Unhappy hotelier calls for help

“We are not ants or leeches and we provide income for people. We need to work together because there won’t be a business or country or place for people to come to if this thing gets out of hand”

The chikungunya outbreak is not slowing down.

So claims a hotelier who approached the Samoa Observer to vent her frustrations after six of her staff members became sick with the virus in one week.

The hotelier, who asked for her name and that of her property to be withheld from publication, fearing repercussions on her business, said she became frustrated after repeated attempts to get the Ministry of Health to spray her property.

“We now have six confirmed cases with our staff. What does it take for them to help? When it becomes a nationwide epidemic?” she asked.

“We have been given the run around and we’ve been told a lot of lies. We are quite upset about it and this is why we are raising our concerns publically.”

The hotelier said she is normally not one to complain.

“But this is a very serious matter and I’m tired of being given the run around. It could become an epidemic not only affecting us but tourists who come to Samoa. If they don't do something about it now, we might regret this down the line when tourists refuse to come because there is an outbreak.”

So what happened when the family contacted the Ministry of Health?

“First we were told that as long as we were on the list, we would eventually receive a visit from M.O.H and our place would be sprayed.”

This never happened and the hotel contacted the Ministry again.

“This time they told us that only two families get their properties sprayed per day.”

Eventually, after more follow ups, they were told to purchase their own chemicals and do it themselves.

The hotel eventually bought a machine and chemical for $3,000 to control mosquitoes.

“But it is getting worse and we are on the dry side of the country,” she said. “It is not good – we are being treated like red headed step-children.”

The woman said her resort employs 50 staff members.

“That is 233 families we feed and we bring in $2million into the country. I pay taxes - $40,000 and I’m never behind or late and yet the Ministry of Health doesn’t want to do anything about this problem.

“We are not ants or leeches and we provide income for people. We need to work together because there won’t be a business or country or place for people to come to if this thing gets out of hand.”

The woman said the problem is that ministry workers “pass the buck over when they do not want to handle issues themselves.”

“That is no good – people need to take responsibility and call it through.”

The woman also said the Ministry must do a better job informing the public about such illnesses.

“The only thing that has come to mind as a result is that M.O.H does not take seriously this disease. And they don’t think that our people are as important as the high-profile officials whom they rolled out the red carpet for during S.I.D.S.”

“People have got to understand the importance of these things for their survival. Do we really need another problem here – and do you think people will want to come here if this is the way things are?

“It really is a principle about working together with people to help the country and educate the people.”

The Ministry of Health’s Director General, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri was asked for a comment in an email on Friday afternoon.

“Please allow me time to find the facts regarding this and then will respond to your queries accordingly in a timely manner,” he wrote.