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MPs To Show Muscle In Budget Debate

Written by Pio Sioa
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
“We’re Going To Study The Budget Together As a Group,” interim chairman MP Lealailepule Promised. Government is in for a tough fight to pass the new national budget for 2008/2009, if the yet to be named opposition party lives up to the promise of showing the kind of muscle needed to expose any serious shortcomings in the estimtes for the new financial year. The rejuvenated fighting spirit by the heavily outnumbered opposition members, is based on a pack group approach where members work as a team to become properly prepared for the debate in Parliament. MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, who is the interim Chairman of this fired up thrust in the opposition effort, described the agreed initiative as a far cry from the ‘go it alone’ approach by members in the past. ‘We will assign members to carry out proper research into the various sections of the budget so they are better prepared to offer quality opposition in the debate,” says MP Lealailepule. One of the key areas being looked at for the upcoming budget debate is the toll on the economy of the Right Hand Drive road switch, that Government is already in the process of putting into place. “We have a lot of unsold cars right now that we don’t know what to do with,” he says. “These are going to be replaced by incoming second hand vehicles that will earn less revenue for the country from customs duties, with some of them arriving as 12 year old second models.” The already high cost of imported fuel that is continuing to be on the rise is another critical area the opposition MPs are planning to look at seriously. “This continuing price rise in fuel has a huge impact on imports and we need to be looking seriously at ways to soften that impact on our economy and on the people,” Another area of concern that was raised involves the rapidly changing lifestyles with the rural communities moving away from a traditionally subsistence economy, into a hard to manage cash economy. Overseas aid programmes will also be an issue for scrutiny as there is a need to review it closely to see if they hold sustainable long term benefits for the country, according to the opposition spokesman. “Village life is changing very fast, plantations are no long working because we have no overseas markets to export to. “Our rural labour force are being sent out of the villages to pick apples leaving only the children and the old folks back home, waiting for the money to be remitted home. “Urbanisation is spreading very quickly as well with more and more people leaving the villages to move into Apia for jobs that will continue to promote a cash based economy.” MP Lealailepule was mindful of suggesting solutions to what he warns is a deteriorating situation in the country’s economy, so as not to let on too much about the whole party strategy that is being hatched up. ‘We also don’t want to reveal too much at this stage because we don’t want Government to take advantage of what we have to offer.” Comments (2) Subscribe to this comment's feed ... written by Tony, May 21, 2008 Thats very important that someone has to get up and see there must be an oposition to make sure to look into the government works are they doing right? or wrong? thats democracy...also the government is doing what it means for them is good for the people and the country is good too, so there must be an oposition to see and argue to make the country feel for themselves it is right or wrong the government is doing. Ia faamanuia le Atua i le malo o Samoa. Faafetai Ms. written by Haanah, May 24, 2008 I'm quite baffled as to why this new party is now bad mouthing the government that has the best record for bringing the economy up to where Samoa is today. The whole world and the South Pacific has noticed how our little paradise has flourished under the present government. They should try and prove themselves first, especially the so-called muscle of the party MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi. What has he done for the country so far? Write comment Name Email Title Comment

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