By Staff Writer
The Samoa Tourism Authority Board is steering clear of the media on an update of CEO Fa’amatuainu Suifua’s, current status after more than 2 months of investigation into allegations of abuse.
CEO Fa’amatuainu has remained officially on leave since staff complaints were first made public by the Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour.
Police have also filed legal charges against the CEO on charges of using insulting words from the same staff complaints.
Fa’amatuainu did not want to comment while the investigation against him is underway and has remained so when asked by Newsline Samoa.
A 3-member investigating committee organised at the time by the STA Board was expected to complete and hand in their report two months ago at the end of March.
Vice Chairman, Tupa’i Mr. Saleimoa Vaai and Managing Director of Vaimoana Seaside Lodge, confirmed at the time the Board wanted to make an early decision.
“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 inquiries.
It is now May and the Chairman of the STA Board, Tuiataga Nathan Bucknall, did not want to comment when emailed by Newsline Samoa for an update on CEO Fa’amatuainu.
“There has been much media attention in regards to allegations against CEO and the subsequent investigations, at this stage I choose not to add to it,” Tuiataga responded on email.
What he did not want to ‘add to’ as well is a set date for a final decision by the Board.
Tuiataga kept his silence when asked about the controversial action by the Labour and Commerce Minister to make the CEO allegation public if seen as political meddling.
Will this weigh on the integrity of the Board decision especially when the Minister of Tourism did not want to make any public comments about the allegations?
CEO Fa’amatuainu was appointed interim chairman of the Pacific Tourism Organisation SPTO at the end of last year 2021, while in his official role as Deputy Chairman of the Board.
His temporary appointment as Chairman until May this year when the SPTO Board votes in a new Chairman, held his leadership in high regard in the regional tourism industry.
CEO Fa’amatuainu was also the Newsline Samoa 2020 Person of the Year, for his outstanding leadership at a time when the COVID 19 pandemic closed international border travels to Samoa.
He led the STA determined drive to boost local tourism in a desperate effort to keep the leading income earning industry for Samoa from total collapse.
How all this proven leadership qualities will stand him up in the final decision by the STA Board was again met by Tuiataga’s wish not to ‘add to’ what has been reported by the media already.