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3 ministers resign
Prime minister stays firm
CIP call for new elections
PM appoints new ministers
ON THE STREET
PM has lost credibility: Bishop
Fishing company pays up fees
Toagate legal costs almost $180,000
No witch hunt over Toagate: govt
Kia Orana Air to take off next year
Demos withdraw support
Marurai on break
3 ministers resign
Thu
24 Dec
Prime minister Jim Marurai’s leadership is being challenged by the Democratic Party with four minister no longer in cabinet.
In a clear demonstration of solidarity, three Democratic Party cabinet ministers have resigned in support of Sir Terepai Maoate, who was removed yesterday from cabinet.
The move demonstrates that Democratic Party solidarity is stronger than ever, said a media release from the party late yesterday.
“The team stands firmly together, we are in support of Sir Terepai and the Democratic Party,” said Ngamau Munokoa, former minister of internal affairs.
“The resignations also demonstrate that the former ministers have no confidence in Marurai’s leadership. That leadership is now being challenged by the Democratic Party,” said the release.
Yesterday party president Makiuti Tongia also confirmed that Marurai’s membership as a Democratic Party member had been revoked.
The Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin was expected to receive all three letters of resignation late yesterday.
Kete Ioane is currently in Aitutaki while Tangata Vavia is on Mitiaro. Both were to have forwarded their resignations by fax.
The head of state’s office said that it had received a letter revocating Sir Terepai’s warrant of appointment as a minister.
This action by the former ministers, the caucus and the Democratic Party Executive is a result of the reckless decisions made in isolation by Marurai.
Marurai’s decisions were unanimously opposed by caucus and the executive who were present at a meeting yesterday morning with the prime minister.
Asked on at least five times to reconsider his decision, Marurai flatly refused saying it was final and “I don’t care” said the release.
The only support shown for the prime minister is from Robert Wigmore, who gained the post of deputy prime minister upon the removal of Sir Terepai.
“The Democratic Party executive believes Wigmore was enticed with the reward of the post of deputy prime minister for being the lone supporter of Marurai. Wigmore’s actions place his future in the party in jeopardy.
The executive state that both have used the TOA issue as a smokescreen.
“It should have been their responsibility to be better informed by reading the final report by legal consultant Kit Toogood QC, but they chose not to read it. This demonstrates that using the TOA issue was a cover-up and concealed their ongoing talks with Norman George, Nandi Glassie and Wilkie Rasmussen,” said the release.
“Marurai has put the country in disarray and the government in limbo as he intends to leave for his home island of Mangaia to enjoy his Christmas and New Year. He is not expected back in Rarotonga until the second week of January. “Meanwhile the Democratic Party, caucus members remain committed to delivering to the Cook Islands people a united, stable and functioning government,” concluded the release.
Prime minister stays firm
Thu
24 Dec
An attempt by members of the Democratic Party caucus and executive to get Jim Marurai to give up the prime ministership was unsuccessful.
Just after 9am yesterday morning, Marurai and deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore emerged from a meeting with caucus and party executives held inside the cabinet room at the office of the prime minister.
When Cook Islands News spoke to both men inside the prime minister’s own office around 9.30am, the meeting in the room next door was still in progress.
Marurai said that the meeting asked him to reconsider his decision to remove the DPM office from Sir Terepai Maoate, who cut short his Christmas vacation in New Zealand and returned to Rarotonga early yesterday morning.
“I told them that my problem is that I’m not going to make myself look like a fool in public,” said Marurai. “I have made my decision and that is it.”
Marurai claimed that meeting asked him to “put his position on the table” but he refused.
“I am still the prime minister and I was elected by parliament. If they want my position then they will have to go back to parliament and pass a vote of no-confidence in me.”
Party president Makiuti Tongia then told him that they would be removing him from the party.
“I don’t know how binding that is. Even if they remove me from the party, I am still the prime minister.
The removal of Marurai by the party was apparently broadcast on Rad
io Cook Islands early yesterday morning.
Marurai said that he is still going to Mangaia today as planned and will return to Rarotonga on January 8. As he will not be leaving the country during the festive break, Marurai said he does not need to delegate the responsibility of acting prime minister to any of the ministers.
When asked if he had been approached by the opposition, the prime minister replied that he was “looking at options at the moment”.
CIP call for new elections
Thu
24 Dec
The Cook Islands Party has called for fresh elections following the fallout from the Toagate affair.
“The fallout from the Toagate scandal sees the Demo government disintegrate into complete disarray and chaos,” said CIP leader Henry Puna. “While the opposition has correctly come out in support of the prime minister’s actions, it is also of the view that the prime minister also has culpability in this matter.”
Puna says the whole country has been aware of the Toa fiasco since the beginning of this year.
“And yet the prime minister has allowed this mess to drift without taking control of the matter when common sense and public opinion clearly required him to do so. The fact of the matter is, the prime minister is the ultimate executive authority in this country and the buck stops with him.
“The CIP is of the view that the only responsible course of action is to ultimately seek a fresh mandate from the people at the appropriate time and let the court of public opinion speak on this most unfortunate matter,” concluded Puna.
PM appoints new ministers
Sat
26 Dec
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Prime minister Jim Marurai (centre) poses with his new cabinet ministers after the swearing in at Government house on Thursday – from left Apii Piho, Wilkie Rasmussen, DPM Robert Wigmore and William ‘Smiley’ Heather.
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Prime minister Jim Marurai has appointed three new cabinet members in the hope that his Democratic Party government can stand in unity going into the crucial election year.
In what has to be the political comeback of the year, Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen was sworn in -- just five months after he was sacked from his ministerial post.
Manihiki MP Apii Piho and Ruaau MP William ‘Smiley’ Heather were also sworn in as new ministers.
It is a stunning twist of events given that in July all three MPs were accused of planning a coup to oust Marurai’s cabinet and form a new coalition government with the Cook Islands Party.
The failed coup was used as one of the main reasons for Rasmussen’s sacking from cabinet at the time. On Thursday Marurai relied on Rasmussen to make a statement on his and the new cabinet’s behalf following the swearing in ceremony.
“As of late this [Thursday] afternoon the Democratic party members of parliament, despite the infighting that had taken place, gathered at my house.
“And then we agreed to maintain a government which is a Democratic Party government. We also agreed to resolve our differences and to enable then the swearing in of the new ministers. We have left one vacancy for a minister until after the New Year, and it will then be considered as to who shall take that,” said Rasmussen.
He said discussions between the new ministers were very positive.
“Everybody agreed, including the prime minister and Sir Terepai Maoate, leader of the Democratic Party, that the party needs to be unified, needs to have a new approach, needs to have a positive image as it goes into the New Year and as it gets ready for the elections.”
Rasmussen revealed that there had been talks held with the Cook Islands Party by the two sides of the Democratic Party.
“But I and the two new ministers had felt that the best solution would be to actually remain as a government as we were elected during the election as Democratic Party members. So, Sir Terepai was agreeable to that. Sir Terepai and the prime minister and a number of us will be holding lengthy discussions in the new year as we try to resolve our internal problems and of course to see how we can then tackle the country rather than carry on as a party in disarray,” Rasmussen said.
He added that apologies from both sides of the Demo factions had been made following this week’s turn of events.
Indeed many people were hurt in the whole process.
Former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai was stripped of his portfolios, bar health on Tuesday and then sacked as a minister on Wednesday.
Marurai told CI News he had gone through the process of having Sir Terepai’s ministerial warrant revoked following ‘legal advice’ despite initially deciding against the sacking.
On Wednesday three ministers – Aunty Mau Munokoa, Tangata Vavia and Kete Ioane all resigned in a show of support for Sir Terepai.
In an even more surprising show of support, Sir Terepai (who remains Ngatangiia MP and leader of the Democratic Party), was present at Government House in Titikaveka for the ceremonial swearing in of the three new ministers.
In the meantime, Marurai has yet to allocate portfolios to the new ministers, preferring instead to hold onto all of them until the New Year when the new cabinet will meet to discuss it.
Deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore will also wait until then to find out what his new portfolios might be.
Rasmussen told Cook Islands News that he has already requested the finance and economic related portfolios as well as those related to law and justice.
“I believe I can put together a good team of people to look at these issues,” he says.
The prime minister chose to postpone his departure for his Christmas holiday in Mangaia on Thursday and will now head to his home island on January 7.
- HAG See story on page 8
ON THE STREET
Sat
26 Dec
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Maria Jonassen
Government is unstable - the whole lot of them should have been sacked.
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Terepai Moetaua
People are confused. Those in power should call an election for the people to decide -- sooner rather than later.
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Tuakana Marukore
Right now it’s Christmas time: this is their gift to us. Nothing is right about government. We need to keep praying to God to get us through this.
09122409
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Tangi Tereapii
Government is unstable at the moment. Give it back to the people, it’s a good time to implement the reforms.
09122410
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Steven Boggs
I think Jim (Marurai) should resign. He is the worst PM of all time. He’s bought the country to ruin and is a complete joke.
09122412
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Alistair Macquarie
I think it’s bad and serious. Marurai just wants to stay PM. The Queen’s Rep should dissolve parliament and call for new elections. Get rid of all these geriatrics and bring in some young blood.
09122415
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Jane Elisaia
I think everything happens for a reason. We need young leaders with new and innovative ideas.
09122413
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Rangi Aitu
It’s time for change. I’d go for new political reform.
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In light of recent events, what do you think of the current political situation?
PM has lost credibility: Bishop
Tue
29 Dec
Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara MP Teina Bishop says that the country has an “unstable government” following last week’s sacking of Sir Terepai Maoate and the subsequent resignations of three Democratic Party ministers.
“The actions of the prime minister Jim Marurai in appointing three members of the Democratic Party as new ministers without the support of the caucus and their executive clearly demonstrates he has lost all sense of credibility to lead this country as prime minister,” says the opposition MP in a statement.
“After all, isn’t he the person that has gained the reputation as the ‘sacking PM’ as history repeats itself with this latest sacking debacle?”
Bishop says Marurai has lost the integrity of decisive leadership and has brought shame and disrepute on the highest office in government as prime minister.
“He has also cast a shadow of doubt on the integrity of all members of parliament including the opposition irrespective as to whether we have been party to his shenanigans or not,” he says.
“The people of this country must remember that he has enjoyed the power of office by default and has maintained his position because of the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between the coalition partnership with the Cook Islands Party which allowed him the reins of power with Sir Geoffrey Henry in 2004 as his deputy.
“He was to relinquish his prime ministership following his term of two years. But having tasted the luxury of power at the highest level, the PM decided to sack Sir Geoffrey and as we all know, he has maintained a reputation of sacking several other ministers from both political parties since including Tom Marsters, Tupou Faireka, Piho Rua, Wilkie Rasmussen with the latest being his former deputy PM Sir Terepai Maoate.”
Bishop says he feels for his political colleagues who have been cast into the political wilderness because of their responsibilities in providing employment for staff with financial commitments and with families.
“What becomes of them especially at a time when we celebrate the goodness of life and the remembrance of our maker with the spirit of Christmas, only to be overshadowed with uncertainty and doubt for their immediate future.”
Bishop says that he is of the view that the prime minister has buckled under pressure and is very much on his own with nobody to turn to, “to support his actions rightfully or wrongly”.
“It is here that I also state on record, my concern that certain public servants at the highest level of office in government, may have neglected and compromised their obligations and responsibilities of neutrality by approaching the prime minister direct with pre-conceived agendas for political favouritism.
“Mention has been made by the president of the Democratic Party of the office of the public service commission. This matter should be investigated by the Ombudsman’s office as to the independence and neutrality of the public service commissioner in this latest debacle especially where ‘undue influence’ may have been imposed on the PM,” says Bishop.
“Right now, the prime minister has got to understand that the buck stops with him and that he was party to all of the decisions made to support the fuel farm affair and therefore, his whole cabinet and caucus are equally responsible for what has occurred.”
Fishing company pays up fees
Tue
29 Dec
The ministry of marine resources (MMR) has supplied more details on government’s agreement with a locally owned fishing venture based in the northern Cook Islands waters following an official information request.
It is believed that the OIA request made on December 2 by Cook Islands News has in part prompted Northern Cook Islands Fishing Company to pay the $560,000 it still owed on its annual licences for its 16 Taiwanese long line fishing vessels.
The total licence fees for 2009 were $640,000 ($40,000 per vessel).
The OIA request followed public interest in the venture as well as criticism, by company director Bruce Manuela in a letter to the editor, of the facts contained in the Cook Islands News report ‘Fishing deal goes bad ’published in November.
Last month Cook Islands News reported that the ministry had revealed that the fishing venture had failed to deliver on several promised benefits for locals, particularly the island of Penrhyn which included infrastructure improvements and employment opportunities.
On November 30 marine resources minister Robert Wigmore wrote to Manuela warning of government’s concern that the full licence fees for the fishing vessels needed to be paid by December 23.
Last week Manuela met with MMR’s senior staff to discuss the fishing venture and the licence fees were then paid last Wednesday, December 23.
Wigmore also wrote to Manuela to express government’s concern that the venture had not had resulted in real economic benefits for locals.
“I am also concerned that although your company had undertaken to establish itself in Penrhyn and conduct operations there, this did not happen.”
The OIA documents also reveal that the fishing company applied for seven more fishing vessel licences for 2010 in September. Five of the vessels are foreign owned, the remaining two being locally registered.
The tuna caught by the 16 long liners is offloaded mostly in Pago Pago, American Samoa where fish canneries are located.
MMR will begin assessing current and new licence applications for fishing vessels in the first week of January. NFCI’s applications for 23 of the 40 annual fishing licences available will be processed along with several others.
Toagate legal costs almost $180,000
Tue
29 Dec
Government has spent around $177,000 on legal costs to defend the fuel farm lawsuit brought by Triad and for the out-of-court settlement process.
The Crown Law office released figures on the costs of defending the litigation and the mediation costs last week in response to a Cook Islands News request for the information on Monday.
The fuel farm scandal, has now resulted in a settlement by which government will payout $1.75 million to Toa Petroleum, and cover Triad’s legal costs of $73,000.
Crown Law special counsel Kim Saunders said the office of the deputy prime minister advised that the estimated legal costs of the settlement process carried out this month was around $100,000. This comprised of just under $85,000 paid to Queen’s Counsel Kit Toogood and $24,500 for mediator Queen’s Counsel Nick Davison for their services.
Saunders says the Crown Law office will pay total legal costs of $67,219.45.
This cost covers defending the Triad lawsuit from March 5 to November 25 – made up of $56,967.53 paid to senior Crown counsel Mike Ruffin, $1012 to NZ legal advisor Dr Alex Frame for opinions, court fees of $157.14, and a DHL courier fee of $82.78.
No witch hunt over Toagate: govt
Wed
30 Dec
Government has vowed there will be no Toagate witch hunt against Sir Terepai Maoate who was sacked as deputy prime minister last week.
A statement released on Monday by newly-appointed cabinet minister Wilkie Rasmussen on behalf of government, says the prime minister Jim Marurai and his new cabinet wish to stress that there will be “absolutely no witch hunt against Sir Terepai Maoate and senior public servants associated with him in the Toa Petroleum matter”.
Rasmussen says instead a review “guided by the proper legal and procedural laws” will be considered after “all the facts had been put together”.
He says all best efforts will be applied to ensure that Sir Terepai’s ministerial office staff are kept in employment. This extra courtesy doesn’t seem to apply to ministerial staff employed at the offices of the three former cabinet ministers who resigned last week.
Before the swearing-in of Rasmussen and the two other new cabinet ministers -- Apii Piho and William Heather -- last Thursday, the new cabinet, PM and leader of the Democratic Party, Sir Terepai, agreed that Rasmussen issue a statement that reflects as best possible the current situation regarding government and the party.
Rasmussen says government will endeavour to maintain continuity of “non-controversial decisions” made by Sir Terepai in his former ministerial capacity in the portfolios he held adding that the government stresses that it is required to act responsibly and therefore it must review a number of “issues of public interest”.
Public outcry over the Toagate scandal in which an out-of-court settlement has left taxpayers $1.75 million out of pocket, has led to numerous calls for a commission of inquiry over the actions of Sir Terepai and financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti.
The audit office and the public service commissioner are carrying out reviews into the fuel farm scandal.
In the meantime cabinet, caucus, and the Democratic Party have agreed to a series of what Rasmussen refers to as “internal review meetings” over the coming weeks.
“Sir Terepai had agreed for a series of meetings to take place as soon as possible between all relevant officeholders in the Democratic Party and the cabinet and government caucus. These meetings are to try and resolve the differences between all those involved in disputes within the government and the Democratic Party.”
After these meetings, Rasmussen says government and the Democratic Party will reveal their findings to the public with a view that if it had strayed away from matters of public interest and from its promises, then both entities will do their best to reconcile with the public and people of the Cook Islands.
“The government will try its best to address the pertinent questions on the economy, political reform and indeed better governance and improvement of social and education standards,” he said.
Kia Orana Air to take off next year
Wed
30 Dec
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Kia Orana Air plans to operate a Beechcraft 1900D – one of the most popular 19 seater aircraft when it launches next year.
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Kia Orana Air, the low-cost domestic airline first proposed in mid-2008, is now due to take off by May next year.
Managing director Mark Lusby says the economic downturn was one contributing factor in the postponement of the launch of the airline which had been planned from late 2008 onwards.
The company has now reapplied for an air service licence to operate a 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D aircraft between Rarotonga and the outer islands.
Lusby says the aircraft which can carry 750 kilogrammes of baggage and cargo has been sourced from the United States. The aircraft is used by numerous airlines around the world including Air New Zealand and is noted for its flight speed, ability to fly at high altitudes, and its ability to operate well on short runways.
“There will be about two to three flights a day. We have a full schedule that will introduce a competitive service,” says Lusby.
The airline will go into direct competition with Air Rarotonga which in 2007 dramatically increased its airfares to the Northern group islands causing complaints from the public and concern from government over the high fares from the country’s only domestic airline.
The Manihiki community was left gob-smacked when the one way fare to their island jumped 69 percent overnight – from $682 to $1150 that year.
Kia Orana Air’s attractive airfare prices have now been included in its licence application to the ministry of transport.
There will be a $260 return fare to any Southern group island and a $1600 return fare to the Northern islands. Cargo prices will also be competitive with those of Air Rarotonga.
“The outer islands are hurting over freight so we aim to make it more competitive to enable people to send goods to the islands, and for outer islanders to send their products such as veges, fruit and handcrafts back to Rarotonga at a good rate.”
A recruitment drive by the company resulted in so much interest that Lusby says they will have no trouble hiring staff. Lusby, a pilot himself for almost 20 years, will fly for the airline along with six other pilots. He says the company has a policy to hire locals first.
More good news came this year when Lusby secured a business partner for the airline – an Australian aviation and consulting specialist company with resources available to add to the venture’s credibility.
Earlier this year there were setbacks in securing office, hangar and check-in counter space at Rarotonga airport – but Lusby says facilities for
Kia Orana Air are now almost signed off on.
Last year former aviation minister Tangata Vavia praised the proposed airline as a step in the right direction to make domestic airfares more com-
petitive.
Lusby who has a young family with his wife and business partner Tekura, has previously said he aims to provide Cook Islanders and visitors alike with an efficient, safe and affordable flying choice through Kia Orana Air.
The company’s new application for an air service licence will soon be advertised by government to allow public comment on the proposed operation.
Demos withdraw support
Wed
30 Dec
The prime minister and his new cabinet does not have the support of the Democratic Party, according to a brief statement issued to Cook Islands News late yesterday.
“The Democratic Party wishes to announce that as of today [Tuesday], it has withdrawn its full support of cabinet and the prime minister Jim Marurai,” said party president Makiuti Tongia.
“We are no longer as of today, part of this minority government of five men in cabinet,” added Tongia.
“All 10 members of our Democratic Party have pledged support to our leader Sir Terepai Maoate KBE.”
The statement contrasts with that put out by minister Wilkie Rasmussen, that meetings would be held between cabinet and the party to resolve their differences.
The statement also appears to shut the party door on three of the ministers – DPM Robert Wigmore, William Heather Jnr and Apii Piho.
Marurai on break
Wed
30 Dec
Prime minister Jim Marurai decided to head to Mangaia for his Christmas break last Friday, despite deciding the day before that he would instead work right through the New Year.
It is understood he initially cancelled his flight to Mangaia on Thursday to hold talks with the Democratic Party and then attend the swearing-in of his three new cabinet ministers that day. That afternoon his office said he had decided to stay on at work and forgo his holiday leave due to the changes in government leading up to Christmas.
However according to his office, the PM received a call from Air Rarotonga on Friday offering him a seat on a flight to Mangaia that day which he accepted.
Marurai is now due back in his office on January 8, but he may decide to come back sooner should he be needed says his
office.
Marurai currently holds all the ministry portfolios but is due to divide them up within the next two weeks.
Since last week Robert Wigmore has been deputy prime minister, and Wilkie Rasmussen, Apii Piho and William Heather are the latest additions to cabinet following the sacking of former DPM Sir Terepai Maoate and the resignation of Aunty Mau Munokoa, Tangata Vavia, and Kete Ioane from cabinet.
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