‘CISNOC needs to be responsible’

Cook Islands Volleyball Federation president Hugh Graham says people need to stay focused on the real issue concerning CISNOC.

“People haven’t been criticising our athletes or the employees at CISNOC. These are very hard working people, doing a great job. What we are concerned about is the finances.”

The financial instability of the organisation has meant that some employees went several months last year without receiving pay. Furthermore, money which had been promised to Cook Islands Volleyball had been diverted to pay other costs.

“We will never see this money. CISNOC has got itself into a dire financial situation and needs the government to bail it out. But when will it draw the line? And what will happen to our sports people when it does?”

Graham believes that the government is on the right track with the intended review of the accounts but he questions the timing.

“Why haven’t we seen the accounts before? Why haven’t they been transparent?

“We need to focus on the management, we are a part of the federation and so in part it’s our responsibility too.”

Graeme agreed with Prime Minister Henry Puna’s comments that there was a need for discussion about CISNOC.

“We need unemotional discussion. People are being deflected from the issue of financial mismanagement. We need to look at how CISNOC is funded and how it accounts for those funds. Nobody doubts the ability of our sports people. We need to have systems in place so we can support our people.”