Neu: 2001-11-22 Contents of this issue:
1. Parliamentary Briefs 2. Lucky Ten ======================================================================== November 22nd, 2001 1. Parliamentary Briefs: Niue's Legislative Assembly sat today and passed with urgency the United Nations Amendment Act 2001. This was done at New Zealand's request because Niue is not a member of the UN. It gives the island's Cabinet authority to adopt UN Security Council decisions aimed at world wide anti terrorism measures by passing local regulations without having to refer to the Governor-General of NZ and Niue. The United Nations Act 1946 is legislation adopted from New Zealand. The Cook Islands which also adopted the 1946 legislation from NZ recently passed a similar amendment Act. ******** The Premier Sani Lakatani refused to answer a question put to him by common roll member Mrs O'Love Jacobsen concerning the costs of the Commission of Inquiry into e mail and Internet services on Niue. ******** It has been confirmed that Togia Pihigia a former bank clerk in Sydney Australia who returned home with his wife earlier this year has been appointed project co-co-ordinator for small business development under an Asia Caribbean, Pacific European Union funded scheme. And the new general manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue is Patrick Lino, a former employee who has been studying in Auckland.He is expected to tak up his job in January or February 2002. ******** The Minister of Tourism Sani Lakatani told the Assembly that the tourism office weekly tv show has been scrapped because it has poor ratings. When asked why it had been scrubbed from residents screens, Mr Lakatani said the Broadcasting Corporation Board decided to dump it after there were many complaints from the public and it rated lowest on a recent survey among viewers."I have been told it carried too much international news and local news content instead of concentrating on the local hospitality scene," said Mr Lakatani. The final decision rested with the Broadcasting Board. ******* Members of the Assembly have been told by the Speaker Tama Posimani not to ask questions of Associate Ministers. During today's sitting a large number of questions aimed at Cabinet Ministers were postponed on the grounds that the Minister was not present in the House and the Associates were unfamiliar with the subject. Those questions were asked of the Minister of Police Matua Rex Alofi South village member, the deputy premier Young Vivian Hakupu village member and the Minister of Administrative Services Dion Taufitu, Toi village member, all of whom were absent on travel or were sick. "These questions are all put to the Speaker in plenty of time for Ministers to provide an aswer if they are going away and associate ministers should be capable of answering them on behalf of the Ministers they are standing-in for," said common roll member Hunukitama Hunuki of Alofi South. ******** It's necessary for Associate Minister of Sports Michael Jackson common roll member of Hakupu to travel overseas with all national teams because it boosts team members morale and positive support. That's the word from Premier Sani Lakatani in response to a question on the necessity of an associate minister to accompany every national team on an overseas trip. "That's why we're winning so many medals now" said the Premier. ********* Niue's taro export program which is being tossed around from the Moui Faka Niue project to the Growers Association and now back to the government is apparently still under investigation. Minister of Agriculture Sani Lakatani told former growers association ceo Hunukitama Hunuki that its the government's intention to try and solve the matter. "We're still discussing the scheme with people in the community," said the Premier who told an Assembly meeting four months ago that the growers were not happy with the association's methods of payouts on produce and wanted the government to take back the scheme which several years ago lost $402,000 in bad debts owed by agents in Auckland and Niue. ********** "Are you jealous or something," said Minister of Telecoms Sani Lakatani to former Telecoms Minister Terry Coe when he asked a question about a $USD16,000 sporting sponsorship payment handed over to the director of telecoms Richard Hipa by Q- Tel the island's holder of exclusive rights to use Niue telephone numbers for international premium rate services. Mr Coe has asked why part of the deal had not been used to lower the local call rate and queried into which account the money had been paid. Mr Lakatani who ironically won this years Q-Tel sponsored best gross golf tournament during the 100 years Niue/ NZ relationship celebrations, said it was the prerogative of Q-Tel to give the money and the fact that the director of telecoms arranged it and organised distribution of sporting funds was a credit to him. "If we get anymore of these critical statements about overseas sponsorships no-one will be willing to sponsor anything in the future," said the Minister. ********** Why has Royal Tongan Airlines increased its fares to and from Niue and ceased concession rates for persons over 60 years of age?. "Don't know," said the Premier who is also Minister of Civil Aviation. "I've asked RTA but they have not responded. But RTA agent on Niue, common roll member Toke Talagi of Alofi South said the increase was due to a tax forsecrity and insurance following the September 11 terrorist attack on America. The Niue air services committee is taking up the matter. the return airfare from Niue to New Zealand is now $NZD1318. Travellers can add $100 for overnight accommodation now necessary on both legs of the journey. ********** Hardship benefits are paid to 36 Niue residents, most are permanently disabled folk according to the Premier Sani Lakatani. He said in response to a question that hardship payments are constantly under review. Nine male and 27 females aged between 21 and 67 are recipients and the scheme is subject to a means test. ********** The government intends to ask the Niue Development Bank to adjust its 10% deposit for housing loans. Finance Minister Sani Lakatani, common roll member from Fualahi told the Assembly that current bank lending policies need to be reviewed so that some assistance is given to new hom owners. 2. Lucky Ten: Scholarships have been awarded to 10 applicants from Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu in the first intake for the Taiwan/ROC - Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme. Five of the scholarships are currently underway with the other five starting early next year at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji; the Central Queensland University-Suva campus also in Fiji, and the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education. The fields of study include Environmental Science; Early Childhood Education; Marine Science; Management and Finance; Nursing, and Teacher Training. __END__
