Dear Editor,

Re: Can you answer these questions too?

First, show me the quote (link please). Second, the US$4 Billion is a regional fund that Pacific countries apply to for funding of their projects. 

Only the airport ($140 million ST) comes under that fund so far as I can see because the regional fund is only a few years old. The hospital is under a prior agreement. Vanuatu, Fiji, P.N.G. are other countries who apply to the same fund for their projects.

Third, the budget is miniscule and the annual GDP of Samoa ($2 billion ST) is tiny. The health budget is tiny - $80-$90 million ST. For a properly functioning and first class health system, Samoa really needs a health budget of $400 million ST.

The water system really needs a budget of $100 million ST - it is very very expensive to get the pipes uphill far into the bush inland of the current water grid where all those people featured in the Samoa Observer every day have no water.

A lot of them moved to those places knowing there was no water. The water system covers 95% of Samoa along the coastlines where the majority of the population live.

To have all your dreams come true, Oi Sole, Samoa in my opinion needs to have a GDP of at least $50 billion ST a year and govt budget of at least $5-10 billion ST.

The govt would then be able to provide a first class health, education system and provide infrastructure. A motorway from Faleolo to Vaitele costs about $200 million ST all by itself.

PS Jeffrey