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
- Kept: the government did what it promised, and a source shows it.
- Under way
- Under way: work has started, but the promise is not yet fully kept.
- No sign yet
- No sign yet: we have found no public sign of action on this promise so far.
- Broken
- Broken: the government openly dropped the promise or did the opposite.
Is it funded?
- Funded in the budget: 7
- Partly funded: 8
- No budget line: 33
- Needs no new money: 2
Deadlines
Overdue (5):
- Revenue from carbon credits due 2026-06-30
- 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
- Kept: the government did what it promised, and a source shows it.
- Partly kept
- Partly kept: some of the promise was done, but not all of it.
- Not kept
- Not kept: the time for the promise ran out and it was not done, even though the government never openly dropped it.
- Broken
- Broken: the government openly dropped the promise or did the opposite.
Fiamē's government kept its main cash and price promises to families, but most of its reform promises were not finished.
Fiamē's government, in office from 2021 to 16 September 2025, raised the pension to SAT$200 a month in 2021/22, brought in a SAT$100 disability benefit and cut power prices by 20% from November 2021 1234. The power cut was paid for by the Electric Power Corporation, which the Samoa Observer reported had a SAT$60 million loss by the end of 2022, and Cabinet later removed the discount for government bodies 56. The minimum wage rose from SAT$3 to SAT$4.84 an hour by July 2025, each of the 51 districts got its own development money, and public debt fell from 41.0% to 21.2% of GDP, but several districts had not reported how they spent their money by the end of the term 78910. Of the 51 promises Folafolaga tracks, 8 were done and 31 partly kept (Folafolaga's own count); voting from overseas, an anti-corruption agency and health insurance were not delivered, and the Revenue Minister says the forensic audit covered only 13 of the 30 projects first listed 11121314.
The verdict
Older people and people with disabilities get more money, but most 2025 promises are not kept yet, and district money runs through chairs that Cabinet picks.
Since November 2025 the pension and disability benefit are SAT$300 a month, and since 1 July 2026 people aged 70 and over get SAT$500; by May 2026 the government counted about 13,000 pensioners and 2,875 people with disabilities on the higher rates 123. The child benefit pays nothing until January 2027, the minimum wage path to SAT$6.05 in July 2028 began under Fiamē's government, and income tax and VAGST rates have not changed 4567. The 2026/27 budget plans a SAT$215.9 million deficit, part paid with new loans, and puts SAT$102 million into district councils whose chairs Cabinet appoints, a programme the IMF says should not grow until it is better run 891011.
What changed for families
-
SAT$300
a month from age 65
Pension up to SAT$300
From November 2025, the senior benefit for people aged 65 and over went up to SAT$300 a month, and the first higher payments were made on 17 November 2025 12. It replaced the SAT$200 rate set in the 2021/22 budget of Fiamē's government, and the government now counts 13,000 pensioners 34.
Sources (4)
- Budget Address 2025/2026
- Pension and disability benefit increase in effect
- Budget Address 2021/2022
- Budget Address 2026/2027
-
SAT$500
a month from age 70
SAT$500 from age 70
Since 1 July 2026, people aged 70 and over get SAT$500 a month instead of SAT$300, paid as SAT$250 every fortnight 12. The budget expected 7,285 people to gain, people aged 65 to 69 stay on SAT$300, and no independent check of payments has been found 2.
Sources (2)
- 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 went up from SAT$100 to SAT$300 a month, and the first higher payments were made on 17 November 2025 123. The SAT$100 benefit was first funded in the 2021/22 budget, and the government now counts 2,875 people with disabilities receiving it 45.
Sources (5)
- Budget Address 2025/2026
- District Development Funds — Facts, Accountability and Support for Samoan Families
- Pension and disability benefit increase in effect
- Budget Address 2021/2022
- Budget Address 2026/2027
-
SAT$100
a month per child under three, from January 2027
Child benefit not paid yet
Children under three can get SAT$100 a month, plus a one-off SAT$200 baby bonus, but the first payments are not due until January 2027 12. Payments depend on immunisation checks, and the ministry reported that about 30% of eligible children in Savaiʻi registered from 14 to 19 September 2026 34.
Sources (4)
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- District Development Funds — Facts, Accountability and Support for Samoan Families
- GOVT LAUNCHES Child Wellbeing Benefits Program
- Registrations Underway for Child Wellbeing Beneficiaries
-
SAT$5.24
an hour since 1 July 2026
Minimum wage up 40 sene
The minimum wage went up from SAT$4.84 to SAT$5.24 an hour on 1 July 2026, and the labour ministry lists SAT$5.65 from 1 July 2027 and SAT$6.05 from 1 July 2028, compared with the SAT$6 FAST promised 123. The earlier rises from SAT$3 came in July 2024 and July 2025 under the previous government's plan, and the floor does not cover public servants 34.
Sources (4)
- Government Delivers on Key Social Commitments from 1 July 2026
- Employment services
- Minimum wage increases by 40 cents
- Employment services
-
105,669
people paid SAT$150 by 8 April 2026
SAT$150 back-to-school help
In February 2026, the government paid SAT$150 per citizen in back-to-school help from district money, and 105,669 people had received it by 8 April 2026 12. Payment of the new SAT$2 million a year district grant has not started yet: by 15 October 2026, Vaimauga No. 4 was the first district to qualify, with the first payment due by November 34.
Sources (4)
- Budget Address 2026/2027
- More than $15M paid out in $150 school support
- Vaimauga 4 to receive $2 Million for District Development Projects
- Vaimauga 4 to receive $2 Million for District Development Projects
-
SAT$120
one way, Fagaliʻi to Maota (government figure)
Flights to Savaiʻi again
Regular Samoa Airways flights between Upolu and Maota were due to start on 9 October 2026. The government says this ends 26 years without regular flights, but the Samoa Observer reported that the last flight on the route was a charter on 10 December 2025 1. The government gives the fare as SAT$120 one way, while the Observer reported SAT$200 one way on 23 September 2026, so the sources disagree 23.
Sources (3)
- Samoa Airways to resume Savai‘i flights
- After 26 years, Maota Airport reopens in Savai‘i
- Samoa Airways to resume Savai‘i flights
-
SAT$15,000
tax-free income a year, not SAT$20,000
Tax-free amount unchanged
The 26 May 2026 budget kept income tax rates the same, so a worker on SAT$20,000 still pays 20% on the SAT$5,000 above the threshold, which is SAT$1,000 a year (Folafolaga's arithmetic) 1.
Sources (1)
- Budget Address 2026/2027
By area
Every promise, grouped by what it touches.
-
Cost of living and tax
All four FAST tax promises are stalled: no tax is due only on income above SAT$15,000, the top PAYE rate and the company rate are both still 27%, and VAGST and import duty have not been taken off any essential goods; from Fiamē's 2021 term, the 20% cut to government fees was partly kept.
4 promises
+ 1 from 2021 -
Pay and jobs
The minimum wage has been SAT$5.24 an hour since 1 July 2026, and SAT$6.05 is set for 1 July 2028, but SAT$1.84 of the rise from SAT$3.00 came under Fiamē's government, and the pay rise for public servants has been 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, the SAT$500 benefit from age 70 and the SAT$300 disability benefit are being paid; the child benefit is funded at SAT$20 million for 2026/27 but pays nothing until January 2027, NGO grants rose, and five promises are stalled, including the pregnancy allowance and the low-income top-up, which are in neither budget; 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 councils are now in law, but Cabinet picks the chairs and no district had been paid at that rate by 15 October 2026, with the first payment, SAT$1.4 million to Vaimauga No. 4, 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: hospital care is not free, medicines ran short in 2026, there is no health insurance scheme, no public hospital has been built at Salelologa or Tuanaʻimato, and a private hospital on leased government land at Salelologa was paused four days after work started on 14 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, the scholarship budget rose to SAT$13 million, and there are no free lunches, no teachers moved onto the government payroll and no SAT$50 million 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 set aside SAT$100 million for fuel and standby cash, mostly for EPC and partly for SWA, but SWA got only its usual SAT$5 million a year, no SAT$50 million went to renewables, and 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, Samoa Airways has SAT$800,000 and a business plan but no aircraft, ministers say no aircraft will come in 2026, the one new ferry was ordered before this government took office, and there is no SAT$50 million ferry line, hotel fund or 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: 10,000 acres of STEC land moved between government bodies in 2026, and none was confirmed as returned to villages or families by 20 October 2026; 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 manufacturers and no government poultry farm, Development Bank lending grew only to a SAT$15 million facility shared by three sectors and went to businesses rather than village growers, and exports keep falling; 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, no new consulate and no law change for overseas voting, though Cabinet approved a task force and a pilot plan in late August 2026, and no visa agreement negotiated by this government has been found; 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 and one is underway: the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs has been running since 1 July 2026, and drug raids and a prevention programme are going ahead, but Samoa still has no standalone cybercrime law, and the separation-of-powers review, stock exchange, economic zones and carbon-credit sales have not started; 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
- 9Delivered with problems
- 17Delayed
- 1Abandoned
- 3No visible progress
The most serious failures
- Abandoned Aurora V inter-island ferryMore than SAT$20m had been paid by July 2026, according to the Prime Minister and Talamua. [14] Reports of the price itself differ. They include US$7.8m (SAT$21.5m) in December 2024, US$5m (about SAT$13m) in May 2025, and '$13 million', with no currency stated, from the seller. [1][9] The Prime Minister has put the base price at SAT$2m and, separately, at SAT$3m. [10] These figures measure different things. No published account reconciles them.
- Delivered with problems District Development ProgrammeSAT$11m in 2021/22 [3]. SAT$51m in 2022/23 [4] and SAT$51m in 2024/25 [5]. SAT$91.8m in 2025/26 [2]. The 2026/27 budget also lists SAT$112.6m for the new District Development Authority, and it does not explain the SAT$10.5m difference between the two figures [6].
- Delivered with problems Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity and Marketing Project (SAFPROM)US$15.92 million spent, out of a planned US$23.55 million. All of it was grant money [1][2]. Samoa's government also paid US$1.55 million of the remaining contract costs from its own funds after the project closed [2]. At the World Bank's rate of SAT$2.73 to US$1 (16 March 2026), the US$15.92 million is about SAT$43.5 million. That is a conversion done for this page. It is not a published tala total [1].
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.