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Top News

Week ending Wednesday, February 10, 2009

Front page news stories on politics and current
events in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

90 grads honoured
New audit probe
Water tank project runs out of money
Pressure for fishing licences
Social welfare system under review
Inmate escapes from vehicle
Te Aponga reduce tariffs
Crime a big concern for accommodators
Taura in custody
Crime a big concern for accommodators
Taura in custody
ON THE STREET
CT scanner plans put on hold
Cyclone Pat on its way south
PSC investigation begins into Finsec
Increased pressure for fishing licences
Better access to aid needed says delegate
Pat moves southwest
Conference will chart direction for Pacific
Tropical cyclone Pat looms over Aitutaki
Concern over alcohol: police

Marguerite Dean and friends celebrate her diploma in food preparation and cooking yesterday. 10020305

The national brains trust grew yesterday.

The Department of National Human Resources Development (DNHRD) honoured the Association of Cook Islands Tertiary Institutes (ACITI) graduates at a ceremony in the auditorium.

Seventy-seven Rarotonga students and 13 outer islands students graduated, and 17 more students were recognised for being awarded in-country and overseas scholarships to continue their education.

Nineteen students received certifications from Cook Islands Hospitality Tourism Training Centre and 15 graduated from Cook Islands Trades Training Centre.

Nine students achieved NZQA unit standards in trades, hospitality, literacy and numeracy and 14 graduated from Cook Islands Sports Academy.

Nine graduated from USP on a Student Assistance Fund, 18 graduated on government scholarships and nine graduated on NZAid/AusAid scholarships.

The ceremony was attended by some distinguished guests including prime minister Jim Marurai, House of Ariki president Travel Tou Ariki, ministers Apii Piho and William Heather and Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin.

Marurai said in a speech that “well-trained individuals” like the graduates honoured yesterday will lead the country toward progress. He said the graduation was “evidence of government continuing its vigorous commitment toward building [our] people’s capabilities”.

MBA student Mariake Pirake encouraged her fellow graduates to share the knowledge they’ve gained and to “put it to good use for the benefit of our country and our people”.

• Rachel Reeves

Sir Terepai and son accused of

unfairly receiving business funds

Former finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate and his son and MP Terepai Maoate Jnr are alleged to have unfairly benefited from around $90,000 in outer island business support loans from a government fund set up last year.

The audit office is now investigating the serious allegation as well as carrying out a review of the$550,000 Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) managed business support loan fund for the outer islands – from its policies and criteria to which companies have received funding.

When contacted yesterday, Aitutaki MP Maoate Jnr confirmed that at least two of his family businesses had received a loan from the fund.

He believes that these businesses, one of which is Aitutaki accommodation property Paradise Cove Lodges, qualified for the loans under the same process as all other applications. Maoate Jnr says for this reason he is not worried that the audit office will find any truth to the allegations. He did not want to comment on the allegation that his father was also associated with companies that received a support loan.

In any case, Maoate Jnr, who has been vocal about the need for support for the struggling outer islands economies, says he believes politicians are not excluded from applying for the loans.

Audit director Paul Allsworth says the allegations about an amount of $90,000 going to three companies associated with Sir Terepai and Maoate Jnr have already become widely discussed by the public.

“I can confirm that the audit office has received several official complaints regarding this matter. The allegations are that money from this fund have been paid to companies owned by the former minister of finance, Sir Terepai, and also to the former associate minister Junior Maoate. The audit office yesterday (Tuesday) commenced a review into these allegations.”

Now his office must ascertain if the two politicians benefited at all from the loan fund and if they did, whether they were somehow received unfairly.

“These are serious allegations, and until such time the audit report is completed, these allegations are unsubstantiated and cannot be taken as true and correct,” warns Allsworth.

CINews understands that prime minister Jim Marurai recently asked finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen to look into the allegation as well, following complaints and concern about the identity of the shareholders of three loan-receiving companies.

The fund was launched last June with funds that came directly from the original $3 million earmarked for a national stimulus package.

Maoate Jnr, who has been associate minister of finance for the past three years, has in recent years been struggling to keep his own businesses afloat and was rumoured to be in over $2 million worth of debt.

Last year several rumours alleged that Sir Terepai had attempted to pressure the government-owned Bank of the Cook Islands into approving a large loan for his son after his application had initially been declined.

Despite being sacked from cabinet in December, Sir Terepai, MP for Ngatangiia, has yet to clear his name in the costly Toagate fuel farm scandal. The audit office is carrying out an extensive investigation into the failed multi-million dollar fuel farm scheme promoted by Sir Terepai for the past two years.

• Helen Greig

The water tank subsidy scheme has run out of money.

When government launched the operation in early December, it allocated $50,000 in subsidy funds to the ministry of infrastructure and planning.

MOIP has received 139 applications for subsidies, 82 of which have been approved and granted. The ministry can not afford to dispense many more.

Subsidies are granted on the basis of need and eligibility. The application process involves a property assessment in which an MOIP team visits the applicant’s home to determine whether he or she is eligible for the subsidy.

“Tank subsidies are allocated to people located in areas considered to be high risk who don’t have any water supply or who have water only at certain times of the day,” water works officer Otheniel Tangianau said.

MOIP’s role is to assess applications and make referrals to MFEM, which then provides funding, Tangianau said.

The $600 subsidy covers only the tank, not add-ons like fittings, spouting and downpipes which can cost hundreds of additional dollars.

Tangianau said that project funds are scant and that the ministry is “discussing [the situation] further” with government.

“There is a list of people who are considered eligible but we have little money at the moment and we are looking at asking for extra funds,” Tangianau said.

For those who can afford it, or for those who manage to obtain a subsidy, local suppliers do still have tanks in stock.

Vonnia’s has 5000L tanks for $1750 but managing director Yvonne Heather said that “sales have actually come to a stand still” as people wait for subsidies.

Mike Rennie Builders has several tanks on site in four sizes “and can make them in one day,” said accounts manager Jennie George.

Depending on size, they can cost between $1750 (3600L) and $2550 (8100L).

George said that tank sales have increased over the last month – and nearly all of them have been people wanting to take advantage of the subsidy.

CITC Building Centre has 1200L tanks ($710) and 6000L tanks ($1780) and a building centre representative reported that tanks have been selling fairly well.

T&M Heather is still offering tanks in three sizes (20000L for $7436, 10000L for $3572, 5500L for $2030) and has also been selling them in the past month.

Maoate Contractors is still selling household tanks.

- Rachel Reeves

Rising demand for long line fishery vessel licences continues to put pressure on the ministry of marine resources (MMR) to review its limit of 40 licences per year.

This has been highlighted by the recent lobbying of a local fishing company to the minister of marine resources Robert Wigmore.

CINews understands Northern Cook Islands Fishing Company director Bruce Manuela and his advisor Navy Epati approached the minister last week to ask that government grant the renewal of 16 annual foreign fishing vessel licences for the company.

At that meeting there was heated debate about the annual licence limit and even payment of the licence fees.

The company has already lodged an application with MMR for the renewal of the licences for a second year but had been told that due to demand for the remaining 14 licences available this year, it cannot get licences renewed for all 16 Taiwanese vessels.

It is understood that the company has previously asked for 23 licences.

• Helen Greig

Public views are being sought as government carries out a review of the nation’s social welfare system.

This year more than a third of the population will receive welfare payments – there were about 5600 or about 40 percent of the resident population (about 13,000) on a welfare benefit as of December last year.

In the current financial year government will spend $11.3 million on welfare payments which include the old age pension, child benefit, destitute/infirm payment, and care givers’ allowance.

About one-tenth of the total government operating budget is spent on the welfare system.

The ministry of internal affairs announced yesterday that government has undertaken a preliminary review of the existing social welfare system and has identified a number of issues for broader public discussion. An issues paper identifies key questions to help inform the development of a policy paper for further government consideration.

According to the ministry, key questions include: What is the purpose of welfare payments? Who should receive welfare payments? What is an appropriate level of welfare payment? Are there other safety nets that should be considered such as the role of the community; extended family supports; superannuation; insurance? What system can government afford?

One of the considerations of the government review will be whether people should be means-tested for welfare benefits – now a common method employed by countries which have welfare systems.

The Cook Islands is one of the only Pacific islands to have a welfare system.

The 1989 Welfare Act provides for payments for all children aged up to 12 years and to old age pensioners 60 years and over. Special payments are made to people who are destitute or infirm and a caregiver payment can be made to those caring for infirm or elderly people. Other special assistance is given for improving the household residences of disabled and elderly people Under the act, one-off grants equivalent to six month’s benefit are made to the families of deceased beneficiaries to help pay funeral costs. A new born allowance is also paid on the birth of a child.

The proportion of people in receipt of a welfare payment is expected to be higher in the outer islands.

Internal affairs says the number of people receiving the old age payment has increased by around eight per cent in December 2009 when compared with December 2007. This is likely to be attributed to the increase in the monthly rate of payment from $240 per month to $400 per month.

The number of people receiving the child benefit has decreased by around three per cent in December 2009 when compared with December 2007.

Government recently secured a $13.4 million loan from the Asian Development Bank, part of which may go towards any improvement in the welfare system.

A copy of the discussion paper can be made available on request to the ministry of internal affairs from Monday. The date submissions will close is March 17.

Clear identification of the author and contact details must be included as part of submissions. - HG

Current monthly rates for welfare payments are:

Old age pension $400

Child benefit $60

New born allowance* $300

Infirm benefit $150

Destitute $150

Caregiver allowance $150

*New born allowance is a one off payment

Daniel Taura. 10020417

Prison inmate Daniel Taura, also known as Daniel Hewitt, escaped from custody yesterday after appearing in court for theft, unlawful taking and threatening to kill.

Taura attended a hearing yesterday morning at the Avarua courthouse.

At around 11.40am he appeared before justice of the peace Dorice Reid, who ruled that he be remanded in custody until his next court date on February 25.

Taura appeared on a callover for theft, unlawful taking and threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm.

During his brief appearance, JP Reid advised him to seek legal counsel. However Hewitt told the court that as an inmate, he is unemployed and cannot afford lawyer fees.

After his hearing, he was escorted to a van to be transported to Arorangi prison. Taura jumped out of the moving van on the back road near Te Aponga and ran toward the hills. He was last seen wearing long denim jeans and a navy blue T-shirt with white lettering across the front.

He has black hair, which is longer now than it is in the photo, and is of a thin build. Taura is 178cm tall. He has a fairly extensive criminal history for a 19-year-old, including charges for unlawful taking, breach of probation, assault on a female, assault with intent to injure, threatening a police officer, fighting in a public place, burglary, wilful damage and common assault.

Police are working with prison wardens to form a search team.

If you have seen Taura or have any information, ring police on 999.

• RR

Te Aponga Uira announced a tariff restructure yesterday with board member, Steve Anderson, chief executive Apii Timoti, acting TAU minister and prime minister Jim Marurai and board member Tangata Tou. Also attending the media conference was chairman Piltz Napa and Mata Nooroa. 10020420

Households will soon be saving $40 to $60 a month on their power bill in a new tariff restructure, Te Aponga Uira announced.

The electricity company held a media conference yesterday to reveal the new prices which was attended by acting TAU minister and prime minister Jim Marurai, chief executive Apii Timoti, chairman Piltz Napa and board members Steve Anderson, Tangata Tou and Mata Nooroa.

“This is a significant step forward for Te Aponga and savings will be considerable – it will make a big difference in our overall household costs,” Marurai said.

“In addition Te Aponga is strengthening our policing on renewable energy.”

Tau said the changes will take place from February 8 and the move was not just a reduction in tariff costs but a restructuring of units.

“The majority of homes fall into tier 2 (61 to 240 units per month) we made a review and made sure there is a balance.”

Chief executive Timoti said as of Monday, households could now use 61 to 300 units and still fall within the tier 2 category. A price cut was made of 20 cents per unit.

“The new fuel formula has been the primary reason for the cost reduction but there was a need for the restructure itself,” Timoti said.

“This has been in planning for sometime now but it’s only able to be finalised once we knew what the fuel prices were going to be,” said board member Steve Anderson.

“This will give $40 to $60 back into each households’ pocket.”

TAU has also been promoting people to conserve energy with the sponsorship of fluorescent light bulbs. People are offered vouchers in their electricity bills or are able to swap their old bulbs for the fluorescent ones.

“We’re hoping people will make use of that as people save power the residue power they will get at a cheaper rate,” Anderson said.

They expect 12,000 lightbulbs to be given out to Rarotonga and 6000 to the outer islands. Timoti said a proposal was on the agenda have government buildings using the new light bulbs.

• Dana Kinita

The high incidence of burglary and theft in Puaikura is still one of the main concerns for tourism accommodation operators in the vaka.

Puaikura contains the largest number of accommodation properties making it even more prone to crime.

At infrastructure minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather’s meeting with around a dozen operators on Thursday, government was asked to help them in their efforts to prevent crime. Several people at the meeting suggested that the Puaikura Neighbourhood Watch group be given more support by government and the people of the vaka to carry out its surveillance efforts.

Rohan Ellis, group general manager of three hotels in Arorangi – Manuia Beach, Castaway Beach Villas and Lagoon Lodges – says his hotels are trying to promote the employment of young people from the vaka.

“They’re not born bad,” he says of young thieves, “they have huge wants, but no means to meet them.”

He said his hotels look to employ school leavers and hope other accommodation properties will join the effort to employ young people in the vaka.

Another accommodation operator said her properties had seen two burglaries within two weeks.

She said tourists are generally ‘quite scared’ after finding their belongings stolen. She said one couple had been asleep with the doors locked when thieves broke in and took some of their belongings.

“We try and reassure them that it is kids doing this – many of them think they will come back and stab them in the middle of the night.”

She said the high incidence of this kind of crime was causing visitors to become so distressed that some said they could not sleep for several nights afterwards.

Motorbikes being driven by ‘young hoons’ down Arorangi beaches has been a concern for some operators.

Ellis says these youngsters often have modified bikes with no mufflers on them, creating a lot of noise.

- Helen Greig

Police returned escaped inmate Daniel Taura to Arorangi prison yesterday morning at about 8am. He will remain in custody until February 25, when he will appear in court for three outstanding charges and an additional one of escaping from lawful custody.

Police received a number of calls from people who had sighted Taura on Thursday, but were unable to locate him.

Yesterday morning, a woman rang police to report that Taura was at a shop in Takuvaine, where police arrested him. He was then escorted back to prison.

Taura jumped off a moving vehicle near Te Aponga Uira, while being transported back to Arorangi after attending court on Thursday morning.

Police were pleased with the community’s response to media reports of the escape, and encourage the same sort of cooperation in the future.

• Rachel Reeves

The high incidence of burglary and theft in Puaikura is still one of the main concerns for tourism accommodation operators in the vaka.

Puaikura contains the largest number of accommodation properties making it even more prone to crime.

At infrastructure minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather’s meeting with around a dozen operators on Thursday, government was asked to help them in their efforts to prevent crime. Several people at the meeting suggested that the Puaikura Neighbourhood Watch group be given more support by government and the people of the vaka to carry out its surveillance efforts.

Rohan Ellis, group general manager of three hotels in Arorangi – Manuia Beach, Castaway Beach Villas and Lagoon Lodges – says his hotels are trying to promote the employment of young people from the vaka.

“They’re not born bad,” he says of young thieves, “they have huge wants, but no means to meet them.”

He said his hotels look to employ school leavers and hope other accommodation properties will join the effort to employ young people in the vaka.

Another accommodation operator said her properties had seen two burglaries within two weeks.

She said tourists are generally ‘quite scared’ after finding their belongings stolen. She said one couple had been asleep with the doors locked when thieves broke in and took some of their belongings.

“We try and reassure them that it is kids doing this – many of them think they will come back and stab them in the middle of the night.”

She said the high incidence of this kind of crime was causing visitors to become so distressed that some said they could not sleep for several nights afterwards.

Motorbikes being driven by ‘young hoons’ down Arorangi beaches has been a concern for some operators.

Ellis says these youngsters often have modified bikes with no mufflers on them, creating a lot of noise.

- Helen Greig

Police returned escaped inmate Daniel Taura to Arorangi prison yesterday morning at about 8am. He will remain in custody until February 25, when he will appear in court for three outstanding charges and an additional one of escaping from lawful custody.

Police received a number of calls from people who had sighted Taura on Thursday, but were unable to locate him.

Yesterday morning, a woman rang police to report that Taura was at a shop in Takuvaine, where police arrested him. He was then escorted back to prison.

Taura jumped off a moving vehicle near Te Aponga Uira, while being transported back to Arorangi after attending court on Thursday morning.

Police were pleased with the community’s response to media reports of the escape, and encourage the same sort of cooperation in the future.

• Rachel Reeves

Naboua Taoro Wish to be a millionaire. 10020522

Lavenia Rokoika Loads and loads and loads of money. 10020524

Silas Tuaputa To move to form seven without repeating any classes. 10020525

Boulard Brown To have no school. 10020526

Angela Wildin To have a happy family. 10020527

Marie Aererua To have a peaceful world. 10020528

Kenneth Jespersen To live in the Cook Islands. 10020529

Brian Jespersen To enjoy life and live healthy. 10020530

Plans to accept a donated CT scanner from Waikato Hospital are now on hold according to ministry of health secretary Tupou Faireka.

A submission detailing the donation and the expected costs of installation and maintenance of the machine was supposed to be taken to cabinet by health minister Apii Piho last week.

But it is concern over ongoing costs to the ministry that have temporarily put the brakes on the project.

Piho announced late last month that government was hoping to take advantage of the offer of the decommissioned CT scanner machine because they typically cost around $3 million.

He said he was confident that the CT scanner – a giant x-ray machine – would save many lives and cut the high cost of patient referrals to New Zealand.

Faireka says concern from ministry consultants has prompted a move to gather more information before going ahead with accepting the machine.

New Zealand-based Cook Island surgeons Dr George Ngaei and Dr Kiki Maoate have both advised the ministry that it may not need the machine if it comes at a high cost.

Despite doing a preliminary feasibility study on the project, Faireka says the ministry cannot rush into it without first doing more research into costs and whether a better option is available.

“They are saying if you get one, get the best, the one that is affordable, can be managed by the limited manpower resources that we have and the long term maintenance costs. These are real issues and facts that would eventuate, one way or another in the future,” he says.

Faireka plans to stop over in New Zealand this week to gather comments from two Auckland-based practitioners Dr Joe Williams and Dr Huta Tangaroa.

“I need to ask some questions and get answers for those questions before we can have an informed decision for the best way forward.”

Meanwhile, those involved in securing the donation of the machine, including ministry pharmacist Neville Puckey and Rotary are already concerned that the project may be dumped.

The ministry has however heeded the warning that while the machine would be free, it comes with ongoing costs that would have to be justified.

• Helen Greig

The US Navy Research Laboratory released this forecast map of tropical cyclone Pat moving towards the Southern group islands. sh142010_ sh142010_10020718

A tropical cyclone alert has been issued for the Northern Cooks.

But it appears that the islands in the Southern group will experience the brunt of tropical cyclone Pat later this week.

Yesterday Pat was located about 80 nautical miles (140km) west-southwest from Manihiki at 2pm yesterday.

Pat is slowly moving southeast at 10 knots (18.5kph) and is expected to intensify and gradually move southwards.

On this forecast track, Pat may bring damaging gale force winds over Manihiki and Suwarrow over the next 12 hours. A cyclone gale warning is also in force for Rakahanga.

Winds of 40 knots (74kph) are expected near the centre and winds of 35 knots (65kph) are expected to be felt up to 120 nautical miles (220km) of the centre.

The tracking map provided by the US Naval Research Laboratory website estimates that the cyclone will travel south, and then thread its way between Aitutaki and Ngaputoru (Wednesday morning) to be north of Rarotonga on Thursday morning.

Meteorological service director Arona Ngari said yesterday afternoon that Manihiki was experiencing 30 to 35 knot gusts from the northwest and high seas.

• Moana Moeka’a

The Tom is Reef Shipping’s ‘mother ship’ that offloads the catch from the company’s fleet of six fishing boats in Rarotonga – this operation is just one of many that vie for a total of 40 vessel licences available each year. 10020418

Government faces increased pressure to provide more long line fishing licences than its 40 licence limit a year.

Cook Islands News asked ministry of marine resources’ (MMR) director of offshore fisheries, Joshua Mitchell to explain the present licence situation and how they are allocated each year.

He says right now 26 vessels are licensed to fish in Cook Islands waters this year – last year all 40 licences were issued and MMR expects this trend to continue.

Not only is MMR considering the application of Northern Cook Islands Fishing Company for the renewal of its 16 foreign fishing vessel licences, but it also has another local company asking for the provision of 12 foreign fishing vessel licences.

Mitchell says the ministry now has to consider how to allocate the remaining 14 licences to both companies.

“The ministry is trying to create a level playing field for everybody through a fair and transparent system. We have to go back to our regulations to guide us in making a decision.”

This kind of demand also means the ministry may have to review the number of licences that should be held by any one company, he says.

The ministry relies on its 2008 long line fishery regulations to manage this sector of the fishing industry.

The level of potential benefits to the country through a company’s fishing operations is considered in the licensing process. Whether a venture lands its catch and processes it in the country is part of this consideration by the ministry.

Recently the licence fee for locally-based fishing vessels under 20 metres long was reduced by $500 to $2000 to help ease the pressure created by reduced catches. Locally-based fishing vessels over 20 metres long are licensed for $5000 each.

Foreign-flagged vessels are licensed for $40,000 – one of the highest licence fees in the region. There is an incentive rebate of $15,000 on this fee if the vessel offloads at least 20 metric tonnes of fish in the country in the previous licence year.

Mitchell says while there were problems with Northern Cook Islands Fishing licences last year, the company should still be able to obtain licences provided it understands the licence limit and pays up front like everyone else.

Last year the company paid a part payment on vessel licences of $80,000 before coughing up the rest of the $640,000 ($40,000 for each of the 16 vessels) in December that it owed -- after receiving a warning letter from minister Wigmore.

Mitchell says the agreement government made with the company to pay the licence fees in full after six months, was outside the laws which MMR operates under.

Now the ministry has decided not to allow such deals to be made because it must follow the rules. The company has lodged an application with MMR for the renewal of the licences for a second year but had been told that due to demand for the remaining 14 licences available this year that it cannot get licences renewed for all 16 Taiwanese vessels. It is understood that the company has previously asked for 23 licences.

Northern Cook Islands Fishing’s failure to contribute promised benefits to the local economy through employment and other activities in Penrhyn may also effect its ability to secure licences in future.

Mitchell says most fishing ventures here are offloading their catch in other countries so there is little benefit to the Cooks except through licensing. He says the industry is a tough one which is often dictated by low prices for albacore tuna compared to high costs of operations.

• Helen Greig

The impact of the economic crisis and climate change means that it is even more crucial for the Cooks to get better access to aid.

According to Liz Koteka, director central policy and planning office at the office of the prime minister, work still has to be done in obtaining access to aid that can directly assist the country’s development.

Aid to small island developing states for development in critical areas such as infrastructure is one focus of the Mauritius Strategy – a plan reviewed at a two day meeting this week in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Koteka attended the meeting which was hosted by the United Nations’ Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

UNESCAP is the agency that gives advice and training to small island developing states (SIDS) like the Cook Islands on how to produce, review and carry out their national sustainable development strategies.

The Cook Islands is doing well in terms of its own national sustainable development plan says Koteka. Because the Cook Islands is the second lowest receiver of aid per capita in the Pacific, development has largely been self-funded.

She says although the country has been able to carry out some development without a high level of donor aid, there are areas where better access to aid funding is necessary.

“We need to find more access to funding say for example for climate change. It seems unfair to expect us to fix a problem we didn’t create in the first place.”

It is not just the Cook Islands that faces these challenges – other SIDS are also looking at how to counter the effects the economic crisis on their development gains over the past five to ten years. Many are losing the gains they have made, sending many more people into hunger and poverty as they face job losses, higher costs of living and reduced government budgets for social services.

The Mauritius Strategy urges developed countries to provide 0.7 percent of their gross national product as official development assistance. The meeting outcome will feed into the discussions at this week’s three day UN Pacific conference on the Global Economic Crisis which starts today in Port Vila.

The Mauritius Strategy – the United Nations Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) 2005-2015 also helped create the Pacific Plan – another important development programme for the region says Koteka.

The Mauritius Strategy, adopted by 129 countries in 2005, is the only global blueprint that addresses the unique development challenges of SIDS associated with their vulnerabilities.

Cook Islands News, Port Vila See stories on page 7

• Helen Greig

Aitutaki is expected to feel the effects of tropical cyclone Pat later today as the category two storm makes its way southwards.

At 5pm yesterday Pat was located about 240 nautical miles (440km) north of Aitutaki and moving at nine knots (16kph) in a southeasterly direction. The cyclone was expected to track southwards last night, and then veer towards the southwest, according to the US Navy Research Laboratory website.

It is now expected to pass to the north of Aitutaki overnight with winds averaging around 70 knots (130kph) close to centre, and gusts reaching up to 85 knots (157kph).

• Moana Moeka’a

Some of the Cook Islands delegates at the opening of the GEC conference - from left OPM director of policy and planning Liz Koteka, Manihiki mayor Kora Kora, Atiu mayor Nellie Mokoroa and secretary of education Sharyn Paio. 10020965

Vanuatu prime minister Edward Natapei says despite the pain of the global economic crisis, Pacific island countries can come out of it with better choices and more opportunities.

Natapei addressed over 200 delegates gathered for the opening of the UN Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Port Vila, Vanuatu yesterday.

“This conference will discuss not just what the global economic crisis is about and how it has affected Pacific Island people, but also chart the future direction that our countries should take,” said Natapei.

He believes the conference is historically important, being held at a time when the Pacific is at a critical point in its development path.

Natapei said even without the global economic crisis (GEC), many of the region’s countries were not doing well.

“Our growth rates have generally remained sluggish over the last 15 years and this has also affected the pace of our social development.”

He said that despite having made some progress in some areas, including achieving reasonable levels of economic reform, the region had lost many opportunities to put countries on a more secure social, political and economic footing.

“At the global level, there are signs of stabilisation as a result of massive injection of stimulus packages by both developed and large emerging economies but this is predicted to be fragile.

This means that tourist numbers to our shores, export demand, remittances and aid volumes could still be affected, sluggish and subdued.”

He said last year almost all Pacific island economies recorded lower levels of growth compared to the two previous years.

And the outlook for this year is that the decline, much of which is directly linked to the GEC, will continue in the areas of investments, tourism, exports and remittances.

“We therefore need to remain vigilant and active to ensure that our policies and economic reforms strongly support the enabling environment for economic growth.

“In addition, we have to pay special attention to our social protection policies to ensure that our poor, our children and our women, who are the most vulnerable, are not left behind

For example, it is estimated by UNICEF and UNDP that 18,000 children under the age of five die every year in the Pacific region, which is fifty deaths a day or one death in every thirty minutes.”

He warned if the right action is not taken now the impact of the crisis is predicted to result in even more malnourished children and ultimately more deaths.

Natapei says changes should include transforming economies into knowledge-based economies which could help industries such as tourism, agriculture and fisheries grow.

He wanted conference talks to include the issue of whether international organisations will do the ‘hard work’ of identifying the unique Pacific features of the GEC and devise tailored solutions for the region.

Vanuatu finance minister and conference chair Sela Molisa opened the three-day high level discussions.

United Nations Development Programme administrator Helen Clark gave the keynote address.

The Cook Islands is one of 16 Pacific countries represented by an eight member delegation at the conference.

- Helen Greig

Cook Islands News, Port Vila

See stories on pages 8 and 9.

A satellite photo of tropical cyclone Pat, taken from the US Naval Research Laboratory website - the picture was taken about 4pm yesterday. USNavy Pat USNavy Pat

Aitutakians were preparing for tropical cyclone Pat which was expected to strike from the north last night.

Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop said at 7.30pm last night that the wind had picked up and that it had been raining since mid-afternoon.

“It was fine this morning [Tuesday] – we took a cruise out this morning. But the wind has picked up and it has been raining since about 2 o’clock.”

Bishop said that Aitutakians had been making preparations throughout the day.

At 5pm yesterday Pat was located about 75 nautical miles (138km) north-northeast of the island and moving towards the southwest at seven knots (13kph).

Close to the centre, the cyclone is estimated to have winds of around 65 knots (125kph) with gusts reaching up to 100 knots (185kph).

If the cyclone follows the expected track, the centre is expected to be located around 35 nautical miles (65km) west-northwest of Aitutaki, or 250km north-northwest of Rarotonga, by 5am this morning.

• Moana Moeka’a

Police made six arrests last weekend, most of which were alcohol-related.

Senior sergeant Nga Pouao said that police are still concerned about offences which involve alcohol.

“Most people being arrested by police are drinking,” he said.

“If you drink alcohol, please know that you are responsible for your actions.”

Police arrested a male person for excess breath alcohol after he crashed his motorbike into a hedge on the back road near the Apostolic Church and fled the scene. He did not sustain any injuries.

A 33-year-old Avatiu male was arrested for excess breath alcohol after being stopped near Foodland on Saturday night. He refused a blood test and will appear in court on Thursday.

Last Thursday night, a 40-year-old male, whose probation conditions barred him from purchasing or consuming alcohol or from entering any liquor-licensed premises, was spotted at the Nikao Golf Club. He was arrested for breaching probation and will appear in court on Thursday.

A 19-year-old male was arrested last Saturday for driving while disqualified in Nikao and will also appear in court on Thursday.

Also last Saturday night, police responded to a domestic incident and arrested a 33-year-old male for assault on a female. The same night, another Takuvaine male was arrested for assault on a female who was transported to hospital by police to register a medical report.

Police documented one burglary and one theft last week.

Last Friday morning around $220 in US dollars and $540 in Canadian currency, cigarettes and liquor were stolen from an Arorangi accommodation.

The incident is being investigated.

On Thursday morning, $68 was stolen from a receipt book at the ministry of works and police are still investigating the issue.

Police also logged four excessive noise complaints over the weekend.

• Rachel Reeves

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