Government conflicting messages on funding for Vaiusu wharf project

Young people of  Vaiusu village replanting the mangrove swamp they fear the planned wharf will destroy the environment that breeds their food sources and economic livelihood.

Staff Reporters

APIA, 28 FEBRUARY 2021: Government has been giving conflicting explanations on the funding of the controversial Vaiusu wharf project. The project sparked demeaning statements both from the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Minister of Works, Papalii Niko Lee Hang against the Urban West MP, Leatinu’u Wayne Sooialo, who is totally against the project.

More confusing, when the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa explained during the special parliament sitting on Saturday, that the project will be funded by China and will not be a loan, “but a grant.”

Immediately afterwards, the Prime Minister took the floor to explain how the Vaiusu project got special mention by China’s President Xi Jinping in a meeting with Pacific Islands Leaders during the APEC meeting in Papua New Guinea in 2018.

“That is huge and something special,” Tuilaepa told Parliament. “When the leader of the strongest country in the world refers specifically to this project for Samoa.”

China’s President was supposed to visit Samoa the following year and where details such as funding for the project were to have been approved. But Covid-19 struck and the visit as cancelled.

Tuilaepa also referred to the possibility of other China funded projects in Samoa being affected if the funding details are approved.

He did not mention the announcement by the Finance Minister that the project will be a grant and not a loan.

The Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti.

On the Thursday night parliament session, the Minister of Works also highlighted the importance of the project and the perceived benefits its will derive for the immediate villages including that of the MP who is protesting the project.

The Chairperson of Parliaments’ Finance Committee, Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tuuau asked the Minster:

• How is the project being funded?
• Is it a loan or grant?
• Was it Samoa or China who initiated the project?

The questions were never answered that night.

On Saturdays session, Papali’i rejected the newspaper story that quoted Leatinu’u putting $250 million on the cost of the project.

Minister Papali’i said the cost is misleading as the feasibility study is yet to be completed as well as the cost.

However, the Prime Minister had already publicized the $250m cost on the government owned media.

The Minister of Works, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang.

When the Minister of Finance explained on Saturday afternoon that it will be a grant, the Faleata MP, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi wanted to be sure if it was a grant.

It was then the Prime Minister took the floor and took a long explanation that other China funded projects in Samoa could be affected if the funding for the Vaiusu wharf project will be finalised and approved as a grant.

He also dispelled environmental concerns saying the environment will not be affected.

Parliament session into seventh week
The parliament session is going on to seven weeks and the Prime Minister has indicated that Parliament will be dissolved this Wednesday to prepare for the 9 April general elections.

It is the longest ever session to discuss a Supplementary budget.

In the first weeks of this session, it was deliberately dragged as the Speaker tried to entice MPs to speak and had to break early some days on the Prime Ministers suggestion that there was time. Most of the MPs used the session to thank their constituencies and launch campaign speeches to get their constituents support for the general elections and some even sang their swan songs to end their speeches.

The Government also used the issues raised by the MPs to highlight the Government projects already implemented during the term and most MPs and Cabinet Ministers, attacked the political rallies by the FAST Party in their constituencies.

Last week, as time became a factor for Government, the Prime Minister and even the Speaker, reminded some of the Cabinet Ministers to keep their responses to the issues due to the time factor.

It is also the first time parliament had to meet on a Saturday.

Three more Cabinet Ministers plus the PM have yet to reply on issues raised by MPs. And there are several bills that will be rushed through on an emergency basis before Parliament is dissolved at 1000 Wednesday this week.