Prioritise athletes - Minister

The Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Fio Purcell, has stepped in to resolve a dispute between the Samoa Sports Facilities Authority (S.S.F.A) and the Samoa Weightlifting Federation (S.W.F).

Lautafi, whose portfolio includes S.S.F.A, has called on the officials involved to work together to prioritise the development of athletes.

The clash between S.S.F.A and S.W.F surfaced last week when the Weightlifting team was locked out of their training venue at Tuana’imato.

The President of S.W.F, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork, said it was not the first time they have been locked out.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Lautafi reminded that the facilities are there to develop local athletes.

“They should remember the facilities were made to develop our people and their sporting talents,” said the Minister. “Red tapes and bureaucracy should not be the reason to hinder that.

“They need to work together with the association to find the best solution so that it does not compromise our athletes.”

The Minister pointed out that part of the “disruption” was the big events being held at the facilities like the Small Island Developing States and Commonwealth Youth Games.

The weightlifters had used the Food Court to train and had to move when the area was used to host the events.

But Lautafi said “those little things” only had to take the two bodies to “bang their heads together and talk properly” to sort out another option.

A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday next week where the issue will be discussed.

“They need not to forget that the sports facilities were made for the athletes,” said Lautafi.

He also reminded that S.S.F.A. has a responsibility to the government in the sense they have to be responsible if anything happens to the assets.

For that reason, Lautafi said the sports bodies have to look after the facilities.

“They can’t just use the assets and leave it there for someone else to clean up after,” said the Minister. “It doesn’t work like that way. If they are not prepared to work like that, then we are not prepared to take them on board regardless.

All is needed is for them to work together with those looking after the facilities.”

Last week, Tuaopepe expressed disappointment about S.S.F.A’s decision.

“It’s really disappointing to be chased around like this,” he said.

“I had a feeling that this would happen after the Commonwealth Youth Games but I didn’t expect it would be this soon.”

Contacted for a comment, S.S.F.A C.E.O, Moefa’auo Salale Moananu said the venue was only made available for the Weightlifting during the Commonwealth Youth Games.

“The Samoa Weightlifting Federation has their own venue and that is the gym up at the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee,” he said.

“We did not ban anyone. To make it clear, the venue here was only made available for them and for other sports during the Commonwealth Youth Games.

“Now that the games are finished, the facilities are closed again. They have to use their venue up at S.A.S.N.O.C.”

Moefa’auo said the decision was made to lock the gym to protect the equipment as it belongs to the government.

“So we are waiting for the final audit from the government to tender everything that was used during the Games,” he said.

“The other option is that the government could lend the equipment to them to use but it’s not theirs, it belongs to the government.”

Tuaopepe also said this is not the first time Moefa’auo has locked them out.

“This happened before when we were using the building where they are using as a food court now,” he said. “They kicked us out from there so we moved to the S.A.S.N.O.C Gym.

“It’s really sad because with all these facilities available and we are not allowed to use it. I just don’t know what to do.”