The Legislative Assembly will resume its business on Tuesday this week after its last session two weeks ago on 30 May where the $1.8 billion budget was tabled. 

The budget was then referred to the Parliament Finance and Expenditure Committee for review and recommendations before it was debated by members of the House. 

It is possible that the final report of the Commission of Inquiry (C.O.I.) into electoral matters and the National ID bill will be tabled this week as the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa indicated earlier last month. 

In her last meeting with the press in the first week of May, Fiame confirmed that the report by the Commission would be tabled in the House when parliament reconvenes its businesses last month. 

However, only the budget was tabled last month. 

Fiame confirmed that Cabinet had already deliberated on the report and it was then referred to the Office of the Legislative Assembly as in line with the legislative process. 

Praising what she described as extensive work undertaken by members of the Commission, Fiamē said they also went out to the community and gathered the people's views on how Samoa's electoral processes can be improved for the next general election. 

The report is based on the different submissions made by members of the public during consultations by the special C.O.I. between June and November last year. It includes submissions from members of the public on various issues they think need improvement before the next general election. 

As for the National Identification project, Fiame also confirmed that Cabinet had already deliberated on the report and would be tabled in parliament at the next convening of the Legislative Assembly. 

Although it has taken five years of planning and consultations, implementation is within sight once the legislative processes are completed.

Fiame also explained the $50 tala that was given to the citizens by the former government was a "salvage package" initiated by the former administration to get everyone to register for the project. 

In March of this year, the Office of the Attorney General was urged to hasten the drafting of the bill for the implementation of the National Identification Card so the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (S.B.S.) can move on to the next phase of the project. 

The Acting Minister of Finance, Leota Laki Lamositele made the call during the last parliament session in March of this year. 

"It is anticipated that the bill will go into Parliament mid-year, and once the bill is passed in Parliament, all the other milestones will be executed," Leota said.  

He added that all necessary processes needed to complete the project will be carried out once the bill is passed and approved by parliament. 

The response and update from the Minister was welcomed by the Opposition Leader, Lauofo Pierre Lauofo who commended the efforts from the Bureau in implementing such an important project.

"This project is very important as it can keep accurate information about each individual and be useful for national purposes," Lauofo said.

 The Deputy Speaker of the House and MP for Aiga ile Tai, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua on the other hand asked for clarifications on the processes, stating that the Bill should have been drafted first before other processes. 

The Member of Parliament for Aleipata Itupa i Luga, Fuaava Suluimalo Amataga then responded to the issue raised by Auapaau. 

The National ID project was an initiative by the former Government where they forked SAT$12 million for a census and national identification scheme carried out in 2020.

The National I.D. project started in 2017 with an external consultancy service engaged to provide assistance in developing the new system. However, in 2018 the Ministry of Finance sought further technical assistance in establishing a national ID system and upgrading existing civil registration systems.  

The I.D. will replace voters’ I.D. and can be used as a health or medical I.D., and for other services such as the Samoa National Provident Fund, a driver’s licence.