Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has postponed the $32.25 million back-to-school support announced on 26 January, citing concerns it could be perceived as influencing voters ahead of next week’s by-elections in Safata No.1 and Vaisigano No.2.

The announcement was made on Monday during the signing of the proposed $1.8 million district development funding across various districts at the Tooa Salamasina Hall in Sogi.

The back-to-school assistance of $150 per person is now scheduled to begin on Saturday, 28 February, four weeks into the first term for most schools across Samoa. It was to be first distributed through district councils once constituency name lists were finalised. The decision comes a week before voters in Safata No. 1 and Vaisigano No. 2 go to the polls.

Several district representatives present at the announcement, who declined to be named, questioned the decision to postpone payments to all 51 districts. They suggested that only Safata No.1 and Vaisigano No.2 should have been excluded temporarily, allowing the remaining districts to proceed with the distribution.

The Prime Minister said the cabinet considered the possibility that the $150 distribution might be interpreted as a form of bribery during the election period and decided to delay payments until the by-elections are completed.

He acknowledged the decision was difficult, explaining that the cabinet had a limited window between February and June to implement the initiative and ensure the allocated funds were utilised within the timeframe before the next budget announcement.

The $32.25 million allocation forms part of the proposed $91.8 million district development framework, under which each of the country’s 51 districts is set to receive $1.8 million. Of that total, $32.25 million has since been earmarked for the $150-per-person back-to-school support, leaving $59.55 million to be utilised by districts for their own development projects.

Under the original plan, the distribution was to begin after the first announcement, once the names of constituents in each district were compiled and referred to their respective district councils for disbursement.

The Prime Minister said the funds would still be channelled through the fono faavae once the rollout proceeds following the by-elections.