Two members of the former opposition party, Tautua Samoa, have scored points in Parliament without uttering a word in the House.
National University of Samoa lecturers Afualo Woods Salele and Tamalētā Taimang Jensen, both economists, have been voicing their concerns over the 2019/2020 budget in the local media, and government seems to have taken notice.
Speaking after the budget was passed two days ago, Finance Minister Sili Epa Tuioti, said government was looking at a scheme to help less fortunate National University of Samoa students pay fees they cant afford.
This was not part of the minister’s budget speech but it was suggested by Tamalētā in a Samoa Observer interview that government needed to find a way of helping pay student fees.
It has been a practice at NUS that students who are late with school fees are not allowed to sit final exams, and many have ended tertiary education because their families could not afford tuition.
Tamalētā told KHJ News that Tautua Samoa is still active outside of Parliament and plans to have candidates contesting the 2021 elections.
In today’s Samoa Observer, Tamaleta has called on the Minister of Finance to take the time to explain the budget in everyday language.
“People should be encouraged to learn how national budget planning affects them,” he said.
Afualo, is a former Tautua Party MP for the Salega constituency and Tamalētā ran unsuccesfully in the Vaimauga Urban seat in the last general elections.
The Tautua Samoa party still has two members in the current Parliament but they cannot be recognised as an opposition party because they dont have the required numbers.
