43,900 Samoans living under the Poverty Line draws heated debate on Budget

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 28 JUNE 2022: The revelation that 43,900 Samoans live under the poverty line, drew heated debate over two days in the parliamentary debate on the Budget and Main Estimates for 2022/2023.

The Minister for Women, Community and Social Development, Leota Laki Lamositele Sio, quoted the figures from the 2018 survey.

Leota who is also the Minister of Statistics, said whilst the GDP seems to be doing well, at $10,000 per capita, but so is the climbing level of poverty in the country.

Based on the GDP, Samoa graduated from a Least Developed Country status in 2014.

But a survey conducted in 2018 noted the rise in GDP and so is the level of poverty.

Based on the 2018 survey conducted by the Bureau of Statistics, 43,946 people live under the poverty line in Samoa.

The survey revealed that poverty is high in the urban areas at 28.6%. For the north-west of Upolu (Aana and Tuamasaga) 23.8%), and 18% on other parts of Upolu whilst Savaii has the lowest rate of poverty at 17%.

“There is a need for us to know how and why this is happening,” said Leota.

As the Minister of Social Development, he is also in charge of the $1million talā project for the development of districts which he said is one of the targeted projects aimed at alleviating poverty especially the most vulnerable in the country.

“This is the challenge we face and the logic behind the Government prioritising human and social development,” said Leota.

“Not only to lift the level of the standard of living for all but for all to be happy together,” said Leota.

The Deputy Leader for the Opposition Party, Lauofo Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo pointed out that the formula used to measure the GDP and poverty is a United Nations formula and is the same used by countries such as Africa and Asia where some of those considered very poor live.

“Samoa is not even close to what poverty is as I’ve seen it overseas,” said Lauofo.

MP for Falelatai and Samatau, Lupematasila Tologata Tile insisted that there is no poverty in Samoa.

He also pointed out that even the developed countries have people living under the poverty line.

But the Minister did not think that having poor people in overseas countries should be an excuse for having people living under the poverty line in Samoa.

“There is no basis of using the analogy that because there are people overseas living in poverty to justify having the same in Samoa,” the Minister replied.

“Maybe you are so used to hearing the nice part about the GDP figure growing, but you ignore the sad part about the growing poverty which leads to family violence and many social problems,” said Leota. He clarified that the formula used to measure the level of GDP and poverty is not new as it was used since 1970 when the Government then conducted the Household and Income Surveys.

“It is the only method used to measure such differences,” said Leota.

He pointed out (to the Oppositions dissatisfaction) that perhaps the reason why the Opposition MPs are having issues with the method was because this was the first time they have heard of the report and its findings.

Government’s decentralised $1 million District Development Program
In addressing poverty, the Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi – FAST Government initiated a decentralised program which is the $1 million District Development Program.

The FAST Government believes that rather than channelling development support through various Government entities, it is best to empower the very people in need of financial support.

“But they need to be accountable and report back in how the funds were utilised,” he explained.

The MP for Sagaga No.2 Maulolo Tavita Maulolo asked if the $1 million project is the answer to poverty.

Leota said if all the MPs believe in the program and be honest in delivering the program and implement it well, by the end of the 5 year term, poverty will be reduced.