One would think that the Samoa Police and Corrections would have had the money to pay for allowances before sending out an SOS for civilian help to fill gaps during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.

However, this has not been the case; CHOGM was over a month ago. 246 civilians were selected from close to 500 who were chosen for the training. Some came from rural areas looking for temporary employment opportunities These people are still waiting for their promised allowances.

Police Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo confirmed the delay, stating that discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Finance to finalise the payment process.

“We are still liaising with the Ministry of Finance to secure the allowances for those who supported police operations as auxiliary officers,” Auapa’au said.

He emphasised that the matter is being actively addressed, with the Police Ministry and the Ministry of Finance working collaboratively to resolve the issue. However, no specific timeline has been provided for when the allowances will be distributed, leaving many frustrated and seeking clarity.

The plan to draft civilians as auxiliary staff was made months before the selection and training started. People applied so that they could help the police carry out their duties better and they were told they would get $50 per day for the work and $25 for lodging as they all were camping at the newly built police academy.

This money should have been part of the $40 million budgeted by the government for CHOGM. It is rather strange that the money has not been paid out yet. Who is at fault here? Has the police administration team done their due diligence? According to reports, each of the civilian staff signed registers at the start and close of their shifts. They also signed registers for each night they spent at the camp. Paperwork should not have been that difficult.

This situation also gives the impression that the finance ministry may not yet have the allocation to pay the civilians. Estimated calculation shows that the figure needed to pay every civilian staff is close to a quarter million tala, between $220,000 and $250,000. On average, a civilian staff should receive around $900.

If the police do not have the money, they have to wait for a budget appropriation. Each year in December, the parliament’s main purpose for sitting is firstly the budget appropriation where money is sourced from one ministry or programme and shifted to another. Even if that is done the money will not be available until next year.

This is not the memory of CHOGM the civilian police staff would want. They worked as required even in the cold rain that had gripped the nation during CHOGM. They stayed away from family. There were women with children who were part of the police team either guarding accommodation venues, helping with traffic and or being part of the police beat.

The delay in payment raises questions about financial planning and coordination for such large-scale events. The civilian staff are not asking for a handout, they want what is owed to them. If the Minister of Finance is overseas, he needs to return and deal with the matter or send directives from wherever he is.

It is sad to see members of parliament collecting ‘customary gifts’ at overseas events while people who were made to believe that they would be paid for their dedication and commitment are still waiting for what is owed to them.

Do not let the unresolved issue of allowances for auxiliary police cast a shadow over the otherwise successful event. It is three weeks to Christmas; can this be dealt with before the holidays start?