PLEASE, SOMEONE GIVE AN ANSWER
Tourism couple left years in Government limbo
By Shona Pitt, Contributing Editor

Frustrated, disappointed, pushed around and disillusioned is how an Aitutaki business couple are feeling.
Owners and operators of the popular Samade on the Beach Bar and Units, Adrianne and Sam Vakalahi are at their wits’ end. They no longer know where to turn or who else to go for information and advice on their dilemma.
The couple is well known in the tourism industry. They are good role models and are a positive example how successful Cook Islanders can be with the right attitude, and determination.
The hard-working couple have for the past 10 years been working on seeing their dream come to fruition. They built Samade on the Beach Bar and Units up into one of the main tourist attractions and operators in Aitutaki.
Adrianne and Sam are not political players. They do not support any one political party and treat everyone the same. They are renowned hosts and have generously contributed towards their community.
They are just a normal hard-working couple who mind their own business, contribute whenever they are asked too and are not known to malign anyone.
They took an-out-of-the-way overgrown mosquito riddled beach property and slowly worked on it until it has become what it is today, prime real estate. Part of their dream was to develop their property to include accommodation.
They had already developed a popular beachside bar and restaurant and the next natural step was to develop the property to include accommodation.
The couple decided in 2003 to start on a $1.3 million building development project. The only problem was that their timing was wrong. Through no fault of their own they became embroiled in the political upheaval and victims of political instability and incompetence.
They fell through the loop and have been left there all these years.
HOW
How did it happen?
On well-meaning advice it was suggested that they apply for a grant from the Outer Island Development Fund (OIDGF) to assist them. That was in June 2003.
At the same time the OIDGF had commissioned the ‘Aitutaki Tourism Study’ review to guide and assist the committee in its decisions regarding tourism accommodation projects seeking OIDGF assistance. In August 2003 applicants were advised that any decisions will be deferred to after the review.
In January 2004 in line with the recommendations made by the Aitutaki review the OIDGF committee declined their application.
In March 2004, Cabinet asked for the resubmission of the Samade Ltd proposal. Cabinet then approved the application and the New Zealand High Commission (joint approver) was advised.
In April 2004, to enable the New Zealand High Commission to support Cabinet’s decision and approve joint approval, they requested information on the background to Cabinet’s endorsement.
In May 2004 the OIDGF Secretariat wrote to the chief executive in the Prime Minister’s office for a response.
In 2006 there had still been no response from Cabinet and a review was taken to improve the delivery and services of the OIDGF. The grant fund was suspended until the end of the financial year.
In January 2007, and according to the present New Zealand High Commissioner John Bryan, to date they have not gotten a reply from Cabinet on the Samade project.
The Head of the Aid Management Division, Garth Henderson, confirmed that the review has been completed and that the OIDGF is still operating. And yes there is money in the account and yes it is live and no, no money will be released to Samade Ltd until the approval comes from all parties.
ASKING
So why hasn’t Cabinet replied to the simple request of the NZ High Commission? This is the question that needs to be answered. According to Sam and Adrianne they have been asking this question forever.
The couple claim to have been misled over the years by various politicians of the day. There have been promises and excuses given and yet still no letter has been written as requested. Prime Ministers have come and gone. There have been changes in government departments. No one is willing to be accountable.
“Cabinet has not honoured its promise to us, they have not kept their word and they have acted in a dishonorable manner,” Adrianne said.
“Cabinet approved our application three times.
“All they had to do was write an explanation as to why they approved our application.”
SEEKING
Determined to keep trying and to get to the bottom of the matter Sam and Adrianne are now seeking to meet with the present Minister of Finance, Sir Terepai Maoate. They have been to everyone else including the present Prime Minister and all to no avail.
Their hope? “We haven’t given up yet, we are hoping to take our case to the Minister and perhaps he will be able to assist us.”

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