The scorecard
2025 promises · FAST under Laʻauli, since 16 September 2025. 54 promises, one square each. Tap a square to open the promise.
What the labels mean
- Kept
- The government has delivered the promise as it was made.
- Under way
- The government has taken real steps, but the promise is not finished yet.
- No sign yet
- We have found no public sign of work on this promise yet.
- Broken
- The government has done the opposite, dropped the promise or said it will not keep it.
Is it funded?
- Funded in the budget: 8
- Partly funded: 8
- No budget line: 35
- Needs no new money: 2
Deadlines
Overdue (6):
- Revenue from carbon credits due 2026-06-30
- Pay rise for all government employees due 2026-08-12
- Free schooling through college due 2026-07-01
- Free school lunches due 2026-07-01
- SAT$2 million a year for every district due 2026-07-01
- Districts choose their own projects through Fono Faavae due 2026-07-01
Coming due:
- SAT$300 million to restart Samoa Airways international flights due 2026-12-31
- New aircraft company flying by the end of 2026 due 2026-12-31
- Child benefit: SAT$100 a month under three, SAT$3,800 package due 2027-01-31
- More overseas consulates due 2027-12-31
- Minimum wage of SAT$6 an hour due 2028-07-01
The 2021 scorecard
2021 promises · FAST under Fiamē, 24 May 2021 to September 2025. 51 promises; that term is over, so these labels are final.
What the labels mean
- Kept
- The government has delivered the promise as it was made.
- Partly kept
- Some of what was promised has happened, but not all of it.
- Not kept
- The deadline or term has ended and the promise was not delivered.
- Broken
- The government has done the opposite, dropped the promise or said it will not keep it.
Fiamē's government kept its main cash and price promises, but most of its bigger reforms were done only in part or not at all.
Fiamē's first budget raised the pension from SAT$160 to SAT$200 a month and started a SAT$100 disability benefit; it cut power and water prices by 20% from 1 November 2021 and cut some government fees by 20%, help that reached most families 3412. Parliament repealed the church ministers' tax in August 2022, a gain mainly for clergy, after Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio said only 23 of more than 600 pastors were paying it 5. Fiamē's government also cancelled the China-backed Vaiusu wharf in July 2021, moved in May 2025 to set up a Land and Titles Court of Appeal for about 100 appeals filed since 2021, and raised the minimum wage from SAT$3.00 to SAT$4.84, while public debt fell from 41.0% to 21.2% of GDP 6978. Its first budget proposed SAT$200,000 per district for district planning 10. The term ended with no Salelologa hospital built, health insurance on hold, no overseas voting, and the forensic audit report left with the caretaker government, which said Cabinet needed more time to study it 11121314. Laʻauli said at the FAST manifesto launch in July 2025 that 90% of the 2021 manifesto had been carried out; of the 51 promises from 2021 that we track, 8 were kept in full, 31 in part, and 12 were not kept or were broken 15.
The verdict
So far it has paid more to older people and people with disabilities, but most big promises are not kept and more control sits with Cabinet.
Laʻauli's government raised the senior benefit to SAT$300 a month from 17 November 2025 and, by its own account, to SAT$500 for people aged 70 and over from 1 July 2026, and set the minimum wage on a path to SAT$6.05 an hour by July 2028 26611. Many of its biggest promises are not kept yet: income tax and VAGST rates are unchanged, the child benefit's first payments are not due until January 2027, and the airline has no jets for international flights 13727. Cabinet now picks the chairs who run district money, the government says the Samoa Observer is still barred from the Prime Minister and government events, and the IMF has warned that a central bank bill could weaken the bank's independence, which the finance minister denies 20353738.
What changed for families
-
SAT$300
a month from age 65
Pension from 65 is now SAT$300
People aged 65 and over have been due SAT$300 a month since November 2025, up from the SAT$200 rate set in FAST's first budget in 2021 245. The Samoa Observer reported, citing a source at the National Provident Fund, that the higher payout took effect on 17 November 2025 1. The government says the higher pension had reached 13,000 pensioners by May 2026 3.
Sources (5)
- Pension and disability benefit increase in effect
- Budget Address 2021/2022
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- Budget Address 2025/2026
- HRPP Unveils $68 Million PELEGA Pension Scheme
-
SAT$500
a month from age 70
SAT$500 a month from age 70
From 1 July 2026, people aged 70 and over are due SAT$500 a month, paid as SAT$250 a fortnight, up from SAT$300 12. The 2026/27 budget expected 7,285 people to gain 3. The only reports we found that payments have started are two government statements: a press release Talamua published on 3 July 2026, and a release from the Prime Minister's office on 12 August 2026 12.
Sources (3)
- Government Delivers on Key Social Commitments from 1 July 2026
- DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT FUNDS — FACTS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT FOR SAMOAN FAMILIES
- Budget Address 2026/2027
-
SAT$300
a month disability benefit
Disability benefit tripled
Since November 2025, the disability benefit has been SAT$300 a month, up from the SAT$100 it paid when it was first set up 124. The government says 2,875 people with disabilities were getting the higher amount by May 2026 3.
Sources (4)
- Pension and disability benefit increase in effect
- DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT FUNDS — FACTS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT FOR SAMOAN FAMILIES
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- Budget Address 2025/2026
-
SAT$100
a month per child under three
Child benefit: first pay in January
Eligible children under three can get SAT$100 a month, plus a one-off SAT$200 birth payment, but the first payments are not due until January 2027 12. One report says registration on Upolu closes on 30 October 2026 and an earlier one says 30 November 2026, so families should check with the ministry 34.
Sources (4)
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT FUNDS — FACTS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT FOR SAMOAN FAMILIES
- Registrations Underway for Child Wellbeing Beneficiaries
- GOVT LAUNCHES Child Wellbeing Benefits Program
-
SAT$5.24
an hour since 1 July 2026
Minimum wage up 40 sene
The minimum wage rose from SAT$4.84 to SAT$5.24 an hour on 1 July 2026, SAT$16 more for a 40-hour week (our sum) 12. Cabinet approved this 40-sene rise, and on 13 May 2026 Prime Minister Laʻaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt said the wage would reach SAT$5.65 in July 2027 and SAT$6.05 by July 2028 2.
Sources (2)
- Government Delivers on Key Social Commitments from 1 July 2026
- Minimum wage increases by 40 cents
-
SAT$2 million
a year per district in 2026/27
District grant set at SAT$2 million
The 2026/27 budget sets SAT$102 million for district projects, in line with SAT$10 million per constituency over five years 1. On 15 October 2026 the District Development Authority's chief executive, Unasa Viane Toala, said Vaimauga No. 4 will get SAT$1.4 million first, 70% of its SAT$2 million, and the remaining SAT$600,000 only after all audited reports are submitted 2.
Sources (2)
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- Vaimauga 4 to receive $2 Million for District Development Projects
-
SAT$120
one way, Fagaliʻi to Maota
Flights to Savaiʻi are back
Maota Airport reopened on 8 October 2026, and a government press release that day said Samoa Airways had announced fares of SAT$120 one way for a flight of about 20 minutes between Fagaliʻi and Maota 1. On 23 September 2026 the Samoa Observer reported that the airline gave a special fare of SAT$200 one way, including taxes, and a flight time of about 15 minutes, so sources differ on the price 2.
Sources (2)
- After 26 years, Maota Airport reopens in Savai‘i
- Samoa Airways to resume Savai‘i flights
-
SAT$15,000
still the tax-free limit a year
Tax-free amount has not moved
At its manifesto launch in July 2025, FAST promised to lift the tax-free amount from SAT$15,000 to SAT$20,000 a year 1. Both of this government's budgets, on 6 October 2025 and 26 May 2026, kept income tax rates as they were 24. On 21 October 2026, the Ministry of Revenue's rates page still showed no tax only on income up to SAT$15,000 a year 3.
Sources (4)
- FAST Manifesto Promises Tax Cuts and Support to Industry
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- Rates – Ministry of Revenue
- Budget Address 2025/2026
By area
Every promise, grouped by what it touches.
-
Cost of living and tax
All four FAST tax promises are stalled: the tax-free amount is still SAT$15,000, the top PAYE rate and the company tax rate are both still 27%, and VAGST and import duty have not been taken off any essential goods; Fiamē's 2021 promise of 20% off government fees was partly kept.
4 promises
+ 1 from 2021 -
Pay and jobs
The SAT$6 minimum wage promise is underway, at SAT$5.24 an hour since 1 July 2026 with SAT$6.05 set for 1 July 2028, but SAT$1.84 of the rise from SAT$3.00 came under Fiamē's government; the pay rise for public servants is stalled, with the Remuneration Tribunal since February 2026; of Fiamē's eight 2021 pay promises, two were done, five partly kept and one not kept.
2 promises
+ 8 from 2021 -
Pensions and benefits
Three promises are done: the SAT$300 senior benefit from age 65 and the SAT$300 disability benefit are being paid, and the government says the SAT$500 benefit from age 70 has been paid since 1 July 2026; two are underway, as the child benefit is funded at SAT$20 million for 2026/27 but pays nothing until January 2027 and only the ADRA shelter part of the NGO grants has been met; five are stalled, including the pregnancy allowance and the low-income top-up, which neither budget pays for; of Fiamē's five 2021 promises, two were done and three partly kept.
10 promises
+ 5 from 2021 -
Districts and villages
Both promises are underway: SAT$2 million a district is budgeted for 2026/27 and the district councils are now in law, but Cabinet picks the chairs, no district had been paid at that rate by 15 October 2026, and the first payment, SAT$1.4 million to Vaimauga No. 4, was expected by November 2026; of Fiamē's three 2021 promises, one was done and two partly kept.
2 promises
+ 3 from 2021 -
Health
All six health promises are stalled: we found no change to hospital fees, medicines ran short in 2026, there is no health insurance scheme and no new healthy-eating programme, and no public hospital is funded or built at Salelologa or Tuanaʻimato, while a private hospital on leased government land at Salelologa broke ground on 14 September 2026 and has been paused since September 2026; of Fiamē's four 2021 promises, two were partly kept and two not kept.
6 promises
+ 4 from 2021 -
School
Two promises are underway and four are stalled: tuition at government schools was already free, extra registration charges were banned from February 2026 but the school grant reached schools months late, and scholarship money rose to SAT$13 million for 2026/27 while the NUS grant fell; there are no free school lunches, no pre-school or church school teachers moved onto government pay and no SAT$50 million school building programme; of Fiamē's three 2021 promises, two were partly kept and one not kept.
6 promises
+ 3 from 2021 -
Power, water and fares
One promise is underway and two are stalled: the 2026/27 budget sets aside SAT$100 million for running costs and standby cash during the fuel crisis, mostly for EPC and partly for SWA, but no SAT$50 million has gone to SWA, which got SAT$5 million a year in community service money in both budgets, and no SAT$50 million has gone to renewables, as the solar work now under way is paid for by aid partners or private power producers; all three of Fiamē's 2021 promises were partly kept.
3 promises
+ 3 from 2021 -
Transport and infrastructure
Two promises are underway, one is broken and three are stalled: flights from Fagaliʻi to Maota restarted on 9 October 2026, and Samoa Airways has SAT$800,000 for 2026/27 and a business plan but no aircraft, after the finance minister said in late January 2026 that no aircraft would be bought in 2026; the one new ferry was contracted before this government took office, and there is no SAT$50 million ferry line, SAT$100 million hotel fund or SAT$30 million sports programme; of Fiamē's seven 2021 promises, two were done, three partly kept, one broken and one not kept.
6 promises
+ 7 from 2021 -
Land and custom
The one land promise is stalled: we found no unused government land returned to villages by 20 October 2026, and the 10,000 acres of former STEC land went to the lands ministry and the Samoa Export Authority instead; of Fiamē's three 2021 promises, one was done, one partly kept and one not kept.
1 promise
+ 3 from 2021 -
Farming and fishing
Three promises are stalled and one is underway: there is no SAT$50 million fund for export farmers or for manufacturers and no government poultry farm, while Development Bank lending (SAT$13 million approved in December 2025 and SAT$15 million budgeted for 2026/27) is shared across sectors, had reached 30 businesses by May 2026 with no published count of farmers, and has published terms that say nothing of loans repaid after harvest; Samoa-made exports fell in the first ten months of 2025/26, and both of Fiamē's 2021 promises were partly kept.
4 promises
+ 2 from 2021 -
Family abroad
All four promises are stalled: there is no diaspora office and no new consulate, no law has changed to allow overseas voting, though Cabinet approved terms of reference for a pilot task force at the end of August 2026, and there is no new visa deal, with further talks waiting until after New Zealand's election; of Fiamē's four 2021 promises, two were partly kept and two not kept.
4 promises
+ 4 from 2021 -
Clean government
One promise is done, one is underway and four are stalled: the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs has been running since 1 July 2026, and drug raids and a donor-funded prevention project are going ahead, though Samoa still had no standalone cybercrime law in April 2026; we found no separation-of-powers review, stock exchange, economic zone or carbon-credit sale; of Fiamē's eight 2021 promises, five were partly kept and three not kept.
6 promises
+ 8 from 2021
How Samoa is doing
-
Economy and jobs
-
Daily life
-
Society
-
Government and the law
-
Development and the world
The national plan
Pathway for the Development of Samoa FY2021/22 to FY2025/26, July 2021 to June 2026: 88 indicators the plan set itself, each against its own baseline and target.
- 28Target met
- 53Off track
- 6No result published
- 1Not comparable
Projects
- 9Delivered and working
- 1On track, not finished
- 9Delivered with problems
- 16Delayed
- 1Abandoned
- 3No visible progress
The most serious failures
- Abandoned Aurora V inter-island ferryIn April 2026, Prime Minister Laʻaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt said about SAT$20m had been spent on the ship through the Samoa Ports Authority. [7][8] On 15 July 2026, Talamua reported that more than SAT$20m had been paid. [14] Reports of the price itself differ. [17][1][9] A government press release on 4 December 2024 put the ship at US$7.8m (SAT$21.5m), and Talamua used the same figure on 23 December 2025. [17][5] In May 2025, the Samoa Observer gave US$5m (about SAT$13m). [1] In April 2026, the designer, Dr Stuart Ballantyne, said the price had 'always' been '$13 million'. [9] He did not say which currency. [9] The Prime Minister has put the cost of the ship itself at SAT$2m (April 2026) and at SAT$3m (June 2026). [8][9][10] He said extra work on the ship raised the total to about SAT$20m. [8][10] We found no published account that reconciles these figures.
- Delivered with problems District Development ProgrammeSAT$11m in 2021/22 for district programming and scoping [1]. SAT$51m in 2022/23 [2]. For 2023/24, Talamua reported SAT$37,500,288 paid out and SAT$13,499,712 left by December 2024, which adds up to SAT$51m [3]. SAT$51m in 2024/25 [4]. SAT$91.8m in 2025/26 [5]. SAT$102m in 2026/27 [6]. Budget papers for 2026/27 also show SAT$112.6m for the new District Development Authority [7]. The Budget Address does not explain the SAT$10.5m gap between the two figures [8].
- Delivered with problems Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity and Marketing Project (SAFPROM)The project spent US$15.92 million. It had planned to spend US$23.55 million [2]. These totals count only the two grants, from the World Bank's IDA and from IFAD [13]. The completion report's data sheet puts IDA spending at US$13.30 million and IFAD spending at US$2.62 million [14]. The same report's cost table gives IDA spending as US$13.38 million, so the report's own figures differ slightly [15]. Samoa's government also paid US$1.55 million from its own funds for contract work still unpaid after the project closed [2]. Farmers also pledged their own cash and labour, but the World Bank has no data on what they actually put in [16]. At the World Bank's rate of SAT$2.73 to US$1 (16 March 2026), US$15.92 million is about SAT$43.5 million [1]. We did this conversion for this page. It is not a published tala total, and it uses a 2026 rate, not the rates on the days the money was spent.
What the labels mean
Each promise gets two labels: was it kept, and is it good for families. Numbers like 1 link to the source for that sentence. How we judge →
Was the promise kept?2025 promises
2021 promises (FAST under Fiamē)
That term is over, so these labels are final.