Samoa halts funding for prison as cost escalates slowly

Samoa’s government has ordered a freeze on all funding to the new prison project as the cost escalates slowly towards the $US7.8 million (FJ$15.6m)

A direction had been issued to discontinue any variations for the ongoing prison project unless expressly approved by Cabinet. The Samoa Observer reported the prison project had already cost nearly $US4 million (FJ$8m) and a second phase had yet to start.

It was not clear when it would start now that the funding restrictions had been put in place.