Herald Issue 701 22 January 2014
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PB COOK ISLANDS HERALD22 January 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 Congratulations to Great Food, Great Entertainment Woman of the Month, Rupe Piakura, pictured Always the best here wearing beautiful selection, best price & best earrrings, necklace and service at bracelet from Goldmine Goldmine! POWERBALL RESULTS Drawn: 16/1/14 Draw num: 922 PB TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:18/1/14 Draw num: 3391 SUPP: OZLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:21/1/14 Draw num: 1040 Next draw: SUPP: Cook islands Herald 22 January 2014 news 2 PM attends 4th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Blue Economy Summit he opening in Abu Dhabi advanced, comparatively. with NZ Foreign Minister The PM attended the Blue kicked off at 9am on IRENA announced today it Murray McCully, who had Economy Summit at the Abu TFriday 17 January – the would continue to back the arrived from Dubai for the Blue Dhabi National Exhibition 4th Assembly of IRENA. The Pacific Islands in their RE goals Economy Summit, opening on Centre, which was opened by meeting finished at 7pm and we and targets by helping with Monday. The PM’s discussions Minister of State, Dr. Sultan went for dinner. IRENA currently the development of national with the Minister covered a Al Jaber. The President of the has 124 members, comprised roadmaps and grid connectivity/ range of issues both national Seychelles and the President of UN States – this is the main stability issues. So on a and regional, including the of the UN General Assembly reason why we are not yet a comparative basis, you see how forthcoming Joint Ministerial were other key speakers. The member, you have to be a UN far in front we are at present. The Forum with NZ, which is to be PM also viewed some of the member. The PM is attending PM is solidly behind our progress hosted in the Cook Islands. The amazing renewable energy as Observer so that the Cook and his commitment is echoed PM continues his assignment in exhibits and had informal Islands keeps abreast of the around all the IRENA members, Abu Dhabi tomorrow at the Blue talks with IRENA. Late in the progress and developments in who continually point out that Economy Summit. afternoon, the PM was asked global RE. IRENA has already political will is absolutely vital The Blue Economy Summit to co-chair a session between extended quite a bit of help in driving the transformation of Abu Dhabi 19-20 January) IRENA and attending SIDS reps. to Tonga and another three power systems. Today, Sunday 19 January, was He sat with Director General of Pacific countries are signing The PM met and spoke with another long and tiring business IRENA Adnan Z Amin, and the agreements tomorrow, which a number of Pacific delegates, day in Abu Dhabi. Prime Minister of Tonga. will pave the way for more new including the Deputy Prime projects in the Pacific. The Cook Minister of Tuvalu. Tomorrow, Islands is plugging in wherever it the PM will be engaged in a two- can so that the national interest session Ministerial Roundtable is maintained and gets access to followed by the final plenary whatever assistance IRENA can session. provide. On the second and final day of The PM is confident that the the 4th Session of the Assembly Cook Islands is still near the of IRENA, Saturday 18 January, forefront of RE development in the Prime Minister participated the Pacific despite the country in a two-part Ministerial not being formal members of session, which discussed the IRENA. Fortunately, Government organisation’s goal to drive articulated national RE Targets a doubling of the world’s very early – three years ago – renewable energy by 2030 to and subsequently developed a 36%, and boosting investment roadmap and national priority in RE for economic growth. The for energy security. The Cook talks among the policy-makers Islands has also completed generated a lot of interest the several studies, including PM said, and helped reinforce viability, grid connectivity and much of what the Cook Islands stability. Many countries are has already achieved at the not even at this stage. Our national level. In the afternoon, Energy Efficiency progress is also the PM held bilateral talks PB Cook islands Herald 22 January 2014 Political Views 3 Te Mato Vai: A testament fostering corruption in the Cook Islands By Wilkie Rasmussen, Leader of Minister of Infrastructure the Opposition (Deputy Prime Minister) Teariki When it was announced with a Heather. I understand the first loud bang by the Prime Minister meeting was held in his own during the Pacific Forum held village of Arorangi was a public here in Rarotonga in 2011, I as relations exercise short on facts Leader of the Opposition yelled but rich on hype and rhetoric. very loudly that this Government Landowners that attended were has handcuffed us in iron clad none the wiser but were told of debts for many generations what Teariki Heather would do. to come. That was because You see that worries me with the total cost of Te Mato Vai this man’s continuing flaunting exceeds $60 million and by far of his Ministerial authority and is the largest amount of money of course the interests of his this country has expended on a company T&M Heather. He single project. It brought back continues not to see his conflict memories of the Vaimaanga of interest and his creation Hotel project, which plagued of the public perception that Cook Islanders for decades he is setting the scene for his until the Democratic Party own company to benefit and Government and its negotiators therefore for him personally to managed to persuade the make a killing from the money Italian company contracted to flowing in. Here’s how it works build the hotel and the Italian and it is a pattern that has now Government to have our debt of become obvious. Bill Dougherty over $40 million written off. and his company tenders and On paper the Te Mato Vai wins it since it is the biggest project is a sound idea and construction company here about time too. For years all in the Cook Islands. He sub- SWITCH ON WITH of Rarotonga has complained contracts T&M Heather for the about the supply and availability machinery, and most of the sub- of water particularly after long contracts. Thus Teariki Heather Te Aponga Uira dry spells. The Democratic Party benefits handsomely. It’s not over yet... actually began this project when That is one example of insider both former Prime Ministers trading and of the insidious Terepai Maoate and Jim Marurai allegations that can be leveled at were steering the helm of the the DPM and indeed at several country. The consultants were others. Isn’t it amazing that called in from overseas, people we have a project that never from the Manukau and Auckland had a blueprint plan put to the Councils were invited to give us Business and Trade Investment options. Funding arrangements Board for approval, at least for were proposed to ADB and to scrutiny? But the Secretary of the Government of the Republic Finance had already earmarked of China. It was all good but for certain employees for the the fear of assuming a massive project. Such are the concerns debt for the Ring Main project, of the public which were echoed a project where everything is by the Chamber of Commerce done all at once. So you dig the including the non-provision roads once and lay everything of actual figures detailing the down, water pipes, electric costs and breakdowns so we and telephone cables etc. The will all understand what debts It’s been a quiet start to the season. more conservative people like are we paying. Unfortunately cyclone season. 3 months in, me wanted a phase by phase the Te Mato Vai project and not a cyclone have we You can help by making project to improve water. We creates more uncertainty and seen. sure you and your family have wanted that because of the therefore promotes suspicion But we cannot relax yet. We the following items: lessons learned from previous and the possible propensity for don’t know what lies ahead. • Torches and candles major projects that have failed corruption, if not already. I’ve said February has been an active to see at night. dismally. I believe the Te Mato month for cyclones in the past • Battery operated it before that this Government no and there’s still March and radio to hear the latest news. Vai will be a dismal failure. longer works according to the April to get through before • Food that you can I note that the Government rules and will do what they can to we’re finally out of the cyclone store without refrigeration. has now embarked on a round bring them back onto the positive www.teaponga.com of public meetings led by the side of the ledger. Cook islands Herald 22 January 2014 Opinion 4 PM Puna’s talks on the law is hypocritical lip service he Prime Minister Henry Puna knows no bounds Twhen he talks about the importance of obeying the law. Insisting the Grey Power members must comply with the law because no one is above it including himself is hypocritical because while he preaches the law he certainly doesn’t practice it.