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We have conducted further inquiries on this matter STOP PRESS Land I am satisfied that no evidence was uncovered that would substantiate the laying of a criminal charge against Mr Pitt or anyone else. This matter is therefore cleared and no further police action will be taken against Mr Pitt or anyone else. CI Police Commissioner’s comment I sincerely apologize to Mr George Pitt and his family for the distress, hurt and inconvenience caused Media Release to him and his family. Telecom sale process was corrupt says complaint Accumulation of yellow cards likely to end with a red card for Brown h … and the fee?” was CEO of BTIB recently confirmed this text request from by email that TNZ was obliged ORichard Neves to local to offer the shares for sale to businessman William Framhein local entities prior to selling to a an attempt to solicit a bribe? foreign entity under Section 24 With perception being the of the Development Investment political currency it’s little Act. However, in December wonder there is a growing 2014, when Orama challenged assertion that Richard Neves the Government as to how and this Cook Islands Party it could possibly approve the government are corrupt and BlueSky sale, Crown Law stated self serving and this is another that “the Approval was not “smoking gun”. given pursuant to section 24 of As we all know, for almost the Development Investment ten years, Framhein has Act 1995-96 (Act)” and that been thwarted by successive they “decline to provide further Governments in his attempts details”. to bring competitive telecoms As I have stated before, it services to the Cook Islands. appears that the incompetent However, things have certainly Crown Law office have no clue heated up in this regard following about the Constitution and just the global teleco Digicel’s offer work to the agenda of their to purchase Telecom NZ’s shares political masters. in Telecom Cook Island(TCI) back Apparently the former CEO in December 2013. A complaint for the Minister for BTIB’s was submitted last month to the more flamboyant in his response Trade Commission Office by to Framhein: “we (Minister Framhein provides details of the Turepu Office) are not involved frustrations of one company’s (never was!) In any way with efforts to deal with this corrupt Years of blocking by Brown results in Framhein (above) the sale of TCNZ shares in TCI”. Government. complaint He signed the letter (delivered It paints a grim picture of this Limited actually offered $2m In defence of his inexcusable on official letter head) “So go Government’s complicity in more than BlueSky for the shares. $200,000 interest free business do the proverbial sexual act to ensuring that BlueSky, a foreign This begs the question: why loan to his best friend Mike yourself”. In defence of Minister company, was allowed to buy would Officers of TNZ, a public Henry, Brown moralised the Turepu he did remove his CEO TNZ’s stake in TCI. It also depicts listed company in New Zealand, Schoonergate scandal by when the letter was brought to a Government apparently not exercise their fiduciary duty stating he was committed to his attention. committed to maintaining to achieve the maximum value helping local businesses get Recognising that any attempt BlueSky’s monopoly position. for their shareholders? It is also off the ground. It is obvious to get the Government to The bid process for buying strange that the Government Framhein’s efforts to establish a properly police the deal would TNZ’s shares in TCI was supposed would back a bid that effectively telecommunications alternative be futile, Framhein claims to to be only open to local entities reduces the value of its own is the wrong kind of business. have changed tack. He revisited and specifically stated that any shareholding. Never the less it exposes the CIP an argument he had tried bidder’s “ownership and control I should state at this stage government is here to help their earlier - that the Minister for is not in the way of a nominee, that I have a personal interest in own. It’s little wonder Brown is Telecoms has the discretion to agency or other device for a getting to the bottom of this affair. facing another yellow card sin issue a Radiocommunications foreign enterprise”. For many As readers may remember, in binning. Apparatus License to Orama Ltd who followed the process there March 2014 Minister of Finance Framhein’s complaint lays out under the existing legislation. is the perception that Brian Mark Brown sacked me from the in detail how the Government Framhein claims that Neves Baudinet’s Teleraro interest was Chairman role at Business Trade not only failed to support a countered, restating the always intended as a “device” for and Investment Board (BTIB) Cook Islands company, but took Government’s earlier position BlueSky to obtain ownership and in large part because of my the decision not to enforce the that whilst the Telecoms Act control of TCI. insistence that local entities be Constitutional rights designed to does appear to allow this, the Framhein’s complaint reveals given a chance to purchase the give locals a fighting opportunity. spirit of the law is to protect that his bid through Orama TCI shares. In it, he explains that, the new continued next page PB Cook islands Herald 18 November 2015 NEWS 3 a statutory monopoly. Having meeting Brown rejected Orama’s reject a license that has the setting up today’s meeting with had the opportunity to review application. In his letter of full support of ADB, will greatly the Minister.” Neves responds, all the relevant documentation rejection Brown states: “I do increase the Governments “No dramas.” An hour and 12 whilst conducting due diligence not believe that your application revenues (at a time when our minutes later Neves sent the on TCI, Orama was able to prove provides sufficient detail of the PM is touring the region with a following text “Oh...and the fee?” TCI lost its monopoly rights back radio apparatus you wish to begging bowl) is committed to Framhein ignored this text in 2006. Neves and Crown Law licence for me to consider the helping local entrepreneurs stay and the application was in turn then agreed that it was indeed application. For this reason I local and has plans to grow our ignored for nearly six months possible for the Minister to must decline to consider the tourism segment? before being summarily rejected grant a license to Orama and on spurious grounds. suggested that they submit a I asked Framhein whether formal Application. Framhein says that just one he will be submitting a new Incidentally, it is worth noting application. “Mark Brown has that the reason TCI still have a demonstrated repeatedly that monopoly is that TNZ blackmailed hour before the scheduled for whatever reason he does not the Government with a clause in want me to provide telecoms their Joint Venture Agreement meeting Brown rejected services for Cook Islanders. I have that would have forced the no reason to believe that he will Government to buy them treat a new license with anything out at a ridiculous cost if the Orama’s application. more than the contempt he has Government introduced new shown our previous application laws that negatively affected their and our earlier bid for TCI.” profitability within six months of application any further. If you I suspect it all hinges on the Framhein concluded that: “I the law being enacted. wish to provide further details text message reproduced in the have requested the Minister It appears that the habit of the apparatus you require a headline. The Orama complaint to rescind his rejection of of doing the bidding of TCI’s licence for I would be happy to to the Trade Commission Office our application and to grant masters is hard to shake. Brown consider your new application.” explains how Framhein sent Orama Ltd a license before 20th has yet to demand that BlueSky The meeting went ahead a text to Neves following the November 2015. If this does not stop broadcasting their TV anyway. Framhein claims that meeting where Orama formally happen, then Orama shall file an services in the island without a when pressed to explain what presented its application to the application for a judicial review.” license, despite knowing of this information was missing, Crown Minister. It read: “thank you for - George Pitt breach for well over a month. It Law said that they did not is worth pointing out that it is his know. Neves then stepped in duty to do so and that if he is not and claimed that the Crown Law SWITCH ON WITH prepared to properly administer representative was obviously his portfolio he must resign.