While the general opposition reaction was resigned towards accepting the passage of the tax amendment, the intentions behind the taxing of the ‘faifeau’ were defended stoutly. Parliament passed the second reading of the tax amendment bill and it is now with a House Select Committee for review before it returns for a third and decisive vote by Members. Mention was also made of a special meeting called by the Ministry of Revenue where the ‘faifeau’ protested at being taxed. The Deputy PM suggested that there are still many uncollected revenues from unpaid taxes to cover the development needs of the country without having to tax the ‘faifeau’. Tuala believed that the forefathers of the country exempted the ‘faifeau’ from income taxes to underline the Christian devotion to the ‘Samoa Is Founded on God’ motto. The removal of the ‘faifeau’ taxes was in the FAST Government election manifesto and it helped mobilize the EFKS church support to vote out the HRPP Government.
Most of the Parliament debate was unusually toned down with a few exceptions, as Members treaded carefully, obviously mindful of the considerable ‘God Power’ influence of the ‘faifeau’ in the village community.ĭeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Customs, Tuala Ponifasio, tabled the new amendment bill to ‘free up the faifeau’ tax on the argument that the law was not well set out by the previous HRPP Government.
The amendment exempts all ‘faifeau’ serving in a congregation with an annual income richer than the taxable threshold of $15,000. ‘Faifeau’ or church ministers on the taxable income bracket are practically certain of not paying taxes if a new amendment goes through on the Tax Act 2021 debated during the week in Parliament.
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