Herald Issue 710 26 March 2014
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PB COOK ISLANDS HERALD26 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 Congratulations to 5.30pm-7.30pm Woman of the Month, Reservations required 22 166 Peka Takai George Aroa Beachside Inn, Betela who is pictured here Great Food, Great Entertainment wearing earrings, a necklace and bracelet from Goldmine Always the best selection, best price & best service at Goldmine! POWERBALL RESULTS Drawn: 20/3/14 Draw num: 931 PB TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:22/3/14 Draw num: 3409 SUPP: OZLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:25/3/14 Draw num: 1049 Next draw: SUPP: OPEN LETTER TO THE DEPUTY PM TEARIKI HEATHER QUESTION 1: What is your interpretation of theStanding Orders of the Parliament of the Cook Islands. PART XLV CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS? 394. The Principles- (4) Proper Exercise of Power: Every member shall-(c) Exercise any influence or authority obtained from Public Office only to advance the public interest and where any potential and actual conflict of interest arises whether in the member’s private, financial, pecuniary or any interest the member shall be required to declare that interest and take any steps to remove the conflict or withdraw from the particular process of transaction. 395. Special Requirements for Ministers and Other Officeholders- Every member who holds parliamentary office of any kind is required to adhere strictly to the principles outlined above and shall not under any circumstances undertake any decision or exert influence in any form whatsoever in respect of a matter in which the Member will derive personal gain or benefit. QUESTION 2: Have you read all the Principles listed in 394? QUESTION 3: If you have, why did you behave in such a disrespectful manner on Radio Cook Islands on Friday the 7th March to an individual and not observe with dignity (3) Respect for all Persons ? QUESTION 4: Is it not an obvious perception a potential conflict of interest exists because as the Minister of Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) you are the administrator and driver of the Cook Islands biggest monetary project Te Mato Vai, your company T&M Heather Ltd are the likely biggest financial beneficiary to the tune of many millions of dollars? QUESTION 5: Is your company T&M Heather Ltd going to tender for any of the TMV contracts? QUESTION 6: Has your company T&M Heather Ltd been in discussions with CCECC negotiating costs and pricing of work to be contracted? QUESTION 7: Do you understand what the illegal practise of INSIDER TRADING is? Mr Teariki Heather, When you were elected to Parliament you took a solemn Oath before this Nation and God to uphold its laws. Demonstrate to us you are a man of HONOUR and INTEGRITY. If you are the Christian you proclaim you are, you know what you must do. Either withdraw your company T&M Heather Ltd from bidding for any TMV contracts or resign from being the Minister of ICI and rescue yourself from all public or Parliamentary debates regarding potential conflicts of interest and the public perception you are a self enriching politician seriously damaging your ambition of being the Prime Minister. Your friend George Pitt PB Cook islands Herald 26 March 2014 news 3 Care giver slams CIP Government ight now Ruta Strickland is of parents and children is the one unhappy woman with responsibility of the immediate Rjustified reasons, six weeks family and they should endeavour after her father passed away to organize themselves to meet she still fumes over the way these obligations.” government wriggled their way The Administrative Policies out of approving her application for the Care-Givers Allowance for the Care-Givers Allowance. state “Individuals within the After witnessing the public community who look after outcry over the CIP government’s and care for those and care for harsh treatment of pensioners, those needy beneficiaries can be her own experience has an adult member of the same reinforced in her own mind the household whom the very sick claims the government is harsh and or the permanently disabled and doesn’t care about the beneficiary live with.” suffering of the people are real. Nowhere in the policies does In November 2012 she it state family members are returned from Australia to care excluded from receiving the for her father the late Papa Care-Givers Allowance, this has Kura Strickland who had been angered Ruta Strickland. diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the second paragraph a After over a year as her father’s further reason states, “Papa care giver, on 5 December 2013 Kura is over the age of 70 and Ruta applied for the Ministry is receiving the higher rate at of Internal Affairs (MIA) Care which this was intended for. Givers Allowance of $75 per The recommendation is that Ruta Strickland with the letter of decline and the policy fortnight. By now Ruta was also Papa Kura’s pension should statement the care giver for her sick 63 year assist with the expenses of the old brother George, on the 31 caregiver.” January 2014, 84 year old Papa “Thirdly, Papa Kura has family Kura passed away in her arms, support that should share the SWITCH ON WITH incidentally it was the same day responsibility and cost of his she received a reply from the care. He is not without means to Te Aponga Uira Internal Affairs stating they had assist him receive proper care.” declined her application for the “At Dad’s family service Tracking Mike... Allowance. Minister Glassie attended and Ruta explains she only applied I told him my application was for the Allowance after she had declined and he assured me he spoken to the Minister Nandi would look into it and since then Glassie and staff at MIA. “I I’ve heard nothing from anyone,” wasn’t working as I was full time said Ruta. “When I applied for as a care giver for Dad and my the Allowance Dad had very brother and it was only after limited time to go, it wasn’t as I used all my own resources if it would be a huge amount that some friends suggested I of money, just $37.50 cents a should apply for some financial week. It took seven weeks to assistance.” inform me of their decision and She said everyone she spoke they found the most ridiculous Tropical Cyclone Mike didn’t last a day after it was to at MIA was positive and reasons to say no, what a way born last week. helpful till her application was to treat people, what kind of Although it was a squib barely reaching category brought before the Destitute government is this?” 2, what lessons did we learn? and Infirm Committee which “My father served the CIP Probably the biggest insight was how quickly a includes Health secretary Liz as a member of Parliament cyclone can form. Mike developed near Aitutaki Iro and MIA secretary Bredina for many years and this is the on Wednesday afternoon, moved south east past Drollet which is responsible for unbelievable treatment he Rarotonga and dissipated 1,145 km south west of the approval of applications. gets, our family are deeply Papeete, all in the space of 24 hours. They met on two occasions to disappointed with Minister And how many people were caught out at the consider Ruta’s application, 26 Glassie, I want to thank Aunty last minute dashing home from work to clear their November and 19 December Nga Teau for the help but the yards of stuff that could be tossed about by winds 2013. rest don’t have a heart for the and gale? Or stopping off at the supermarket to buy The reasons stated as to why old people, this government is torches and other basic supplies? her application was declined has cruel and should be ashamed If nothing else, Mike was a good wakeup call for us infuriated Kura and her family. of themselves, I’m sorry I voted to be prepared in case of a cyclone in the remaining “1. Immediate family members for them in 2010, not anymore,” 5 weeks of the current season. should not be paid for looking concluded Ruta Strickland. www.teaponga.com after family members. The care - George Pitt Cook islands Herald 26 March 2014 Opinion 4 Politics ignored as Manihiki residents survive on own resources t was in November 2013 when comforts of life. Going without Manihiki and Rakahanga a lot of processed food has Ilast saw a visiting vessel and also improved their heath. The such a rare occasion is expected lack of sugar and fizzy drinks this week. With nearly every is substituted for by healthy imported goods well consumed coconut juice and natural sugars in quick time newly arrived from home grown fruits and cargo gets absorbed by the vegetables. backlogged vacuum. Reports One resident said they from the northern islands are have given up relying on their critical of the worst shipping politician to help them, “We service by any government. are surviving without their Residents report both islands empty promises, our member ran out of just about everything the Prime Minister Puna didn’t before Christmas. Thankful they bother having a public meeting have a more regular service the last time he visited because from Air Rarotonga cargo space only the government employees is a luxury that takes skilful attend them not the rest of us, negotiating along with using we can’t be bothered listening connections to ensure basic to their rubbish.” items such as toilet paper and With political expectations soap get freighted.