying up to this sector of the community to lure votes with complete disregard of the contribution of the many other public servants. Sui o le Malo, the pensioners’ fund and paying village mayors (pulenuu) may I also remind, were set up by the this government.”

The last general salary increase was implemented last year. Prior to that, there were also major salary hikes in 2005 and 2006, including a 25 percent increase in standard minimum wage. 

Regarding VAGST, Tuilaepa said, these funds are crucial for development.

“For building roads and seawalls and public infrastructure, for education and health and agriculture and all areas of economic and social development. If they want to scratch VAGST that means there will be zero development if they ever come into office. Samoa’s economy will be put back another 20 years. Does anybody want that?”

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