The Government is tightlipped on proposed changes to the loan policy of the Samoa National Provident Fund with the Finance Minister yet to give an update.

Over a fortnight ago the S.N.P.F. management was to announce major changes to the fund's loan policy but cancelled the press conference at the eleventh hour. Numerous attempts by the Samoa Observer to get a comment from Mulipola Anarosa Molio'o and the Chairman of the board, Papalii Panoa Tavita on the proposed changes were unsuccessful.

This newspaper also did a doorstep with Mulipola on Thursday outside the Legislative Assembly but she responded by saying she will reply in writing through email after the questions are sent to her. To date, she is yet to respond to questions sent to her through email.

Prior to that, Samoa Observer also contacted the S.N.P.F. Board Chairman as a follow-up, but he refused to comment as he said the matter has been submitted to the Cabinet for review and an announcement will be made.

It is understood that the about-turn by the fund's management on the proposed policy changes came after S.N.P.F. contributors took to social media last month to condemn the proposed changes. Some of the changes being mooted include the scrapping of short-term loans and the entitlements which S.N.P.F contributors can borrow against their contributions.

A long-time S.N.P.F contributor and Faleata No. 3 M.P. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi also appealed to the Cabinet last week to reconsider proposed changes to the fund's loan policy, saying the S.N.P.F. management should do proper consultation with the fund's contributors.  

“As a contributor, I am happy that they have withdrawn this policy-change plan for reconsideration and review because although there was no formal announcement, the S.N.P.F. staff had already spread the word out when they saw that what the Chairman and the Board were trying to do is not right,” he said.