A Member of Parliament has appealed to the Government to address the rising cost of living as parliamentarians debated the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country. 

The Anoama’a No. 1 M.P. and Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) member, Alai’asa Sepulona Moananu, made the appeal in the parliament on Thursday.

He said the high cost of living is being driven by challenges associated with the shipment of goods from overseas.

“The prices of goods from overseas are increasing,” he told the House.

Alai’asa said he was shocked at the increase in prices for a cup that were used to sell local food such as vaisalo and supoesi for $2 in December are now going for $2.50 in January.

This is an indication of an increase across the board for goods sold locally, the M.P. told the parliament as he appealed to the Government to take note.

The Anoama’a No. 1 MP then thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for reviving locally made food.

“If we have enough food [supply] locally we would not need to depend on overseas goods such as rice,” he said.

The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt was then challenged to get his Ministry to consider scientific options, which Alai’asa said would prolong the shelf-life of Samoa’s taro similar to rice.

The Vaimauga No. 1 MP Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa also told the House that some people are blaming the new Government for the high cost of living, but the truth is that it is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global supply chain.

"But no it is because of the impact of COVID-19 and the shortage of ships that come,” Sulamanaia said. 

He then asked the Minister for Customs and Revenue and the Government to consider removing stamp duty normally charged on imported goods.

“And for building materials such as cement to be half priced,” he added.

Last December the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) announced price controls on a range of consumer goods in a revival of a policy, which it says will protect consumers from pandemic profiteering. 

The Ministry said it is reintroducing the Price Control Orders (P.C.O.) as part of state of emergency orders under Article 106 of the Constitution.

“The P.C.O. was required given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to protect consumers from traders that may seek to profit unfairly during the pandemic by increasing prices to unreasonable levels,” the Ministry said in a statement. 

The P.C.O. order went into effect from 23 December 2022, according to the M.C.I.L.

“All traders are required to display the P.C.O. in their shops, where customers are able to view,” the Ministry said.

“The P.C.O. covers a total of 71 basic consumer food items including dry and freezer products with the exception of basic food items all other non P.C.O. product prices are determined by normal market rules of supply and demand.”