By Staff Writer
The Samoa Tourism Authority Board is keen to move quickly with a decision on CEO Suifua Lenata’i Fa’amatuainu from the findings of a special investigation on staff complaints against him.
Board Vice Chairman, Tupa’i Mr. Saleimoa Vaai and Managing Director of Vaimoana Seaside Lodge, is expecting the three-member investigating Committee to hand in their report at the end of this week.
“Once the report is in the Board would like to reach a decision as early as next week to end the anxious wait for everyone and move on with the work,” Tupa’i said in response to Newsline Samoa.
CEO Fa’amatuainu has been on work leave since the Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour made public staff complaints about work abuse ahead of the Minister of Tourism, several weeks ago.
Police have also filed legal charges against the CEO for the use of insulting words from the same staff complaints.
Fa’amatuainu is unable to comment for now when contacted by Newsline Samoa while the investigations against him are underway.
He is, however, looking forward to respond publicly in due course to the complaints and the findings of the special investigation by the Tourism Board.
He is also keen to clear his name in court from the legal allegations brought against him by the staff.
The unfortunate turn of events for the authority is at a critical time for the local tourism industry, while in a struggle to survive the closure of travel borders for health security protection against the spread of the COVID pandemic.
Fa’amatuainu has been concentrating much of the emphasis of the STA on pushing the interest of the local holiday makers to try and make up for the flow of overseas holiday visitors at a standstill.
The undertaking has already generated promising response with resorts around the selected attractions grinding some activities back into life.
Whether the CEO controversy will have any disruptive effects on the growing interest in the local holiday market is yet to be seen.