It has been a little over two weeks since the national budget was passed and the many facilities to be used for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting are still awaiting the promised funds for renovations.

The Sinalei Resort is one of them. The resort will host the head of the Commonwealth and British Monarch King Charles III.

Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale, the owner of Sinalei said he was yet to receive financial support from the government to assist with their preparations. But he was diplomatic enough to say work was progressing. The expenses are being borne by him. The resort needs $304,000 from the $20 million allocated for CHOGM.

This is also the case for other venues such as the EFKS Hall. The church is funding the renovation itself for now and hopes the government will reimburse the money they use. Other facilities earmarked for CHOGM are also in the same predicament. 

We are just three months away from hosting the biggest event this nation has seen yet. It will be bigger than the Pacific Games. The government has high hopes pinned on CHOGM for economic returns. That is why funds should already be disbursed, hopefully it is done in time so venues are ready before the event.

Samoa’s official foreign reserves stand at $1,305.3 million at the end of February 2024, equivalent to 13.1 months of import cover. According to the government’s fiscal strategy, official foreign reserves are expected to expand further by $108 million through government budget support funds and known financial assistance for the CHOGM preparations.

Increased spending and investment are being observed in preparation for CHOGM, providing more opportunities for the private sector to cater to transport services, food and beverages manufacturing and, especially, accommodations and restaurants.

Government has projected that imports will increase by 1.1 percent to $1.2 billion as a result of the many initiatives and activities being carried out in advance of the CHOGM.

While CHOGM is just a little over three months away, there seems to be no sense of urgency from the government. The national budget is CHOGM-focused, but it does not make sense that the money for the important work is not being released.

In the past week, the nation has learnt of plans to make a special ward at the hospital just for delegates and similar things are being planned for the Kidney Foundation. Extra water tanks have been brought and installed to ensure continuity in the water supply, and extra generators have been brought in to avoid power cuts.

CHOGM will be a significant event and it will have economic benefits. It is also important that the government is more transparent about CHOGM preparation. It is not the government that is hosting CHOGM alone, it is the whole of Samoa.

The whole nation needs to work together for a successful event.  Village councils and elders need to ensure that they are the backup for the police in maintaining law and order in the villages. The Samoa Police will be very busy and could use all the help they can get. This month the Commonwealth security officials including those from Britain are doing security checks.

Members of the private sector can play a pivotal role in supporting logistics. This avenue has to be tried.

The most important thing in having a successful CHOGM is keeping in mind that there are other priorities. Resources from all sectors of the government will be used to host the event, this does not mean that the people of the nation should be denied important services.

The government has to ensure that nothing stops when CHOGM is being hosted. The hospitals must function normally, and so should all government services and private businesses. People should be able to access the services of the judiciary without delay, and those on social benefits should receive their benefits on time.

CHOGM should not become an excuse to deny the people of this country what they need. Education is being impacted. Examinations are happening earlier than usual; the school curriculum is being rushed and more than 300 teachers will be away from normal work before and after CHOGM.

The power and water services should not be stopped for homes to re-direct to CHOGM venues. Everyone has to be treated equally whether they are delegates or local people.

Everyone wants a successful CHOGM. Hopefully, the planning allows none of the essential services to be impacted. Here is looking forward to October.