A total of 30 out of 51 constituencies in Samoa have not ticked off all the boxes to meet the required criteria for accessing the second $51 million tala grant. With just over four months remaining until the next financial year when the third grant will be announced in the National Budget, the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development has not finalised the policy to guide the implementation of the second phase of the $1 million tala District Development Project. 

Out of 51 constituencies, a total of 30 constituencies are yet to receive the first installment of $160,000 tala from the second $51 million tala grant on Thursday. 

Under the district development project, each constituency is allocated $1 million tala to enhance community livelihoods, with strict requirements for financial reporting and adherence to project guidelines. 

However, delays and discrepancies have emerged in fulfilling these obligations, leading to the withholding of funds for several constituencies.

But that's not all. The policy or manual outlining the guidelines for grant utilisation has not been finalised yet. 

Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o, the Minister of Women, Community, and Social Development, acknowledged existing challenges and expressed a commitment to resolving past errors. 

She confirmed ongoing efforts by the Ministry's Working Committee to finalise the policy governing grant usage, incorporating feedback from the initial phase to enhance effectiveness, saying it would be completed before the end of this month. 

Mulipola stressed the importance of preventing recurring issues and streamlining project operations.

Following the disbursement of the initial $51 million tala, a committee review was conducted to address emerging challenges. 

Mulipola cited instances where differing constituency priorities led to proposals outside the project's scope. Additionally, discrepancies in grant distribution timing contributed to delays in project implementation.

It is understood that 25 constituencies were eligible to get their $160,000 tala. However, there were a few queries from the Committee regarding their financial reports and audited reports as well as the proposals for some constituencies. 

"We need to clear those queries first before they get their initial $160,000 tala grant,” she said. 

She elaborated that the constituencies did not all encounter similar circumstances. Some faced internal conflicts and obstacles hindering project implementation, while others grappled with financial challenges and the effective use of funds but she asserted that it would not cause delays or a halt.

 “We will not let one person stand in the way of what is good and beneficial for the community.” 

She then referred the last two constituencies to have received their share for the first $51 million tala grant. The two constituencies are A’ana Alofi No.1. and Fa’asaleleaga No.5. 

“For Fa’asaleleaga No.5, the Steering Committee had to step in and make a decision so they can move on with the project. 

“We had made a lot of suggestions before on how they can resolve the internal conflicts they had. But we saw that it was affecting the ordinary people within the respective constituency. 

“So we had to do something about it and that is to ask the Chairman of the district council to step aside.”

Despite setbacks, Mulipola remains optimistic about the project's impact, citing positive developments in education, agriculture, and healthcare within communities. 

Approximately $18 million tala has been invested in agricultural development, while $11 million tala is earmarked for educational initiatives from the first $51 million tala grant. 

The project has also generated employment opportunities and stimulated economic growth, with 95 per cent of constituencies progressing well.

While challenges persist, Mulipola stressed the importance of community empowerment and the transformative potential of the District Development Project. 

The Member of parliament for Faleata No.3., Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi confirmed that his constituency only received the final grant for their first $1 million tala in December last year. 

Therefore, they are finalising their reports for submission. 

This is the same issue for other respective constituencies that received the last part of the first $51 million tala late last year.