DOCSLIB.ORG

Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 Reviews of American Sämoa, French was overpaid; rather, those on the Polynesia, Niue, Sämoa, Tokelau, and lower scales were being underpaid Tuvalu are not included in this issue. (CIN, 3 July 2001, 1). Considering that inflation in the small nation was Cook Islands hitting a ten-year high, government For the Cook Islands, the period July workers who were generally on a 2001 to June 2002 was dominated by lower scale felt most of the pinch. The continued population decline, unpop- cost of a loaf of sliced white bread ular political party switches by mem- was reported as rising (in nz dollars) bers of parliament, cabinet shuffles from $2.80 to $4.20, and French and reshuffles, dengue fever, flooding, bread sticks from $1.20 to $2.40 ten-year high inflation, land contro- (CIN, 9 Feb 2002, 1). Economists versies, and immigration concerns. predicted that prices would rise even Political events in the country’s capi- further, while describing the govern- tal, Rarotonga, marked a year of ment’s B rating by Standard & Poor major challenges for its democratically as meaning that the country’s eco- elected government, great political and nomic outlook was fair (CIN, 8 Sept reorganization disappointments, and a 2001, 1). few guarded economic successes. Open criticism of the public ser- The country’s two banks, Cook vice compensation system continued Islands Savings Bank and Cook Islands throughout the year and extended Development Bank, merged as the to the superannuation system, which Bank of the Cook Islands (CIN, 2 July needed much improvement. By con- 2001, 1), and welcomed its first cus- trast, the country’s parliamentary tomer on 4 August 2001. As the new superannuation system was well estab- bank became an important arm of lished and overgenerous despite a par- government for many financial trans- liamentary select committee’s report actions, some public servants increas- calling for an urgent overhaul of for- ingly complained of being on the same mer parliamentarians’ superannuation annual salary of nz$11,000 for ten payments because of the cost to the years. They argued that disparities country. The government matches within the public service reflected a the parliamentarians’ contribution fundamentally unfair system. Cook of 10 percent from salary, but payout Islanders generally observed that too eligibility occurs after only eight years much was being paid to heads of min- of continued service. This contrasts istries, whose salaries ranged between starkly with the much longer service nz$45,000 and nz$80,000 a year. required in the public service or Public Service Commissioner Jonah private sector. The parliamentarian Tisam received little support when he scheme alone cost the government pointed out that no public servant nz$525,000 in the 2001–2002 finan- 174 political reviews • polynesia 175 cial year. Other costs reflected parlia- which will take at least twenty-five ment and government’s continued years to pay off (CIN, 17 Aug 2001, 1). appointment of assistant ministers Much of that debt accumulated from under the new, disguised title of the legacy of the multimillion-dollar “undersecretary.” For a small country, Sheraton luxury hotel project—now there were clearly too many parlia- frequently referred to as the Vaima- mentary representatives and too many ‘anga “on-again-off-again” project cabinet ministers, and certainly there (CIN, 21 Feb 2002, 1). was no need for assistant ministers. A new nz$400,000 tugboat, Toa, Although the general public was con- was launched in July 2001, at the vinced of this, politicians seemed same time questions were being raised oblivious to their concerns. by the general public about govern- The public outcry about politicians ment waste. Government spending for fell on deaf ears. Indeed, cabinet even 1999–2000 represented 41 percent of contemplated increasing the number the nz$36 million total ministry bud- of ministers to 9, which meant that get. The 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 out of a full parliament of 25 mem- period fared no better (CIN, 6 July bers, 18 (or 72 percent) of the House 2001, 1). Increased government spend- would be either ministers or assistant ing was predicted to total nz$54 mil- (undersecretary) ministers. Even the lion, with the total budget expected to current 6 cabinet members (48 percent exceed nz$75 million (CIN, 31 July of the House) must be among the 2001, 1). The Cook Islands Chamber highest in the world relative to the size of Commerce noted that government of the legislature and the population expenditure had increased by 20 per- as a whole. Apparently the proposed cent over the past two years (CIN, 13 change could not be justified without April 2002, 1). Ironically, some cham- infringing on the responsibilities of ber members also expressed anger that senior administrative department marketing dollars for the tourism heads. industry had been cut. Linked with Proposals such as this seem to tourism were proposed developmental the public to disguise crude bids for projects, including alterations to the increased salaries and extensive travel Rarotonga airport terminal expected privileges; free use of government to cost up to nz$9.5 million. vehicles, telephones, furnished houses; The largest industry, tourism, con- as well as free use of government tinued to maintain its prominent posi- laborers, and the opportunity to offer tion during the year, despite the legacy work opportunities to constituent sup- of the September 11th attacks in the porters. The fact that most ministries United States. A national memorial were reported to have failed to file on Maire Nui Drive for the September legally required reports to parliament 11th attack victims reflected the coun- during the year supported a general try’s general support for the United sense of their inefficiency and lack of States. However, there was a drop in accountability. Cook Islanders are also US and European visitors, most com- constantly reminded of the nation’s ing through Los Angeles. Some visi- debt of around nz$121.3 million, tors were stranded on Rarotonga by 176 the contemporary pacific • spring 2003 the US ban on flights, and more than increasingly expensive environment, 300 visitors later experienced the same the lack of effective unions for work- thing after Canada 3000 grounded ers, and a tendency for national politi- all its flights and later declared bank- cians to lash out at the media for crit- ruptcy. Some 74,541 people still vis- icizing official policy and action. ited the Cook Islands in 2001 com- During 2001–2002 wide public pared to the record-breaking 72,994 concerns increased over the number in year 2000 (CIN, 14 Jan 2002, 1). of permanent residents being allowed The target set by the Cook Islands into the country. Some foreigners have Tourism Corporation for 2005 had even been openly accused of coming already been broken by 2000. Visitor into the Cook Islands with nothing in counts were expected to continue to their pockets. “Like parasites they are rise with the completion of new tour- sucking the small facilities that are ist accommodations, including the available in our backs as resources large Aitutaki Pacific luxury resort for themselves,” reflected mp Norman scheduled to open in October 2002. George (CIN, 25 Aug 2001, 1). George On the surface, the booming industry also suggested that lax policies toward appeared to benefit local residents. foreigners led to increased numbers of However, many tourist-related work foreign investors operating in the Cook positions were filled by workers from Islands. No safeguards exist for local overseas. The importation of labor businesses, and reduced opportunities was encouraged by some assistant tend to fuel out-migration. George ministers, who accused Cook Islanders favored revoking the right of the Cook leaving the islands of being just plain Islands Development Investment lazy—all 4,000-plus of them. Board to grant immigration permits, Local resident Professor Ron Cro- leaving that responsibility to the immi- combe suggested that Cook Islanders gration officers alone. George also often leave because they lack confi- favored setting up a watchdog organi- dence in the government (CIN, 12 July zation to protect jobs, businesses, and 2001, 1). The high cost of living in the land rights for the people of the Cook Cook Islands, with prices more than Islands, to be called the Society for people can afford, adds much to the the Promotion and Advancement for incentive to move out. Although the the Cook Islands Employment and government acknowledged a continu- Business (CIN, 1 Sept 2001, 1). ing huge decline (with the population The once larger agriculture industry estimated to have decreased to 13,900 had now clearly slipped in earnings, from some 18,000 a few years earlier), although pawpaw, nono (or noni), leaders still expressed other priorities. maile, and other products continued Cabinet even dropped a campaign as notable exports. New challenges to designed to lure islanders home (CIN, the industry during the year included 23 Feb 2002, 1). The assistant minis- a coconut moth that invaded coconut ter declared that those who do not trees in Rarotonga, making the trees want to work in the country were brown and tarnished. The government fleeing the country to live off benefits declared a biological war on the flat in New Zealand, an explanation that coconut moth, involving the use of ignores poor salary conditions in an bio-agents that are natural enemies political reviews • polynesia 177 of the moth (CIN, 19 July 2001, 1). national arena showed some success. However, efforts to constrain the A Center for Development of Enter- problem in Rarotonga seemed hope- prise was established as part of Euro- less, and by June 2002 the moth had pean Union “antennae” to the Cook spread to the outer islands.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Gonna Drink, Get Drunk a History and Ethnography of Alcohol in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
    Gonna Drink, Get Drunk A History and Ethnography of Alcohol in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Vaughn Koops Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2002 Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society Department of Public Health The University of Melbourne DECLARATION This is to certify that (i) the thesis comprises only my original work towards the PhD (ii) due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used, (iii) the thesis is less than 100,000 words in length, exclusive of tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. …………………………………………………………………………. ii ABSTRACT This thesis describes the place of alcohol in the lives of people from Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It incorporates historical and ethnographic analyses to provide the broad context of drinking by people aged from their teens to late thirties. The historical component of this study describes specific accounts of alcohol consumption, and situates these with regard to changes that occurred in Rarotonga from the early 19th century. Prior to contact with Papa’a (Europeans), people of Rarotonga neither produced nor consumed alcoholic beverages. Thus, the use of alcohol was a phenomenon intimately bound up with global exploration, proselytisation and trade. I trace historical changes in the distribution of power, resources, religious practice, and social discourse, and show how alcohol practice, distribution, and trade was linked to these changes from missionary contact onward. This history informs the ethnography of contemporary drinking practices. Individual and group practices and understandings of alcohol are described. I also describe the contribution of state policy, commercial interests, government institutions, and religious organisations to the place of alcohol in Rarotonga.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Update
    1919 The Island 9 April 2002 Climate Update An overview of the present climate in the tropical South Pacific, with an outlook for the coming months, to assist in dissemination of climate information in the Pacific region. Produced by the National March’s climate Institute of Water and An extensive area of enhanced convection occurred over equatorial waters about and west of the Atmospheric Research, date line, from Papua-New Guinea to Western Kiribati, with another convective band associated with New Zealand. a southward displacement of the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) extending from the northern Coral Sea southeast to affect Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The SPCZ continued to be more active than usual over southern French Polynesia. Rainfall was more than 200% of average in parts of New Caledonia and southern French Polynesia. Heavy rainfall occurred in New Caledonia during the passage of tropical cyclone ‘Des’, the only occurrence in March, which reached storm force as it Contributors tracked southeast from 5 through 7 March. Dry, sunny conditions prevailed over northern Fiji, much of Tuvalu, Tokelau and many islands in northern French Polynesia. Rainfall less than 50% of average Australian Bureau of continued on the Queensland coast of Australia, extending into the western Coral Sea. March was Meteorology unusually warm in Fiji with mean air temperatures at least 1.5ºC above average at some sites. Meteo France More on Page 2. Fiji Met Service European Centre for Medium Range Forecasting, ECMWF NOAA Climate Prediction Centre UK Meteorological Office International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, IRICP World Meteorological Organisation, WMO Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR) anomalies, in Wm-2 , for February 2002 represented by shaded areas, and rainfall percentage of average, shown by numbers.
    [Show full text]
  • When Risk Management of Natural Hazards
    Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Not if but when Adapting to natural hazards in the Pacific Islands Region A policy note Public Disclosure Authorized 2006 Sofia Bettencourt | Richard Croad | Paul Freeman | John Hay | Roger Jones Peter King | Padma Lal | Alan Mearns | Geoff Miller | Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough Alf Simpson | Nakibae Teuatabo | Ulric Trotz | Maarten Van Aalst The World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region Pacific Islands Country Management Unit Adapting to Natural Hazards in the Pacific Islands Region 1 This Policy Note is dedicated to the memory of Savenaca Siwatibau for his efforts and vision in mainstreaming hazard risk management into economic planning in the Pacific. Note: The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this Policy Note are entirely those of the authors and should not be attributed in any manner to the World Bank, to its affiliated organizations, or to members of its Board of Executive Directors or the countries they represent nor to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, SOPAC or AusAID. Contents List of Acronyms iii Prologue iv Contributors vi Executive summary viii 1 High vulnerability 1 1.1 Fifty years of disasters 1 1.2 Recent trends 4 1.3 The future climate 6 2 Key lessons learned 9 2.1 Early action pays 9 2.2 Some action but too little impact 11 3. Future directions 17 3. 1 Strengthening the enabling national environment 18 3.2 Supporting decision-making 20 3.3 Mainstreaming 24 3.4 Implementation 28 3.5 Monitoring and evaluation 30 3.6
    [Show full text]
  • Cook Islands Stories of Inspiration from Women in Local Government
    Women’s Leadership Stories- Cook Islands Stories of inspiration from women in local government Commonwealth Local Government Forum Pacific CLGF Pacific wishes to thank all the people Disclaimer involved in the development of this publication, The information contained in this publication including: is provided in good faith by the CLGF Pacific Project. It has been obtained from current • the partners of the Akateretere Anga Tau and past women local government employees O Te Pa Enua Program, in particular the and council member and is understood Cook Islands National Council of Women, to be accurate and current at the date of the Cook Islands Gender and Development publication. It is not intended to be, and Division, the Pa Enua Local Governance Unit should not be relied upon as the ultimate and • the Pacific Women in Local Government complete source of information or advice for Network readers entering local government. • the women who so generously shared Copyright 2013 by the Commonwealth Local their stories Government Forum Pacific Requests and enquiries concerning this publication should be addressed to: Regional Director CLGF Pacific GPO Box 159 Suva, Fiji For general information about programs and activities for women in local government in the Pacific please visit:www.wilgpacific.org ‘ When I was 12 years old, I decided on my life goals: I wanted to put God at the centre of my life, I wanted to be rich and I wanted to be a leader.’ Tuki Wright, October 2012 Contents Introduction . 1 Women’s Pathways From the Pa Enua . 26 Foreword . 2 Mrs Tuki Wright 27 PUKAPUKA ISLAND Messages of solidarity .
    [Show full text]
  • Title Layout
    Disaster Risk Assessment and Recovery Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the Pacific Islands. The World Bank UAV4Resilience Project - Update Malcolm Archbold Consultant, World Bank 27 November 2019 Pacific Islands GIS & RS Conference 2019 Introduction Pacific Island nations are some of the most vulnerable to natural disasters • Cyclone Waka – 2001 – Tonga • Cyclone Heta – 2003 – Tonga, Niue, American Samoa • Cyclone Lin – 2008 – Fiji • Cyclone Wilma – 2010 – Solomon Islands, Tonga • Cyclone Ian – 2013 – Fiji, Tonga • Cyclone Pam – 2014 – Vanuatu • Cyclone Winston – 2016 – Fiji • Cyclone Gita – 2018 - Tonga Cyclone Ian, Vanuatu, Jan 2014 The World Bank UAV4Resilence Project • Assess the utility of UAVs in Disaster Management for the SW Pacific • Identify the potential cost-benefits of UAVs for disaster assessment • Develop Standard Operating Procedures for in country operations UAV4Resilence Project UAV Challenge Project – October 2017 Cyclone Gita – Feb 2018 – Tonga Cyclone Gita – 2018 – Tonga Cyclone Gita – 2018 – Tonga Cyclone Gita – 2018 – Tonga Cyclone Gita – 2018 – Tonga OpenAerialMap.org UAV Training and Capacity Building • Commence in May 2019 • Objectives: • Assist in procurement, training and capacity building • Involve Govt Disaster Management organisations and associated Govt Depts/Ministries • Facilitate cooperation and communication between Govt Depts and local Civil Aviation and Air Traffic Control authorities. DroneFlyer Course (2 days) Day 1 Day 2 • Civil Aviation PRAS/drone rules • Review of Day 1 • Airspace • Semi
    [Show full text]
  • S-0443-0066-0005-00005 UC.Tif
    r .. ·\II • •• ~ ~ ;.I r, $, ,,. ~~ ;,)' ill il1 !1' • :i ~1 ., 1' .. (ti { -91- ,. ~· ;:... ;, ...t;. I" ,,. I, ' if. ""' .~ ,- with th Gove=nmcnt in mntters pertaining to land and native cu tom and any other mattcrs lon whlch tho Government mey require ad.vice from the .J.ri is. On mn.tters t pertaining to la.nd and custom and any other matter specified by law the Rouse of .Arikis tho..il ho.ve the power to rcfe:r back to the Lecislo.tivc As embly and/or , . l Cabinet up to three times,and after the first time may demand c nsultntion wita the ' Cabinet If there hes been no reference back the first time w thin seven dcys, nod ~ ,. within wo deys for the second or third time, the mat'-er shall e consid erod to have bei n c.6Tecd to by the liouse of A.r i kis. {, " ~· Thi High Commissioner shall retain the right to refer bnck as is already ~ .11 " specifi tl in the draft Constitution for the Council of, State. ~- (t ., ,., Al hough it is at prosent recommended that there shall be High Commissioner only,who s:1c.ll represent cler Majesty the Queen, the Government f the Cook Islands . i '" . would 1J o!c f:l.vourably on a proposal thct o.n .Ariki should also r present Her 1,:ajesty ., the Queen if the House cf 1.rikis so requested • 'ii: I •. No j law shall be enforceable on ony is?and where such law r ns counter to "Ill' ,v; ~ tradi ti I nd b.nd uso.ge unless re quo sted by the A.riki s and/or Ka a.na.s of the isl and" • ..
    [Show full text]
  • Herald Issue 707 March 2014
    PB COOK ISLANDS HERALD5 March 2014 $2 (incl VAT) Cakes for all ocassions! Edgewater Cakes Enquiries call us on 25435 extn 7010 Sunset BarBQs at the Shipwreck Hut Saturday Seafood menu with Jake Numanga on the Ukulele 6pm Tuesday Sunset BBQ with Garth Young on Piano 6pm Thursday Sunset Cocktails with Rudy Aquino 5.30pm-7.30pm Reservations required 22 166 Aroa Beachside Inn, Betela Great Food, Great Entertainment Always the best selection, best Goldmine Model Jesse is wearing a price & best service at bracelet, necklace and earrings from Goldmine! POWERBALL RESULTS Goldmine Drawn: 27/2/14 Draw num: 928 PB TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:1/3/14 Draw num: 3403 Hitachi 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Transcend 1TB USB 3.0 Portable SUPP: Durable ant-shock silicone outer shell Normally Normally OZLOTTO RESULTS $189 $199 Drawn:4/3/14 Draw num: 1046 Next draw: SUPP: save save $24 $20 PB Cook islands Herald 05 March 2014 news 3 NEWS FLASH Taxing of local Pension may be illegal By Charles Pitt t has come to light that the taxing The proposed changes to enable the yet been enacted, has not been explained. of the local pension may be illegal. taxing of the old age pension under Part IX Government has not yet indicated when IThat is because the amendment to of the Act are contained in the “Income Tax the House will sit. the Income Tax Act 1997 has not yet been Amendment Bill.” The Herald understands that if the VAT passed by parliament. This Bill also contains a raft of other changes are not passed in parliament, The Herald has learnt that the Cabinet changes including the change to VAT.
    [Show full text]
  • Emergency Response Supply Chain Assessment
    Emergency Response Supply Chain Assessment August 2007 Conducted by: On behalf of: Australian Council for International Development’s Humanitarian Reference Group and Australian Government, AusAID 2 Executive Summary Experiences from recent emergencies revealed that supply chain activities in the first phase of emergency response (including procurement and transport of relief items) tend to involve a lot of activity starting outside of the affected area, in the strategic zones (out of the affected country and often in the headquarters of an agency). In the study area, Access and Transportation was found to be the most challenging area of Supply Chain Management in 15 out of 16 countries in the eastern Asia and Pacific regions. 24% of all challenges identified related to Access and Transportation. Significant challenges have also been identified in the areas of Market Capacity, People Management and Coordination and Storage and Warehousing. Recommended Supply Chain Management solutions to the challenges identified include the pre-positioning of relief items further down the supply chain, in the tactical zones (just outside the affected area but often inside the affected country or in a neighbouring country). The implementation of some or all of these recommendations will have a direct impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency response. 3 3 Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank the following individuals, agencies and organizations (listed alphabetically) for their contributions of information, time and resources to this study: Philippa Beale – Caritas Australia in Timor Leste; Charles P. Bernimolin – Regional Disaster Response Advisor, UNOCHA Pacific; Simon Boe – World Vision Vanuatu; Virginie Bohl – LSU, UNOCHA Geneva; Raymond Bojczuk – A/Emergencies Manager Humanitarian and Emergencies Section, AusAID; Bernard Broughton – Director, Project Design and Management Pty Ltd; Florent Chane – Program Officer, Australian Red Cross (project Technical Working Group member); Miriam R.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pacific Experience in Developing Policy and Legislation on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
    THE PACIFIC EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING POLICY AND LEGISLATION ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION The Pacific Experience in Developing Policy and Legislation on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation 1 The Pacific Experience in Developing Policy and Legislation on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation THE PACIFIC EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING POLICY AND LEGISLATION ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION Contents Glossary iv Chapter 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Scope of the study and acknowledgements 1 1.2 Background 1 1.3 Findings of the institutional and policy analysis on DRR and CCA in the Pacific 3 Chapter 2. Joint National Action Plans on Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change (JNAPs) – Regional Perspective 4 2.1 Background of the JNAPs 4 2.2 Intent to develop the JNAPs 5 2.3 Process to develop the JNAPs 6 2.4 Implementation of the JNAPs 7 Chapter 3. Country Studies – Tonga 10 3.1 Introduction 10 3.2 Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management 2010-2015 10 3.3 Emergency Management Act (2007) 16 Chapter 4. Country Studies – Cook Islands 19 4.1. Introduction 19 4.2 Te Kaveinga Nui – National Sustainable Development Plan 2011-2015 19 4.3 Disaster Risk Management Act (2007) 23 Chapter 5. Country Studies – Solomon Islands 26 5.1 Introduction 26 5.2 Joint framework for resilient development 26 5.3 Process towards the joint framework for resilient development 27 Chapter 6. Conclusions 29 References 32 Annex 1: Interviewees 34 Annex 2: Interview
    [Show full text]
  • 10 February 2005
    Ouro Preto International Final Report Cook Islands Review of Fuel Distribution and Pricing System Prepared for Cook Islands Government October 2005 Alan Bartmanovich Principal Energy Consultant Ouro Preto International Phone/Fax: +61 (0) 2 6161 3606 23 Lumeah Street Mobile: +61 (0) 410 542 534 Narrabundah 2604 ACT e-mail: [email protected] Australia CONFIDENTIAL TO GOVERNMENT Cook Islands Review of Fuel Distribution and Pricing System TABLE OF CONTENTS page 1. Introduction 3 2. Terms of Reference 4 3. Executive Summary 6 4. Recommendations 10 4.1 Recommendation Summary 4.2 Recommendation Detail 5. Specifications and Demand 15 6. Fuel Price Regulation 18 6.1 Cook Islands Fuel Pricing Template 6.2 Wholesale and Retail Fuel Price 7. Fuel Terminals 22 8. Importation, Storage and Distribution 25 9. Standards and Regulations 26 10. Lessons from other Pacific Island Countries 28 10.1 Fuel Excise and Taxation 10.2 ROCE rates used in other Pacific Islands Countries 10.3 Comparative Fuel Prices - Pacific Region 10.4 Independently Owned Fuel Terminals 10.5 Equitable Outer Islands Fuel Pricing – Kiribati and Tuvalu Attachments A. Cook Islands Fuel Pricing Template B. Cook Islands Fuel Pricing Template – Elements in need of Review C1. Mogas Comparative Costing by Island /Group C2. Mogas Comparative Costing – Proposed Changes D1. ADO Comparative Costing by Island /Group D2. ADO Comparative Costing – Proposed Changes E. Progamme of Consultant In-Country Visits F. Agenda – Chamber of Commerce Meeting Ouro Preto International..CI Fuel Review Final Report Oct 2005 v1.2 2 CONFIDENTIAL TO GOVERNMENT Cook Islands Review of Fuel Distribution and Pricing System 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Reviews • Polynesia 187 Margaret Mutu Tonga
    political reviews • polynesia 187 tion of crops is also an issue, with Zealand First party is led by a Mäori, Mäori largely opposed to it. The the charismatic Winston Peters, and apparent lack of performance of despite a general impression that he is many Mäori members of parliament Mäori bashing, 6 of his 13 members was another issue. One commentator are Mäori. act has 1 Mäori member, noted that of the sixteen Mäori mem- while United Futures has none. The bers in the last parliament, fewer than left-leaning Green Party gained only six could be relied on to advocate for 8 seats, 1 of which went to a Mäori. Mäori and only one, Tariana Turia, The Progressive Coalition has 2 mem- was prepared to fight publicly in sup- bers, neither of whom are Mäori. port of Mäori issues. The poor perfor- At the time of writing, Labour had mance was not unexpected, given the entered negotiations with both the severe attacks from both the media Greens and United Future about the and conservative opposition parties composition of the next government. on any outspoken Mäori members margaret mutu and the fact that party loyalties have effectively prevented their acting as a single bloc. Tonga Yet the July 2002 elections saw a record number of 20 Mäori members The triennial general election was held in a parliament of 120, with 11 repre- again in March 2002. Democracy senting their own electorates and the supporters claimed that their win of rest as list members for their parties. seven of the nine People’s Represen- But none of these were independents.
    [Show full text]
  • Cook Islands Integrated Rural Development Project"
    EVALUATION IHAP PROJECT "Cook Islands Integrated Rural Development Project" AID Grant No. 492-1704 Evaluated by Leonard Maynard, Consultant June/July 1984 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Country Profile II. Project Background III. Project Components IV. Evaluation Methodology V. Project Status VI. Conclusion Attachment A: Interview List of Government Officials Attachment B: List of Recommendations I. COUNTRY PROFILE The fifteen Cook Islands -.thirteen of which are inhabited by approximate­ ly 18,000 people - constitute a total land area of 240 square kilometers scat­ tered over 2.2 million square kilometers of sea. The largest island (65 square kilometers), Rarotonga, is also the center of government and contains about half the total population of the country. The Cooks are an internally self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. The economy of the country is largely agricultural including fishing and to a considerable extent, subsistence. Primary production is mainly in coconuts, fish, bananas, citrus, pineapple, maniota, sweet potatoes and taro. Coffee, cocoa, tomatoes and other specialty crops are produced in modest quantities. Livestock includes cattle, pigs and goats, essentially for home consumption. Some mother-of-pearl shell is also collected, mostly for export. In addition to local handicrafts, small industry includes a fruit cannery and two clothing factories. Tourism has become an increasingly important industry and source of foreign exchange. Primary education is free and compulsary and many students go on to sec­ ondary education and a few to higher education abroad. Free medical and surgical treatment is available to all Cook Islanders, with a general hospital in Rarotonga and cottage hospitals or dispensaries in the outer islands.
    [Show full text]