After two calls to CISNOC, Hugh Graham received a spreadsheet that listed the NFs, ISAs and the names of the codes who had told them they wanted it to be deferred or for it be continued. While the list had 19 for the deferment and 16 against, it was clear to Graham something was wrong.

Hugh Graham has had a gutsful in the way the Cooks Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee operate – and he knows more about the organisation than most.

The Mauke Sports Association representative on the national Olympic body has revealed details of alleged ignorance and avoidance that exist in what he believes should be a transparent body.

”As a member of CISNOC I am very disappointed that information that should have been sent to all members of CISNOC had not been sent originally and this is a view that is shared by quite a few other members of CISNOC,“ Graham said.

Graham revealed the stunning developments to the Cook Islands News after three consecutive deferments of the annual general meeting (AGM).

The committee is made up of 41 members representing three areas. National federations make up 24 members while island sports associations (ISAs) have 10 spots and executive members have seven.

The meeting was supposed to reveal the audited budget reports that showed where money was coming from and how the organisation operates financially. The election of three vacant positions in the committee, including the president and two vice-president positions was also to be addressed.

Former Treasurer and newly-appointed interim CEO Dan O’Brien said the financial position from the previous year ”was one which saw CISNOC continue to operate while insolvent.“

”The accounts were in a position in which it was very difficult to define what the true position was,“ O’Brien said.

The government body hired an independent auditor at the expense of the Cook Islands Government.

”The information was so inaccurate it couldn’t be relied on. As a result, the accountant wasn’t able to provide us with draft accounts until May,“ O’Brien added.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) – who contribute funding to CISNOC - and the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) became concerned at the state of the finances at CISNOC.

Their interest deepened further as a result of Triathlon Cook Islands saying it was owed money by CISNOC. It is understood an arrangement was made between CISNOC and TCI over the monies.

”However, the IOC and ONOC still had concerns about potential actions over codes around funding,“ O’Brien told Cook Islands News.

Tensions reached a point where funding from the international committee were likely to cease.

”I consulted with ONOC, who knew of our insolvency – and told them that to suspend funding would be a catastrophe for our athletes.“

The official processing of the accounts – which go through the IOC, on to ONOC and then to CISNOC – meant there were significant delays.

An email was sent to committee members last Monday advising them the AGM was to be held last night.

However, as many as 21 of the national federations and island sports associations never received the email, potentially leaving the few who replied to become an inflamed majority.

”I took the liberty of forwarding the email that was sent by Auntie Rosie [Blake] to them,“ Graham said.

Another notice from Blake two days later was sent to the codes advising them of a deferment because it was in the interests of the majority of people who replied.

”In light of the many National Feds & Island Associations requesting for deferment of AGM, until the Audit report is complete, the Executive Board would like to give notice that the CISNOC Annual General Assembly will be postponed till further notice until the Audit report is complete,“ the email read.

”I did not believe this was true, so on Thursday I sent Rosie Blake an email, after speaking to a number of codes challenging her on the many codes that wanted the meeting to be deferred,“ Graham revealed.

After speaking to 24 members of the national federations and island sports associations, who wanted the meeting to still go ahead, Graham produced a list for Blake’s convenience before the secretary general said they had a list of 24 committee members who had wanted the meeting deferred.

”My integrity was attacked because they thought I was being dishonest,“ he said.

A meeting was called between Graham and representatives from CISNOC last Friday to clarify the issues surrounding the deferral of the meeting.

Acting president for CISNOC George Paniani, O’Brien, Blake and executive board member Ina Marsters were present and discussed the different lists of who had and who hadn’t wanted the meeting deferred.

”What they said to me was there were 24 codes who wanted deferral – I challenged them.

”I wanted to know who these codes were and the people who were contacted before they deferred the AGM,“ Graham told Cook Islands News.

After two calls to CISNOC, Graham received a spreadsheet that listed the NFs, ISAs and the names of the codes who had told them they wanted it to be deferred or for the meeting to go ahead.

While the list had 19 for the deferment and 16 against, it was clear to Graham something was wrong once he had referred to his own list.

”What is disturbing is that three of those codes who they said wanted it to be deferred actually didn’t want it to be deferred and I have written confirmation (of this),“ Graham said.

Further pleas from Graham to CISNOC to halt the deferral fell on deaf ears. This culminated in a special general meeting being set down for next Tuesday.

”CISNOC needs to come clean and just be honest with all the members in terms of previous, present and future dealings with us members,“ Graham said in acknowledging the frustrations for the sports bodies involved.

The former CISNOC treasurer defended Minister of Sport Mark Brown, who is standing for president of the board. Graham said any suggestions of the government’s stance on funding the organisation would not be affected whether Brown was elected or not.

”That’s absolute nonsense. Under the Constitution, because the last person died when in the seat, there is no need for an election to decide who sits in that position.

”CISNOC approached the minister and asked if he would step in until the next AGM in 2013. The minister did not accept the position on that basis and said he would only run if there was an election. He could have gone straight into the job under that process.“

O’Brien understood the anger coming from the codes but said an ability to work together was required in what was clearly an emotional time for some, as he witnessed on his return from business in Atiu recently.

”It’s clear there has been a lot of heated debate on the process. I personally saw staff crying, they were very upset.

”All this is doing is reacting, making it a bigger divide in the organisation. It has created a ‘them and us’ situation,“ he said.

”My opinion is that there’s utter frustration and that is justified. It’s just my hope that we can all work together to make a better organisation,“ he added.

Whether a division or a uniting of the organisation will be the end result of the special general meeting next Tuesday remains to be seen.