Teilweise neu: 2001-10-12 Contents of this issue:
1. Top Secret 2. Controlling Prices 3. Footnote 4. Social Benefits 5. Centennial Celebration Festivities 6. 7. Hotel Opens 8. Airport Manager ======================================================================== Old contents were: 1. Hotel Opens 2. Airport Manager October 12th, 2001 1. Top Secret: Secrecy surrounds money laundering court cases in the Cook Islands. Provision contained in the International Trust Act prevents cases being held in an open court, as was the case in a recent action - "019/01" -- which was heard in the High Court at Avarua, Rarotonga. Court registrar Nooapii Tearea said the case was held in camera ( public and press prohibited). Last year, a Cook Islands trust refused to return money to the United States after allegations of misconduct were made by the Federal Trade Commission against a couple who established the trust. Asiaciti Trust Pacific Ltd. sought an opinion from the Cook Islands High Court, which confirmed that the trust was right in not returning the money. The Cook Islands along with Niue is still on an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Harmful Tax Competition Initiative blacklist. Both countries are also listed by the Financial Action Task Force for being a "non-cooperative jurisdiction" However, the Cook Islands government believes it will be de-listed at the next FATF plenary meeting. Financial Secretary Kevin Carr said last week that the establishment of a financial intelligence unit on the island this month would satisfy most of the remaining concerns of the OECD's Financial Action Task Force. 2. Controlling Prices: Niue's Premier Sani Lakatani says it may be necessary to employ a full time Price Control officer on the island. He was responding to a question in the Legislative Assembly about rapidly rising prices of foodstuffs and the steps government were taking to make sure the consumers were not being overcharged. The Premier said every time the cargo boats unloaded goods went up in price. He said some traders appeared not be following the laws on permissible mark-ups. He added that the government had reacted to the price hikes by giving public servants a 10% cost of living allowance and pay rises through re-gradings."The situation is not being helped by the NZ exchange rate against the US dollar," he added. The Premier said import duties were necessary to gain revenue to keep the country going and was confident that "we can ride out the storm." 3. Footnote: In the last Consumer Price Index released by the Statistics Department it was revealed the cost of imported goods rose 2.2% in the quarter ending September. Biggest increases were in foodstuffs 4.5% and clothing 6.6%.Statistics also indicated rising inward freight costs contributed to the sharp increase. 4. Social Benefits: In a ground breaking move today the Niue Legislative Assembly authorised by legislation a pension for women aged between the ages of 55-59. The $50 per fortnight is half that amount paid to men and women who reach the age of 5. To qualify, women must be Niuean or a permanent resident who has lived on the island for 10 years before applying for the benefit which has been backdated to July 1. Government officials say 32 women qualify for the payout. But two MP's spoke out strongly against the move saying it was discriminatory to grant the benefit to women only. Mrs O'Love Jacobsen told the Assembly that the timing of the pension appeared to coincide with the general election to be held early next year. "Why wasn't this pension, which was promised by the Niue Peoples Party in its 1999 manifesto introduced two years ago?" she asked. "Are we doing this for the love of the people or as a handout before the election?" . Mrs Jacobsen criticised the government for spending more on social welfare than on economic development. Hunukitama Hunuki said he thought the pension should go to women who were unemployed. "Its unfair for those who have jobs to get a pension. It should go to those who are unemployed and no have income," he said. During the introduction of the Pension and Benefits Amendment Bill it was revealed that 32 women qualified for the benefit - two are receiving salaries from fulltime jobs in the government; three are employed in the private sector and six have incomes from contract work. Niue has one of the best welfare pension schemes in the Pacific.All persons over the age of 60 receive $100 per fortnight; there are special benefits for disabled and needy families and an annual child allowance of $260 per annum per child. 6. Centennial Celebration Festivities: Here's the programme for the Niue and New Zealand centennial commemorations and constitution celebrations October 13 to 27 held on Niue. Saturday October 13: Avatele Centennial Show Day and Food Fest; Arrival of the NZ Maori Queen, Leader of NZ First and NZ Defence Attache on board a special Royal Tongan airlines charter also bringing 50 schoolchildren and their parents; Niue Centennial Golf Tournament 72 holes open; Fashions of the Century organised by the National Womens' Council. Sunday October 14: Church services in villages; Air Rarotonga flight arrives with the Cook Islands Queen's Representative and dignitaries. Monday October 15: Niue Golf tournament second day; Fishing Competition - Niue Fishermen's Association; Centennial Canoe Race - Niue Youth Council; Government Fiafia Dinner. Tuesday October 16: Education Day world food day parade and ethnic food competition; Third day Golf tournament. Wednesday October 17: Fourth day Golf tournament; National Tabloid Sports; USP open day and launching of the book - "Tau Tala Tu Fakaholo a Niue"; Short story and poetry prizegiving; Golf tournament Club prize giving function. Thursday October 18: National Centennial Canoe racing; Niue Youth Council Concert; National Council of Womens Talent Quest; Arrival of the Governor General of NZ and Niue, MP's from NZ and Niue government officials from NZ. Friday October 19: Flag Raising Ceremony; Unveiling of Centennial Commemorative Park at Alofi Village Green; Centennial Fireworks on a barge offshore Alofi Bay. Saturday October 20: Centennial Growers , National Council of Women's crafts, floral weaving show day Niue High School; Centennial Floats ; Fishing Trip for Dignitaries; Take - circle island Tour; Kai Moot - Government Feast; Gift Presentation Ceremony. Sunday October 21: Peniamina's Gospel Service Day; NZ and Niue Governor General departs. Monday October 22: Aho Peniamina National Church Service. Saturday October 27: Mutalau Village Annual Show Day; Centennial Ball. 1. 2. Hotel Opens: Mrs Catherine Leomotu has been appointed manager of the Niue Hotel. The Hotel opens today with 19 rooms available for accommodating guests attending the centennial anniversary of political association with NZ and 27th constitution celebrations. Mrs Leomotu is manager of the Niue Offshore Commercial Services. The hotel will open its bar but will not have full food services. The group of 40 investors will have their company, Niue Investments Company registered next year.The Board of directors is: Toke Talagi ( chair); Mark Cross, David Poihega, Atapana Siakimotu and Maihetoe Hekau. 3. Airport Manager: Vili Ongosia has been appointed as the Airports Manager-Tonga for Royal Tongan Airlines.He replaces Bill Rounds who has completed a 10 months contract with RTA in Tonga. Bill Rounds was RTA Manager Fiji for five years before his appointment in Tonga as Airports Manager to primarily facilitate the 737 services to Auckland late last year. Mr Ongosia's new role has served many years at the airport as a Supervisor in both Tongatapu and Vava'u. <b>WEATHER WATCH </b>THIS WEEK the mild, dry spell eased as the first significant rain of the month fell from Thursday afternoon through early Friday morning. Intermittent flashes of lightening at sunset Thursday signaled that a weak Low (1010) had developed overhead. As of publication, unofficial estimates of around 20mm of precipitation were quite welcome, as previous computer forecasts seemed in agreement that a weak cold front containing the Low would pass without much weather, leaving the island once again high and dry. Bushfire danger has dissipated, and the island should significantly freshen with green for the coming big week of celebrations..... THE WEEKEND sees rain ending and a fair, southerly change by Saturday for Avatele Show Day. A moderate High nudges over the island from the SW, with the leading edge from Samoa to about Mangaia in the Southern Cooks by Sunday evening. A second little ripple is seen by WAFS charts sliding by Niue to the north, possibly giving us a light sprinkle from some cloudiness late Sunday-early Monday. Mild temperatures. NEXT WEEK the NOGAPS forecast model says umbrellas should go unused. A return to seasonal trades north of 20S should be the predominant weather feature for the neighborhood. The weak springtime convergence zone with associated clouds should hang E-W along about 10S. Expect mostly fair weather through Thursday with comfortably cool nights. Moderate easterly afternoon breezes mid-week with high temperatures in the upper 20's. (Thanks to Darrell Spatz private forecaster resident on Niue). __END__
