PB Cook islands Herald 25 September 2013 news 2 Asian and Pacific Countries Adopt Ground-Breaking Agenda on Population, Development and Rights ANGKOK, Thailand (ESCAP nations. and UNFPA) – A regional They reviewed progress and Bministerial conference of gaps, and identified priority Asian and Pacific governments actions in addressing a broad set has issued a strong reaffirmation of population-related challenges, that gender equality and sexual with a view to advancing and reproductive health and people’s rights and well-being rights are indispensable to through inclusive and equitable sustainable development, and development. must be a key part of the post- After days of intense 2015 development framework. discussions, they adopted a Ministers and senior officials comprehensive Asian and Pacific from 47 countries were among Ministerial Declaration on nearly 500 country delegates Population and Development. and civil society representatives The document will be the attending the Sixth Asian and region’s input to next year’s UN Pacific Population Conference General Assembly review of the (APPC) in Bangkok from 16-20 1994 International Conference September. Health Minister on Population and Development Nandi Glassie represented the (ICPD), which in turn will Health Minister Nandi Glassie delivered a statement on Cook Islands and during the inform global consultations behalf of the Pacific Nations meeting presented a statement on development priorities Development Goals. and Social Commission for Asia on behalf of Pacific Island succeeding the Millennium The United Nations Economic Continued on page 23 Campaigning CIP style food and massages Petition likely to challenge victory urienua’s winning screened on the evening of the Cook Islands Party bye election voters were picked Mcandidate Koata up, given a free breakfast then Tauriki is a cook, he has cooked transported to the polling booth at restaurants and cooked at to cast their vote. the hospital, it is his stock and Observers said by the look trade. But unwisely he may have of the number of cars parked cooked himself out of his new on the side of the road many job as a Member of Parliament. attended the breakfast by their At worst he faces being convicted own transport. of corrupt practises under the It would be hard to imagine Electoral Act 2004. Section 87 the drivers didn’t offer voting Corrupt Practises. advice while transporting voters Since food is his stock and trade to the breakfast or to the polling and with him giving away meals booth as well as during the meal. — his work product — on the All campaigning was to cease at morning of the election before 6.00pm on the night prior to the CIP Murienua Candidate Kaota Tuariki and his wife Poko electors had voted constitute election. Radio Cook Islands that he Junior Maoate had close shaves on face value, a violation of the Under Section 89 Tuariki may would be offering free massages with the presiding Judge giving Electoral Act. Well it certainly face petition proceeding of at his residence, he and his them the benefit of the doubt. looks that way. treating for the free breakfast advisors probably didn’t read the How the Democratic Party A team of transporters were and under Section 88 bribery for newspapers about this situation decision makers respond to the picking up voters from as early the free messages. or comprehend that this can be talk of Murienua’s free breakfast as 4.30am and taken to the Unwisely the Tuariki and his interpreted as bribing. will no doubt depend as all highly visible Mazel residence. committee did not learn from the In 2004 former Prime Minister petition do, on where there is From 6.am a free cooked buffet successful petitions put against Robert Woonton lost his Manihiki any money left in the war chest. breakfast of bacon and eggs the CIP candidate at the general seat to Henry Puna as a result of Petitions are costly exercises including steak. Campaign elections in Pukapuka in 2010 being found guilty of bribery. When that can leave a trail of debts for manager Patrick Arioka stated when he gave free massages. petitioned former incumbent years as the CIP have discovered. on Cook Islands Television news Worse it was advertised on MPs Robert Wigmore and Amuri’s by George Pitt PB Cook islands Herald 25 September 2013 news 3 Joint policy approach for Health, Agriculture? Last week, in the first of a three part series on the future direction of agriculture, the Herald spoke with Agriculture Minister Kiriau Turepu about his vision for the future direction of the sector. The main direction was towards organic produce and value added produce. In this the second part, the Herald looks at the direct benefits to health of organic and value added produce and spoke to the Minister for Health Nandi Glassie on Monday. By Charles Pitt direction and development. communicable diseases). The set in place and retain uniform, ealth Minister Nandi He said while public role agriculture played in health cohesive and seamless policies Glassie said when servants developed policy for promotion was clear. There for the advancement of both Hhe met the Director the operational level, it was were major savings to be made sectors. Organically grown crops General of WHO (World Health Cabinet’s role to set the overall if policies were aligned if not with high nutritional value will Organisation, the Director policy direction that is to be integrated at the higher level. have major health benefits as commented on his also being implemented. It was important It was important to ensure that a spin off and this will also be a Minister for Agriculture. he said to get the policy right value added products not only marketing tool. Glassie said this interest in at the higher level and across had an economic benefit but Glassie said as far as he knows, him holding two key portfolios, Ministries with related functions. also that they retained a definite no other Pacific nation has such reinforced his perception of the This concept of closer health benefit after refinement. a Joint Policy Team and ours, direction of current thinking alignment at the higher policy For example, in the production if established, could become a which he saw as the need for level, is very important for the of say banana or taro chips, model for other countries. He Health and Agriculture to be more Cook Islands said Glassie as there was no excess salt or other envisaged some expert input closely aligned at a high level, some 80% of hospital admissions additives detrimental to health. from the likes of the Food in terms of policies for future were related to NCDs (non Glassie said he would like and Agriculture Organisation to see Health and Agriculture (FAO) and the World Health Stop Press :Appeal by establish a Joint Policy Team to Organisation (WHO). foreign investors upheld SWITCH ON WITH By Charles Pitt New Zealand couple who appealed a decision by the former Te Aponga Uira Board of BTIB to rescind their approved application to Be careful with electricity Apurchase Aitutaki resort the Samade, have had their appeal upheld by the Appeal Commission set up under legislation by the BTIB Minister Hon Mark Brown. The five person Appeal Commission made their finding by majority decision, 4 to 1, last week. The Minister is expected to release their report within the next few days. The Commission was chaired by local lawyer Mark Short and its members were Teuira Ka, Sam Crocombe, Mike Tavioni and John Herman. Brief background to the appeal On 7 March 2013 the NZ couple was advised by BTIB of approval to purchase the Samade. One day later on 8 March 2013, they were advised by BTIB that their Minister had asked the Board to reconsider their application. Apparently the Minister had done this on 7 March. The reasons were not known to the investors. Without the investor’s knowledge, Minister for Tourism, Teina Bishop and Thomas Koteka entered the picture with their offer to purchase the Samade. The BTIB advised the investor’s lawyers on 23 March that their application was rescinded (but not declined) while the BTIB waited to see if Bishop and Koteka finalized their offer to purchase. It is never a good idea to or plugs. be careless with something as • Stay away from fallen As Cook Islanders had entered the frame, the investor’s lawyers powerful as electrical energy! power lines. Tell an adult if you were advised that priority under the investment policy, lay with Here are a few safety tips to see a fallen line. locals. remember: • Before you climb a Bishop and Koteka secured the Samade and the investors were • Never play with tree, look up. If a power line is advised of this on 1 May. electrical cords, wires, switches nearby or touching, stay away from the tree. Very concerned and unhappy, the investors lodged an appeal on 20 May with the Minister as required under the legislation, the www.teaponga.com Development Investment Act 1995-96. Cook islands Herald 25 September 2013 news 4 Did Tourism head Fua mislead the public? fter he received a copy of aware of further information an article titled “Tourism that deserves a response from Arejects locals in $280,000 Fua for the purpose of accuracy stuff up” for comment three and transparency. Any attempt days prior to being published in to mislead the public is serious this publication on 5 September and amounts to lack of good 2013 Cook Islands Tourism governance. The matter should Corporation (CITC) CEO Halatoa be addressed by the Chairman Fua stated he would make a Smith or by the Minister Teina response before the printing Bishop who himself is currently dead line.