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 did what it promised, and we can show it with sources.
- Under way
- Work has started, through a law, a budget line or a contract, but it is not finished.
- No sign yet
- We have found no public sign that work on this promise has started.
- Broken
- The government acted against this promise or said it will not carry it out.
Is it funded?
- Funded in the budget: 8
- Partly funded: 11
- No budget line: 33
- Needs no new money: 2
Deadlines
Overdue (8):
- Act on drugs, domestic violence and online abuse due 2026-10-08
- Revenue from carbon credits due 2026-06-30
- Healthy living and eating to fight NCDs due 2026-07-01
- Pay rise for all government employees due 2026-08-12
- Free schooling to 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 Faʻavae, with SAT$2 million a year for each district due 2026-07-01
Coming due:
- SAT$300 million to restart Samoa Airways international flights due 2026-12-31
- Samoa Airways jets flying again by the end of 2026 (SAT$300 million manifesto pledge) due 2026-12-31
- SAT$50 million for EPC to keep the power on 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
This site tracks 53 of the 88 commitments counted in FAST's 2025 manifesto and first budget. How they were chosen
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 did what it promised, and we can show it with sources.
- Partly kept
- Some of the promise was delivered, but not all of it, or less than was promised.
- Not kept
- The deadline or the term has ended and the promise was not delivered.
- Broken
- The government acted against this promise or said it will not carry it out.
Fiamē’s government kept its main cash and price promises for families, but several promises to check power were not kept.
Fiamē’s government raised the pension to SAT$200 a month in 2021/22, started a SAT$100 a month disability benefit, cut power prices by 20% from November 2021, and raised the minimum wage from SAT$3.00 to SAT$4.00 an hour in July 2024 and SAT$4.84 in July 2025 12345. It paid public debt down from 41.0% of GDP in 2021/22 to 21.2% in 2024/25, and gave SAT$1 million a year to each of the 51 districts through councils chaired by sitting MPs 678. A 2025 change to the Constitution opened a Land and Titles appeal court for about 100 appeals filed since 2021 9. But overseas voting was not passed before Parliament was dissolved in 2025, and a U4 review published in February 2026 said an anti-corruption agency was still ‘in the process of being established’ 1011.
The verdict
More cash now reaches older people and people with disabilities, but most promises to low-income working families are not yet kept, and control of district money has moved closer to Cabinet.
Since Laʻauli took office on 16 September 2025, his government has raised the pension and the disability benefit to SAT$300 a month, and the pension for people aged 70 and over to SAT$500 a month from 1 July 2026 123. The promised monthly cash help for families earning under SAT$20,000 and the VAGST cut on basic food have not come, both budgets kept tax rates as they were, and the finance minister has said no new airline will start in 2026 45678. District money has grown to SAT$102 million in 2026/27, spent through councils whose chairs Cabinet picks, while the planned deficit has grown and is partly paid for with new loans 9101112.
What changed for families
-
SAT$300
a month from age 65
Pension at 65 now SAT$300
Since 17 November 2025, people aged 65 and over on the pension get SAT$300 a month, up from the SAT$200 rate set in 2021/22 123. The 2026/27 budget says the higher pension reached 13,000 pensioners 4.
Sources (4)
- Budget Address 2025/2026
- Pension and disability benefit increase in effect
- Budget Address 2025/2026
- Budget Address 2026/2027
-
SAT$500
a month from age 70
SAT$500 at 70
From 1 July 2026, people aged 70 and over are due SAT$500 a month, paid as SAT$250 a fortnight, and the budget expected 7,285 people to benefit 12. People aged 65 to 69 stay at SAT$300, and these figures come from the government's own budget and press release, as we found no independent report of the SAT$500 payments 123.
Sources (3)
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- Government Delivers on Key Social Commitments from 1 July 2026
- Budget Address 2026/2027
-
2,875
people with disabilities on SAT$300 a month
Disability benefit tripled
The disability benefit, which began at SAT$100 a month, rose to SAT$300 a month from November 2025 12. The 2026/27 budget says 2,875 people with disabilities get the higher rate 3.
Sources (3)
- Budget Address 2025/2026
- Budget Address 2025/2026
- Budget Address 2026/2027
-
4,115
children registered by 16 October 2026
Child benefit: signed up, not yet paid
The new Child Wellbeing Benefit is SAT$100 a month for children up to 35 months, plus SAT$200 for babies born from 1 July 2026, with SAT$20 million set aside 123. By 16 October 2026, 4,115 children were registered, and the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs said 72% of eligible children were still to register 45. The first payments are scheduled for January 2027 6.
Sources (6)
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- Registrations Underway for Child Wellbeing Beneficiaries
- DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT FUNDS — FACTS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT FOR SAMOAN FAMILIES
- Silia i le 4 afe fanauiti ua resitala mo le penefiti tau soifua mālōlōina
- Silia i le 4 afe fanauiti ua resitala mo le penefiti tau soifua mālōlōina
- Budget Address 2026/2027
-
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, after Cabinet approved the rise 12. On 13 May 2026, Prime Minister Laʻaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt said it would reach SAT$5.65 in July 2027 and SAT$6.05 by July 2028, 5 sene above the SAT$6 FAST promised 34. The climb from SAT$3.00 began under the previous government, which set SAT$4.00 in July 2024 and SAT$4.84 in July 2025 5.
Sources (5)
- Government Delivers on Key Social Commitments from 1 July 2026
- Minimum wage increases by 40 cents
- Minimum wage increases by 40 cents
- FAST Manifesto Promises Tax Cuts and Support to Industry
- Minimum wage increases by 40 cents
-
105,669
people paid SAT$150 by 8 April 2026
SAT$150 back-to-school money
In 2026 every Samoan citizen was offered SAT$150 in back-to-school money, paid from a SAT$32.25 million scheme funded through district grants 12. By 8 April 2026, 105,669 people had been paid a total of SAT$15,850,350, but some districts, including Faleata No. 2 and Vaimauga No. 3, ran out of funds and some residents were turned away 345. Prime Minister Laʻaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt told a press conference, reported on 11 April 2026, that Vaimauga 1 to 3 and Faleata 1 to 4 ran out because so many people came, and that the programme would go on with funding in place 67.
Sources (7)
- Over 17,800 Receive Back-to-School Packages in Samoa
- More than $15M paid out in $150 school support
- More than $15M paid out in $150 school support
- More than $15M paid out in $150 school support
- More than $15M paid out in $150 school support
- More than $15M paid out in $150 school support
- More than $15M paid out in $150 school support
-
SAT$120
one way, Fagaliʻi to Maota
Flights to Savaiʻi again
Maota Airport in Savaiʻi reopened on 8 October 2026, with regular flights set from 9 October at SAT$120 one way, cut from the SAT$200 first announced 123. The flight from Fagaliʻi takes about 20 minutes, and the runway is still to be sealed and lit for 24-hour use 45. The head of Samoa Airways told Talamua that SAT$120 one way is a promotional fare, and Talamua gave no date for when it ends 6.
Sources (6)
- Maota Airport Reopens After 26 Years
- After 26 years, Maota Airport reopens in Savai‘i
- Reduced Airfares and Daily Flights between Upolu and Savaii Announced
- After 26 years, Maota Airport reopens in Savai‘i
- Maota Airport Reopens After 26 Years
- Maota Airport Reopens After 26 Years
-
SAT$15,000
a year tax-free, unchanged
Tax-free line not raised
FAST promised to raise the tax-free income line from SAT$15,000 to SAT$20,000 a year 1. Both of this government's budgets kept income tax rates as they were, and the Ministry of Revenue still lists income up to SAT$15,000 as tax-free 234.
Sources (4)
- FAST Manifesto Promises Tax Cuts and Support to Industry
- Budget Address 2025/2026
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- Rates – Ministry of Revenue
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, though SAT$1.84 of the rise from SAT$3.00 came under Fiamē's government; the pay rise for government employees is stalled, with no Tribunal report, new pay scale or payment found since Cabinet asked for one on 12 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, neither of which has been paid; 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 now work under the District Development Act 2026, but Cabinet picks the chairs, no district had been paid at the new rate by 15 October 2026, and the first SAT$1.4 million, to Vaimauga No. 4, is 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 Sālelologa or Tuanaʻimato, while a private hospital on government land at Sālelologa broke ground on 14 September 2026 and was paused that same month; 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, registration fees there were banned in 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 on 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 a one-off SAT$100 million, mainly for EPC and partly for SWA, which the IMF says pays for fuel and a tariff freeze rather than maintenance, but SWA has had SAT$5 million a year in community service money instead of SAT$50 million, and there is no SAT$50 million renewables line, 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
One promise is done, one is underway, one is broken and three are stalled: flights from Fagaliʻi to Maota restarted on 9 October 2026; Samoa Airways has SAT$800,000 for 2026/27 and a business plan but no aircraft, and the promise of jets by the end of 2026 is broken after the finance minister said in late January 2026 that no aircraft would be bought in 2026; the one new ferry was ordered in 2024, 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 government land returned to villages or families 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 the Development Bank cheap-loan line (SAT$10 million budgeted for 2025/26 and SAT$15 million for 2026/27) is shared with manufacturing and tourism, had reached 30 businesses by May 2026 with no count of farmers, and starts repayment after a three-year pause instead of at harvest; both of Fiamē's 2021 promises were partly kept.
4 promises
+ 2 from 2021 -
Family abroad
Three promises are stalled and one is underway: there is no diaspora office, no new consulate and no new visa deal, with further talks with New Zealand expected after its election on 7 November 2026; Cabinet approved terms of reference for an overseas voting task force and pilot, announced on 31 August 2026, but no law has changed and no one can yet vote from abroad; 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, though its Child Protection Division is still listed as proposed, and drug raids and partner-funded prevention work are going ahead, but Samoa still has no standalone cybercrime law; 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.