1 Mar 2010

Samoan government accused of taking too long to help rebuild tourist accommodation

11:53 am on 1 March 2010

The owners of Samoan fale accommodation, affected by last September's tsunami, says it's taken too long for government assistance to come through for rebuilding.

Taufua Fales in Lalomanu is applying for funds from the long awaited Tourism Tsunami Recovery Programme, involving tourism authorities, the Samoa Government and NZAid.

The programme is targeted towards helping beach fale and budget tourist accommodation rebuild their premises, but there are stringent requirements that must be met.

Taufua family spokesperson, Sili Taufua, says the family has already had to pay to rebuild their restaurant, bar, kitchen and 12 beachfront fales for tourists.

He says they will still apply for funds to help them build more upmarket accommodation.

"I wish they had, the government, had done was to have brought financial assistance much earlier because it could have all had a psychological impact on the healing process and many families rely on beach fales for their livelihood. Up to now, well its 5 months now, no assistance from them, so of all the operators on our beach no one has started rebuilding except for ourselves."