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PM’s priority is to cut costs
Avaiki marketers being sought
Travelling art exhibition opens today
President says PM is a Demo
Finsec faces possible suspension
MPs seek to remove PM
Youth pleads guilty to burglaries
Cost cuts laughable says Bishop
Rasmussen gets briefed on finance
Country first: CIP, Demos
ON THE STREET
Rasmussen hits back at MPs
Mayor charged
Kings and Royal Heats unite for anthem
QR rejects no-confidence petition
Audit to lift the lid on Toagate
CIP confirms 2 candidates
Hoax protest?
PM promises referendum
Not sitting soon
Happy to be back at 102
PM’s priority is to cut costs
Thu
7 Jan
Cutting the cost of government is the top priority going into the New Year for prime minister Jim Marurai.
The prime minister and cabinet have endorsed a review of the burgeoning cost of government to find ways to use funds with greater efficiency.
Marurai has already taken the first step by deciding to reduce costs at the ministerial level first – starting with the resolution not to appoint a sixth minister in his new cabinet.
According to his office, Marurai believes a considerable saving can be made simply by not appointing another minister.
Ministers receive a salary of around $85,000 a year plus allowances (including travel) and a ministerial support office budget.
So over a year government could save at least $100,000 from this decision.
It is understood the five-member cabinet will look at their own expenditure carefully too -- including a possible attempt at curbing the often publicly-criticised high costs associated with overseas ministerial travel.
Marurai has reportedly decided that his new approach to ‘cost cutting’ in government will shape his political reform agenda.
On Tuesday new finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen vowed that he would put his energy towards managing the financial affairs of the country during a time when government is struggling to curb its spending and borrowing.
Yesterday the first cabinet meeting with the new ministers was held at which Marurai, deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore, Rasmussen and William ‘Smiley’ Heather opted to begin tackling the big issue of the increasing cost of government.
Cutting the cost of the public service also remains a talking point in government, but it is unclear whether the new cabinet will look to address this issue in the current financial year.
Last year ministry of finance recommended putting a freeze on employing more people in the public service as a way to reduce the high operating costs of government.
This week’s decision to review spending follows cabinet’s receipt of bleak advice from the ministry of finance about government’s expenditure and performance of the economy for the financial year which ends in July.
Meanwhile, Marurai’s office reports that the new cabinet ministers are ‘getting on well’ with not a hint of the kind of tension experienced
between the previous members of cabinet and caucus.
Avaiki marketers being sought
Thu
7 Jan
The pearl authority is seeking locals to market Avaiki, the new Cook Islands premium pearl brand, to the international jewellery trade as part of the brand’s development.
Launched last September, Avaiki now needs a network of wholesalers and marketers as well as manufacturing and retail jewellers here and overseas to attain higher prices for the A, B and C grade pearls under the brand globally.
Pearl authority (CIPA) chief executive officer George Ellis says one or two locally based marketers will be accredited to be part of the global marketing strategy.
CIPA is also advertising internationally through pearl and jewellery publications for overseas-based marketers and wholesalers for Avaiki. As well as servicing the domestic market, local marketers/wholesalers will also have a major role in promoting and developing overseas sales through their established network of contacts.
Tomorrow the invitation for expressions of interest for locally based marketers closes but Ellis says it will take much longer to secure overseas marketers and wholesalers for the brand. He says one or two locally based individuals or companies will be accredited marketers/wholesalers and overseas there will be many more accredited over the course of the year.
“Overseas networks are harder to set up and take time. We now have to work hard to establish Cook Islands pearls on the international scene.”
CIPA has already completed the Avaiki accreditation of seven farmers in Manihiki with 20 farms meeting the strict compliance standards for the brand already.
The other 10 farms were ‘borderline’ according to Ellis, and they will have to work with them to find ways to reach the standards for Avaiki if they choose to apply for accreditation. Ellis says farmers may be disappointed in the time it takes for the accreditation process but CIPA is working to develop Avaiki step by step according to strict guidelines in the aims of giving the brand the best foundation possible.
Ellis is confident Avaiki’s presence will grow in Rarotonga as well, despite only one local pearl and pearl jewellery retailer – Moana Gems -- being accredited. He says two other high end retailers are considering accreditation.
For now CIPA is focused on developing Avaiki – a process that it expects will take around three years.
Travelling art exhibition opens today
Thu
7 Jan
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School children from Togo in Africa hold up local artist Mahiriki Tangaroa’s ‘Some place to belong’ painting which is part of The Banyan Tree exhibition which opens today at the National Museum.
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The travelling visual art exhibition – The Banyan Tree – opens today at the Cook Islands National Museum in Tupapa.
The general public, local artists and art enthusiasts are all invited to view this exciting exhibition.
Inspired by the banyan tree and the artwork of many countries and cultures, the exhibition combines tradition and modernity in a global experiment in art and cultural practices through the mediums of paintings, sculptures, videos, installations and photographs.
Among the 50 artists from 25 countries whose works will be exhibited in the show are two well-known Cook Islands artists – Mahiriki Tangaroa and New Zealand-based Mereana Hutchinson.
Tangaroa has also been instrumental in helping bring the show to Rarotonga after that exhibition began its tour in Bangkok, Thailand before travelling on to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Berlin, Germany and Papeete in French Polynesia before this week’s show in the Cooks.
The exhibition will remain at the museum until January 22 before it continues on to neighbouring Fiji, back to Germany and then China.
The banyan tree has a number of local names including ava.
The tree grows all over the world and can be easily identified by its many aerial roots such as the trees right outside the National Auditorium.
Creators of the exhibition, artists Alfred Banze and Christine Falk from Germany are also on the island with the exhibition and will be holding a number of workshops for children and young people.
For more in-depth information on the banyan tree project, you can attend the one day exhibition presentation tomorrow at the National Museum.
If you want to get involved, a two-day workshop for young and established artists will begin on Monday 11.
If you are interested in getting involved and learning more about this inspirational art exhibition phone 77571.
The Banyan Tree exhibition opens at 5pm today.
President says PM is a Demo
Thu
7 Jan
The Democratic Party has not quite sacked prime minister Jim Marurai from its ranks, despite recent statements which have suggested otherwise.
Yesterday party president Makiuti Tongia said of the five MPs currently in cabinet, all are still Democratic Party members except Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen whose membership has been cancelled.
“Rasmussen has been sacked from our party and is no longer a member of our party,” said Tongia.
“He has taken the party to court so we the party are waiting for his court case.”
Tongia said that under article 8 (a) of the party’s constitution, the executive and any constituency committee “may cancel or suspend the membership of any person whose actions
prejudice the interests of the party” or in any way contravenes the provisions of the constitution.
Tongia said that the Penrhyn delegates at last year’s conference nominated Willie John as their candidate at this year’s election.
“The rest of the Marurai four are still Demo except Wilkie whose membership has been cancelled,” said Tongia. “He is sacked and expelled from our party and we wait for his challenge in court to our executive decision.”
Finsec faces possible suspension
Fri
8 Jan
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Sholan Ivaiti.
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Financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti faces possible suspension following his return to the position this month after taking leave over Christmas.
Ivaiti was out of the country when news broke of government’s $1.75 million out of court settlement with Toa Petroleum last month following the collapse of the controversial fuel farm scheme.
Newly appointed finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen is now looking at taking disciplinary action against Ivaiti which could be a suspension.
A decision is due to be made early next week by cabinet whether to suspend Ivaiti from his position says the minister.
Prompted by questions from Cook Islands News, the minister said he is not ignoring the Toagate scandal that’s left government and the taxpayer out of pocket.
“I’m looking into the issue of suspension now. I am taking advice and consulting with various parties. The issue of the competency of the financial secretary and whether the judgements he made [in the fuel farm scheme] were good for the public or poor decisions will be looked at,” said Rasmussen.
The minister said whether cabinet is confident in Ivaiti’s ability to work with the new five-member cabinet team is also important given that the financial secretary had some difficulties working with the previous cabinet. Rasmussen admits finding a temporary replacement for Ivaiti would be difficult given the responsibilities of the job but this will also be considered.
MPs seek to remove PM
Fri
8 Jan
Joint party statement due this morning
The new five-member cabinet could face removal by the other 19 members of parliament following Opposition claims that the MPs have expressed their complete lack of support for cabinet.
Their intention is to carry out a successful vote of no confidence in prime minister Jim Marurai and cabinet if parliament can be called to sit.
It is understood that the Cook Islands Party and the Democratic Party will release a joint press statement this morning on the issue.
But in a statement yesterday Opposition MP Norman George broke the silence on the latest move by the majority of MPs to remove the country’s leader.
This follows Marurai’s decision to sack former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate and the resignation of three ministers which followed shortly before Christmas.
George says the 19 MPs are urging Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin to call an urgent sitting of parliament.
However, the move may just prompt Marurai to use his power to hold off a sitting of parliament for as long as possible into the new year.
Speculation of a snap-election is still growing – Marurai called a snap-election in 2006 when he was under threat of a CIP coup to remove him through a vote of no confidence at a scheduled sitting of parliament.
Marurai has been asked for his reaction to the lack of support expressed by the MPs and its likely his office will issue a statement today.
Newly appointed minister and attorney-general Wilkie Rasmussen told Cook Islands News yesterday that he had discussed the latest development with Marurai.
“He has agreed for me to now seek the advice of crown law and constitutional lawyer New Zealand-based Dr Alex Frame on the matter.”
Rasmussen said Marurai and the QR are both presently following the constitution to the letter despite the CIP claims to the contrary.
George claims that the 19 MPs reportedly voiced their lack of support in the PM and cabinet via letters sent by their respective parties to Sir Frederick a week ago.
He says a government of five MPs has to be terminated as soon as possible especially given that the majority of MPs and the majority of the Democratic Party no longer support it.
George believes the advice to the QR should compel him to act and call parliament to consider the issue of no confidence.
It is understood the Democratic Party hopes to nominate a new prime minister given its greater number in parliament.
In the unlikely event that the QR does set a date for a parliament sitting, the vote of no confidence can only be successfully passed by the majority vote of the number of MPs present at that sitting.
Youth pleads guilty to burglaries
Fri
8 Jan
Police arrested a male 18-year-old male this week in relation to burglaries on a tourist accommodation.
Three guest rooms at Club Raro were targeted on Monday and Tuesday with items taken included a watch, mobile phone, iPods, toiletries and cash.
Tiley Ngatupuna Miriau appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to the three burglary charges.
He was released on bail and will reappear in court on February 3 for sentencing.
Police commissioner Maara Tetava said the arrest was a pleasing result.
“The success of this investigation has been due to the support of the complainants, staff and management of the motel and the urgency and thoroughness in which the investigator conducted his investigation,” he said.
“We would like to ask members of the public for your continuing support and to note and promptly report to police any suspicious persons and vehicles around your homes or premises.
“The sooner information is passed on to police the quicker it can be checked and analysed for urgent action,” Tetava said.
Other incidents reported to police involved a 13-year-old girl unlawfully found on Monday in an unoccupied Tupapa home.
Police said the girl was from Mitiaro and had run away from relatives to avoid being sent back to the outer island. She had been staying in the house for around a week.
Two teenage girls received minor injuries after falling from a motorcycle on Monday morning.
The 16-year-old driver and her 14-year-old passenger were riding along Harley Street when the accident occurred. Injuries included minor scratches on the arms and knees.
The 16-year-old was arrested for careless driving and will appear in court on January 14.
Others arrested this week included a 19-year-old charged for excess breath alcohol.
The teenage male fell off his motorcycle near Tauae Shop last Sunday night and police were alerted to perform an excess breath alcohol test. He will appear in court on January 14.
An 18-year-old recorded a 500mg alcohol breath reading on Monday night. The male motorcyclist was stopped by police near Turtles in Panama. He is set to appear in court on January 14.
Cost cuts laughable says Bishop
Fri
8 Jan
Opposition and Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop says prime minister Jim Marurai’s comments about cutting the cost of government are laughable.
Yesterday Marurai said that they had taken the first step by deciding to reduce costs at the ministerial level first by resolving not to appoint a sixth minister in the new cabinet.
Bishop says that he is only willing to believe that the new cabinet is keen on cutting costs only if three of the current ministers work for three months without pay.
“Only then will I accept that they are willing to cut costs because what we have now is the three ministers who resigned who are still collecting their salary for the next three months.
“So in effect there are eight ministers on the payroll.”
Rasmussen gets briefed on finance
Fri
8 Jan
Finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen had his first meeting with financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti yesterday for a briefing on the country’s financial situation.
While the ‘Toagate’ scandal remains a key issue for government to address, at present the minister is keen to get himself up to date on government’s financial position.
“My initial approach is to separate the Toa Fuel scheme controversy from the operations and management of the finances and economic policies of the Cook Islands. I will be treating Mr Ivaiti as a professional public servant and my objective is for myself to quickly come to grips with the big picture as well as the specifics,” said the minister on Wednesday.
Rasmussen told CINews yesterday that he had met with Ivaiti and a team of five from MFEM.
The minister has warned that government must tighten its purse strings amid what looks to be tougher times ahead for local economy. He says addressing the financial management of government is his priority as newly-appointed finance minister.
“As the minister of finance, I wish for this government to (in the immediate future) put in place strategies that are progressive -- especially in the area of regulations and rules and indeed to bring confidence back into the business sector and the taxpaying people of the Cook Islands.”
The minister says Ivaiti will assist him in putting these strategies in place.
Country first: CIP, Demos
Sat
9 Jan
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CIP vice president Mark Brown with CIP president Rau Nga, Democratic Party president Makiuti Tongia and vice president Karla Eggelton are joining forces in their party’s plans to remove the current PM.
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Both parties plan to set up a caretaker government
The country’s two main political parties aim to have a caretaker government appointed if prime minister Jim Marurai can be removed from power first.
A joint press release from the presidents of the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party yesterday outlined their petition to the Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin to call parliament to sit.
“The current situation of a minority of five MPs seizing cabinet and governing the country can only be declared as an unconstitutional, undemocratic and illegitimate act. The executives, caucus members and the leadership of the Democratic Party and Cook Islands Party have agreed that this situation cannot be tolerated any longer,” it says.
“Consequently, all 19 members of parliament representing the Democratic Party, Cook Islands Party and the independent member of Rakahanga have signed a letter to the Speaker of the House, Hon Mapu Taia. The letter petitions the Queen’s Representative to convene parliament as soon as possible.”
The statement signed and released by Demo president Makiuti Tongia and CIP president Rau Nga said both parties agree that a bipartisan approach to resolving the matter will be in the best interests of the country.
“The priority by both parties is to establish a caretaker government and ensure confidence and supply within the economy. In addition both parties agree to a speedy confirmation for the date of the next elections,” said their statement.
Both parties say they have teams negotiating on their behalf to come up with who would make up the cabinet of a caretaker government but have avoided questions about the coalition cabinet they would form.
Asked about whether Demo leader Sir Terepai Maoate would lead the caretaker government, Tongia replied; “That is part of the process of negotiation if we get some developments with the QR’s visit.”
It is understood that both parties have already indicated support for former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai to take on the role of prime minister and for leader of the opposition Tom Marsters to be appointed deputy prime minister.
“Our party’s slogan is ‘embracing the future’ and the coming together of the two major parties is embracing the future. We’re putting country first before the individuals. We are putting aside our political differences for the betterment of the country,” Tongia told Cook Islands News.
Tongia and Nga were joined yesterday morning by their party’s respective vice presidents Karla Eggelton and Mark Brown at the office of the former deputy prime minister where a press conference was conducted.
Eggelton says the parties have more in common than they have differences and so working together makes sense.
“I think the developments over the last month or so have brought out the values of the nation and that people have put aside personal interest to make sure that what we do for the future of the country is a collective one and the decisions that are being made now by our leaders – and these leaders have been voted in by the people – creates a platform for a new future for the Cook Islands. If the Cook Islands Party and the Democratic Party can come together and show the support for those values then we’re all better off,” she said.
Nga said the CIP is pleased to have joined forces with the Demo Party in the attempt to oust the PM.
“I think this is a good relationship for the country – for the two major parties to come to an understanding – not only for the interest of the members of parliament but for the interests of the people of this country,” said Nga.
Both parties believe Marurai’s new five member cabinet falls short of the constitutional requirement for a prime minister and five other ministers to be appointed. Without a sixth minister and without the support of the majority of parliament, the parties say Marurai’s cabinet should no longer stand.
Yesterday the parties were granted an audience with Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick so speaker Mapu Taia could present him with the petition.
It is understood if the QR grants this and the MPs’ request for an immediate sitting of parliament, they will pass a vote of no-confidence in Marurai and his cabinet to remove them.
Tongia and Nga have indicated that more statements will follow soon, pending the outcome of the petition to the QR.
ON THE STREET
Sat
9 Jan
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Sam Brown
No. I don’t believe that those five MPs can carry out the work – they don’t have the support.
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Mona Henderson
No. What has Jim Marurai done? They are just in for themselves and don’t think of who voted them in.
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Isoa Waka
Yes. Someone has to keep the country going, if you don’t we will have chaos.
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Daniela Daniela
Yes. It is not long until the election. Leave them and keep the Demos together.
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Isaac Tutai
No. As they say, out with the old and in with the new.
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Tutu Pokoina
Not sure. I’m feeling frustrated at the way the government is going.
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Bruce Manuela
Do we have a team that is better?
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Zephania Aporo
Yes, leave them in. They will do well because Wilkie Rasmussen is part of the team.
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Should Jim Marurai and his cabinet continue to govern the country under the current circumstances?
Rasmussen hits back at MPs
Mon
11 Jan
Attorney general says the Demo MPs cannot support a vote against the PM
Minister Wilkie Rasmussen says the joint announcement by the Sir Terepai Maoate faction of the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party MPs to remove prime minister Jim Marurai and cabinet, is simply absurd.
Putting aside the CIP’s natural intention to defeat the government, Rasmussen says the Demo MPs involvement makes a mockery of the practice that parliament is the supreme law-making body of the Cook Islands.
“The Demo MPs display a disturbing mindset that they think themselves above the law,” says Rasmussen. “Much worse is the fact that they have planned, are publicly plotting and are quite prepared to break the anti-party hopping law, which ironically they themselves as government members created and passed under the sanctity of parliament.”
Rasmussen says Sir Terepai said in parliament in 2007 that they had promised the public that they would introduce
the legislation and that they would “be passing anti-party hopping legislation as a matter of priority”.
“It was passed to specifically prevent MPs elected under the banner of their respective political parties from crossing the floor and supporting another party on the issues of votes of no confidence and appropriation of a budget for the country,” says Rasmussen. “The legislation was a step forward in political reform. It was designed to prevent a government from being defeated by its own members when the two critical voting events arise in parliament.”
The act, he adds, was also to preserve the mandate of the electors when they voted in a majority of members belonging to a particular party to be the government.
In the 2006 elections it was the Democratic Party’s turn to return a majority and therefore assume government, says the attorney general.
“Therefore the anti-party hopping legislation prevents the Demo MPs from casting a vote of no-confidence in their own party prime minister and cabinet ministers. That notion is in fact strengthened by the recent proclamation of the president of the Democratic Party that the PM and three other ministers have not been sacked from the party. Also, the PM and those three ministers have not resigned from the Democratic Party. Therefore, the Democratic Party remains intact for the purposes of being the government in and out of parliament.
“Now the tune is the opposite.”
Rasmussen says it is difficult to know how they can justify their new rally call.
“They appear to be dazed and confused by their blind loyalty to Sir Terepai who last year moved a motion of confidence in PM Marurai.”
Rasmussen claims that a couple of hours before the swearing-in of the three new ministers on Christmas Eve, Sir Terepai along with Demo MPs Winton Pickering, Ngamau Munokoa, John Tangi and Junior Maoate agreed to support the new cabinet line up in order to keep the government in the hands of the party.
“Sir Terepai gave the support of the rest of the Demo MPs. That expression of support gave assurance to the Queen’s Representative of a majority support to the prime minister. Sir Terepai cannot treat the country’s constitution and head of state with impunity by contradicting his original assurance that he gave by words and action because things were not going his way.”
Rasmussen says the prime minister and his new cabinet are here for the people of this country too.
“The others in the Democratic Party do not have any supreme pre-emptive claims over to government. Demo MPs were voted by their constituents to represent them in parliament and in government. The circumstances by which the PM exercised his powers vested in him by the constitution of this country and the responses from those affected have created the current status quo but the PM’s actions are lawful,” says Rasmussen. “He took legal advice before carrying them out. Whether they are justified is another matter and if some people disagree then they should test them in a court of law not by inciting breaches of the law.”
Rasmussen describes as “downright negligible” for the Demo MPs in this merger to pressure the Queen’s Representative.
“And it would be unfortunate and wrong for the Queen’s Representative to yield to the strong emotional and reckless spinoffs of self-serving interpretations of the Cook Islands constitution and grant this super-gang the floor to commit a breach of the law.
“He should remained guided by the protocol between himself and the PM, cabinet and the constitution as advised him by the best and trusted Cook Islands constitutional law experts.”
Rasmussen adds that the Democratic Party and its MPs need to consider the situation and think carefully as to how to go about things.
Yesterday afternoon Rasmussen along with Demo MPs John Tangi and Ngai Tupa, and cabinet secretary Harmon Pou, represented government at the final service of the pure epetoma at the Avarua CICC church.
Mayor charged
Mon
11 Jan
Aitutaki mayor Tai Herman was remanded on bail to appear in the High Court this morning on a charge of assault on a male.
This follows an incident that occurred on Friday evening near the office of the ministry of infrastructure and planning in Avarua.
Kings and Royal Heats unite for anthem
Mon
11 Jan
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The Royal Heats and the Super Kings
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The Royal Heats (left) and Super Kings gather for the national anthem before the two teams squared off for the first Turtles Domestic Cricket League tournament match at Matavera last Saturday. The 50 over match was fast and action-packed with the Royal Heats emerging the winners of the first match in the three team tournament. 10011001
QR rejects no-confidence petition
Tue
12 Jan
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Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin (at right) shares a moment with Tautara Purea at last month’s centennial celebrations for the Oliveta CICC church in Mauke – the QR has responded to the request for him to call a sitting of parliament with a resounding no.
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The Queen’s Representative has reportedly rejected the no-confidence petition put to him by the 19 MPs outside of cabinet last week.
The two political parties are once again due to issue a joint statement on the development which is likely to be delivered today.
The QR Sir Frederick Goodwin is understood to have declared the petition invalid and informed the parties that he will continue to take advice only from the prime minister.
Meanwhile, PM Jim Marurai is holding firm on his stance from last week that he will continue to abide by the constitution despite claims by the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party that he is doing just the opposite.
It seems Marurai is keen for the emotions involved in the threat to his leadership and the allegations that his new cabinet is unconstitutional, to die down before attempting to heal the huge rift in the Democratic Party.
According to Marurai’s office the PM had not heard from the QR yesterday on the outcome of the meeting held with speaker of parliament Mapu Taia who presented the MP’s petition last Friday.
Those within the party ranks have confirmed that the QR has responded to the request for him to call a sitting of parliament with a resounding no.
Part of the backlash from the parties has been a rumour that the Sir Frederick rejected the petition to keep his job and to get a new three-year appointment promised to him recently.
It is understood both camps – the new cabinet and the other 19 MPs in parliament – have been seeking legal advice on constitutional provisions.
Ten Demo MPs, the eight CIP MPs and Rakahanga independent Piho Rua had banded together to petition the QR to call parliament to sit – the only way they can carry out a vote of no-confidence in the PM and cabinet.
It’s clear both parties are keen to have Marurai and his cabinet removed from power and are even exploring legal avenues they may take to achieve this.
The move has probably been prompted more by injured pride than anything else – former finance minister and deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate was sacked on December 23 after expressing his indignation at being demoted within cabinet.
His demotion to holding just two portfolio responsibilities -- which no longer included finance -- happened following the public outcry for accountability over the $2 million Toagate scandal.
Sir Terepai had led the controversial fuel farm scheme that last month resulted in government shelling out over $2 million in legal and settlement costs with fuel distributors Toa Petroleum and Triad Pacific Petroleum. The former minister said the payout was better than allowing the lawsuit brought by Triad to continue which may have been more costly.
Sir Terepai’s sacking by the PM resulted in the instant walkout of three other ministers – leaving just current DPM Robert Wigmore still in cabinet.
Following Marurai’s appointment of new ministers Wilkie Rasmussen, Apii Piho and William ‘Smiley’ Heather, the Democratic Party first claimed they had removed the PM as a member of the party and then later seemed to change its mind by retracting the claim.
Regardless, the majority of the Demo MPs have now withdrawn their support for Marurai and are reportedly exploring their next move after the failed petition.
Audit to lift the lid on Toagate
Tue
12 Jan
All aspects of government’s failed fuel farm scheme that has left the country over $2 million out of pocket will be investigated in the audit review underway this month.
The audit office expects to complete the review by the end of the month or early February.
The controversial plan to make fuel cheaper for the consumer began in 2008 and the scandal, now dubbed ‘Toagate’, cost the country over $1.75 million in an out-of-court settlement with fuel suppliers Toa Petroleum and Triad Pacific Petroleum in December.
Audit director Paul Allsworth says the review of the plans to purchase Toa Petroleum and
the AirBP/Juhi aviation fuel depot will include the scheme’s inception, the negotiation period, the mediation and settlement following the Triad lawsuit and the final ‘mop up’ and payments.
Those that will be inter-viewed during the investigation will be financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti, all former and present cabinet ministers including prime minister Jim Marurai, solicitor general Tingika Elikana and other crown counsel, the Australian fuel consultants as well as officials from Toa and Triad.
“The Audit Office through this report hopes to throw more light, in terms of accountability and transparency, on this whole matter.
“It will be up to the prime minister, cabinet, the Public Service Commissioner and parliament to decide what recommendations to act upon, if any, in this report,” says Allsworth.
And for the many members of the public who asked how much was spent and how much government planned to spend on the fuel farm scheme – audit hopes to reveal the answer. The question and concern of cost was one that former finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate and Ivaiti refused to provide even after a review last year by the Public Expenditure Review Committee (PERC) and Audit into the shocking secrecy and lack of transparency surrounding the scheme.
Allsworth says the review report will fully disclose the total amount spent or committed towards the scheme.
Through the review, audit also hopes to some extent to allocate specific responsibility for the failed scheme.
“Government can also decide if the report falls short of their expectations, to warrant a full commission of inquiry,” says Allsworth.
He says in the case of Toagate, the audit office is unable to make recommendations to government on suspensions or terminations of officials involved in the scandal.
Responding to CI News questions on whether audit has made any recommendations concerning the performance of the financial secretary, Allsworth said only cabinet and the PSC have the powers to do so.
For now the audit office is concentrating on one of the largest and most called-for reviews in recent times.
CIP confirms 2 candidates
Tue
12 Jan
Cook Islands Party vice president Mark Brown confirmed recently that the party is already on track for preparing for an election this year.
Brown said under the new party constitution formed last September they are working on election campaign preparations – whether it be for a snap election or the one currently scheduled for September.
He says so far the party has confirmed two candidates for the next election – himself for the Takuvaine electorate and Teina Bishop to run again for Aitutaki’s Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara constituency.
Bishop has held the Aitutaki seat – one of three for the island – since first being elected in the 1999 election.
Brown ran for the Takuvaine seat in the 2006 snap election but lost out to the Demo Party’s 73 year old Mama Ngai Tupa.
Hoax protest?
Wed
13 Jan
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Prime minister Jim Marurai admits he is worried about how long he will remain in power if parliament is forced to sit soon.
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Police security was set up outside the office of prime minister Jim Marurai following a rumour that a protest against the new cabinet would be staged yesterday morning.
No protest actually took place, but Police Comissioner Maara Tetava decided to ‘err on the side of caution’ and deploy six officers as security.
Just who was going to protest was not clear yesterday, but rumour had it that the Democratic Party and Cook Islands Party, including the 19 MPs opposing cabinet, were to march outside the office when yesterday’s cabinet meeting began at 10 o’clock.
Marurai told local media yesterday that he had received a call from cabinet minister Wilkie Rasmussen on Monday night warning about a possible protest. The PM said there was no mention of who might be protesting, but given that a meeting of the executive council (cabinet and Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin) took place shortly before the cabinet meeting, they decided to call in police protection.
Given that the QR turned down the petition by the majority of MPs this week, the five-member cabinet wasn’t taking any chances on the protest threat.
The parties have already rubbished the protest rumour with one MP calling it a self-fabricated threat by cabinet.
Democratic Party vice president Karla Eggelton and CIP vice president Mark Brown both told CINews there was no plan by the parties to protest at the prime ministers office or anywhere else.
CIP MP Nandi Glassie said he was unaware of any plan by the parties or MPs to protest.
“It didn’t cross our minds. We are simply seeking stability in government and we maintain that,” he said of the opposition members.
Glassie said it was possibly cabinet’s own self-fabricated threat to make themselves look important.
He also speculated that it was a sign that Marurai’s cabinet is in panic mode and fear the ‘huge giant’ that is the 19 MPs who oppose them.
“They are just making themselves look silly.”
Police issued a brief statement at midday saying they had received information yesterday morning that a protest was to be launched against government at the office of the PM.
The police officers deployed were to make sure that the protest, if it was to proceed, was conducted in an orderly manner and that breaches of the peace were avoided.
“Fortunately, nothing happened. The meeting of the executive council and cabinet proceeded without event,” said the department.
PM promises referendum
Wed
13 Jan
Government now intends to ask every voter in the country if they want political reform through a referendum.
Prime minister Jim Marurai has announced that a referendum on political reform will be launched sometime this year either before or at the election scheduled for September.
Marurai said that cabinet, which met yesterday, has decided that government will carry out a referendum to find out the people’s preference for political reform.
“We recognise that unless there is public support, there won’t be any support in parliament for political reform,” he said yesterday.
Marurai said a team of officials was to begin working on the referendum, the options for political reform it will pose to eligible voters and how it will be carried out.
“The election is the best time (for the referendum),” he said.
The PM also reaffirmed his commitment to holding a referendum for the people on the Sunday flights to Aitutaki which began in 2008 and have been protested against by a number of people. Marurai said the same team planning the political reform referendum will also address the Aitutaki one.
There may be some scepticism about the brand new five-member cabinet’s sincerity on the promise of a political reform referendum given the current political climate.
The news of a referendum will likely be welcomed, however, by a growing number of citizens who have signed and who support the Mou Piri petition for political reform which was launched late last year.
Not sitting soon
Wed
13 Jan
Parliament is unlikely to sit until government is forced to table a budget in July, says prime minister Jim Marurai.
The PM says the threat from the 19 MPs outside of cabinet to have him removed by a vote of no confidence when parliament sits is too great to consider calling a sitting.
“The danger will come when we go to parliament,” he says of the threat to the new five-member cabinet.
He admits he would have the support of only the four cabinet ministers if he faced a no-confidence vote.
Marurai says the only other way parliament may be forced to sit now is if the $1.75 million settlement payout to Toa Petroleum following the fuel farm lawsuit must be paid before a new budget can be passed.
Parliament’s calendar tentatively marks late February for the first sitting of the year but the PM may not be forced to call a sitting unless the Toagate funds have to be paid before the end of July when a budget must be tabled in the house.
Happy to be back at 102
Wed
13 Jan
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Louie Grau – happy to be home again.
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At 102 years old, Louie Grau has still got her wits about her, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Born in New Zealand in 1907, Louie came to the Cook Islands for the first time in the 1930s to be with her brothers. Walter was the Resident Commissioner for Atiu and Harry co-owned Scott & Watson Limited here on Rarotonga.
The island became home for Louie, who until recently lived with her niece Greta in Arorangi.
She celebrated her 102nd birthday in October in New Zealand with Greta and her husband Jim Little. Shortly thereafter, she wound up in the hospital with a broken collarbone after she suffered a fall down the stairs of their Auckland flat.
In order to receive the special care and attention that her condition required, she registered at St Andrew’s Home in Auckland. After a few weeks, she found herself longing to be back on Rarotonga.
“I wasn’t happy,” she said. “This is my home, really. I missed home.”
She flew back to Rarotonga last Sunday and is currently living with Pauline and her husband Harry in Nikao.
She divides her time between Pauline’s home and the Kiikii Motel where Pauline works. She entertains the visitors that pop into Room 1, where she takes her rests, and she’ll be the first to crack a joke about her age.
Louie enjoys the ease and the simplicity of Rarotonga lifestyle, and she is happy to be back on the island where she intends to spend the remainder of her life.
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