Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ _______________________________________________ > > [newsban.gif] > > [bewsline.gif] > > Pacific Island Report > Top News > Radio New Zealand > Niue Island Updates > > Niue Weather Conditions > > [bewsline.gif] > > [ad_left.gif] [ad_right.gif] > www. ______________ Go! > > [bewsline.gif] > > Weekly Niue News > > [bewsline.gif] > > June 18, 2004 > > Tainted Tag: Niue is listed among 12 small nations in the > South Pacific where there is widespread concern about > political corruption. Transparency International has blown > the whistle on corruption which threatens the regions > economic future. Niue was among those nations reported to > be "tainted by corruption." Among concerns are widespread > abuse of ministerial and official travel, suspicions that > Government ministers favor relatives when dishing out > appointments, contracts and scholarships and distortion of > budget processes by pet projects. The study independently > carried out by local researchers under the Australian > National University's Asia Pacific School of Economics and > Government found widespread concern about political > corruption, particularly during election campaigns. Vote > buying and the operation of political slush funds were of > particular concern to South Pacific islanders. Not even > civil organizations, usually seen as a brake on > Governments, were free from the taint of corruption. The > report notes that the private sector has often been viewed > as the perpetrator of corruption, bribing officials to get > business. Now the boot is on the other foot, and the > private sector is complaining that it is often the victim > of "rent seeking" bureaucrats and politicians. Churches and > other non-government organizations might sometimes > criticize Government corruption, but may be vulnerable to > it themselves, the report says. Countries surveyed were > Niue, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, > Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the > Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Transparency > International said some countries had strengthened their > anti-corruption measures, but none of the 12 was free of > the corruption taint. Areas most at risk of corruption are > police and customs, land and titles administration, > forestry and fisheries, ports, health and education, > retirement funds, tendering, trade in passports and stamps, > and overseas banking. The director of Transparency > International's Papua New Guinea chapter, Peter Aitsi, said > there was concern throughout the Pacific at the effect > corruption had on a country's economic performance. Aitsi > said nepotism was a particular concern, especially when > Government cronies were appointed to state-owned > enterprises. > > Expat Appointment?: Niue's top police job is being > advertised in New Zealand indicating that an expatriate > maybe appointed. Sources on the island said the experience > sought by the employing agency, the Niue Public Service > Commission, is likely to rule out a local appointment. The > chief of police job was localized several years ago after a > political wrangle between the island's then Premier, Sani > Lakatani, the Niue Public Service Commission, the attorney > general Warner Banks and New Zealand detective Andrew > Lovelock who was chief of police for almost three years > from 1996. Mr Banks a former Hong Kong Magistrate and > Coroner quit in 1999. He was followed soon after by Mr > Lovelock who said at the time he could no longer work with > the government or the commission. The present chief John > Satini Tohovaka is on Niue after under going medical tests > in New Zealand after he collapsed at his home village of > Makefu last month. Niue has a population of 1300 and > employs 12 local policemen. > > Future Cloudy: French Polynesia's new pro-independence > leader Oscar Temaru elected the Pacific territory's > president after ousting pro-French Gaston Flosse has > painted a gloomy picture of Polynesia's economy, saying the > deficit was "too large to bridge" and calling for "work and > effort." He has set out two priorities -- boosting tourism > and cultured pearls in the economic arena, and encouraging > the use of the Polynesian language Maohi in daily life. > Niue News sources in Tahiti said this week the future of > the French Polynesia Disaster Response Team which has been > on Niue since the end of January, leading the clean up and > re-housing of Niueans after cyclone Heta, is in the > balance. The team was sent to Niue by former President > Gaston Flosse but sources in Tahiti say the future of the > group scheduled to build another 20 new kitset homes is > being reconsidered by the new government. There has been a > small standby team based in Niue for the past six weeks as > the majority of the men have returned home for rest and > recreation. > > Cheap But OK: Niue is in the news again in New Zealand. > This time it has been portrayed as a cheap place to > visit... especially if you are a New Zealand Cabinet > Minister. Figures on New Zealand ministerial overseas > travel show that the high travel bills don't always mean a > high-spending minister. A $28,000-plus trip by Associate > Arts Minister Judith Tizard turned out to be one of the > cheapest, $882 a day each for her and her senior private > secretary. She was on a four-country tour for 16 days over > April and May, including representing the Government at the > Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli. But the daily cost > of a trip to the Solomon Islands by Associate Foreign > Affairs Minister Marian Hobbs was $1634 a day, almost the > same as another trip by her to New York to a disarmament > conference. Marian Hobbs' explanation for the costly > Solomons trip from February 3 to 6 was that she hosted > several functions that were not charged against the > Ministry of Foreign Affairs."She hosted a Waitangi Day > function," a spokesman said. "She also hosted a lunch for > women and NGOs [non-government organizations] and also a > dinner for 30 young people and NGOs."So that would have > boosted the costs." A flag-waving trip to Niue several > months after Cyclone Heta, was the cheapest, costing only > $626 a day per person. The information was released by > Prime Minister Helen Clark as head of Ministerial Services > in response to questions from National MP Murray McCully. > The highest daily cost of a trip was $1707, chalked up by > Trade Minister Jim Sutton in a visit to the World Trade > Organisation in Geneva, one of the most expensive cities in > the world. Among the cheaper travelers was Health Minister > Annette King, $958 for a trip to Canberra. > > Briefly: > * An Auckland based Niuean cultural group is heading to > China later this year. Tau Fuata Niue have been invited to > Shanghai after performing in the Pasifika Festival at > Auckland. Co-organiser Mariam Poitoa-Kauhiva said the > Niueans will be the only New Zealand group taking part in > the Baoshan Folk Art festival. Fourteen dancers and two > drummers will perform the warriors spear dance. Founded > four years ago by the director Sene Falakoa Tau Fuata Niue > has performed at many international events including the > Wellington premiere of the movie Lord of the Rings and the > WOMAD festival. "Our vision is to resurrect our dying > Niuean culture and keep it alive through song and dance," > said Mariam. > > * An exhibition of artist Mark Cross's photographs > depicting the aftermath of Cyclone Heta opened in Auckland > this week. Cross said "morale on the island is not great." > He has tried to create a sense of the power of the storm > which comes through in the aftermath. The exhibition is > likely to draw interest from a large number of Aucklanders > and any money raised will go to a new cultural centre in > Niue which has already received backing from the Manukau > City Council. Cross has recently published a booklet of > Heta photographs on behalf of the Niue Government who were > keen to publicise the efforts made by resident Niueans to > rebuild the tiny island state. > > * About 200 houses on Niue have been re-roofed according to > government officials, but there are still a large number to > undergo repairs. More than $NZ500,000 has been allocated > for the program which includes the removal of asbestos > corrugated roofing sheets. NZAid is funding the removal of > the asbestos, a project announced late last year. It was > hoped to have the toxic material removed before the August > Forum leaders meeting which has now been re-scheduled to > Samoa. Special teams of trained safety officers handle the > asbestos which will eventually be shipped off island. > Meantime piles of the material are wrapped in plastic. > > * Unhappy motorists on Niue who are now paying $2 a litre > for petrol and diesel are wondering where the massive 33% > increase came from when petrol is selling retail in New > Zealand for $l.16 a litre and diesel is 69 cents. The > government claims the price hike is due to shipping and > storage costs. > > * Niue is likely to get its first legally protected marine > park soon. It's along the coastline from Alofi North to > Makefu and originated from an International Waters > Protection project started several years ago. Its > understood the Makefu and Alofi North village councils will > introduce by-laws restricting fishing, diving and the > gathering of shellfish from the coastline reef. > > One Is Better?: The push is on to merge 20 carriers in the > region and form one airline for the South Pacific. And the > key to its success lies with the private sector airlines. > That's the word from Australian Treasurer Peter Costello. > "There could be a case for a Pacific airline if somebody > was prepared to put the capital together to do it," said Mr > Costello at the Rotorua, New Zealand meeting of Forum > Economic Ministers."I think more likely, there will be a > base for opening up the (air) routes for existing > commercial airlines and trying to attract them on to those > routes. By commercial I mean private sector airlines," he > said." The Pacific is a very diverse area with small > populations, high transport costs and some 20 regional > airlines, very few of whom are making a profit, and some of > whom have recently gone into closure," he said."We think > there could be a rationalization of the aviation market, in > particular the adoption of some commercial principles and > there could be the opportunity to open up economically > sustainable services around the Pacific. But it won't be > done whilst there's anything like the number of competing > airlines, government ownership and loss-making activities > as are occurring at the moment." Mr Costello said of the 20 > or so carriers, most of them were State-owned but very few > were making a profit. "We know it is important that > aviation services continue, but 20 airlines are too much > and they are not going to continue them in a profitable > way." He said if policies could be put in place that would > either allow commercial carriers to come in more > profitably, or assist with rationalization to get those > services on to a sustainable basis."We have found that > governments aren't the best organizations for owning and > running airlines. It's a very competitive market out there > and there aren't many airlines around the world that are > making a profit."If governments keep propping up an > unprofitable airline, it just means there are less > resources for alternatives like sanitation, health and > housing," said Mr Costello. The latest national airline to > nose dive was Royal Tongan while last week the Samoa > government pledged to prop up its national carrier > Polynesian Airlines for another two years. > > Airline Quandry: The liquidators for Royal Tongan Airlines > say secured and preferential creditors will be given > priority but it is unclear how much unsecured creditors > will get. Richard Agnew, a partner at Pricewaterhouse > Coopers in Auckland, says the company's assets have been > secured and a strategy is being devised to determine how > best to deal with them. Mr Agnew says the assets mainly > comprise of domestic operations, including two aircraft, > equipment and a hangar at the domestic terminal. He says > the company's main creditors are banks. Mr Agnew says the > company is owed several million dollars by debtors who > include travel agents and individuals. > > New Plane:Polynesian Airlines says it plans to buy a Dash-8 > 37 seater aircraft to service the Apia/Pagopago/Apia route. > The airline's aging Twin Otters are consistently out of > service for technical reasons and passengers have been > complaining about rescheduled and cancelled flights along > with luggage problems. Samoa Air ceased its services on the > route last year and Polynesian Airlines is keen to > establish a reliable and efficient service between the two > islands. > > PI Squad: All Black trialist Sitiveni Sivivatu has been > named in the Pacific Islanders rugby squad for their tests > Australia, New Zealand and South Africa next month. It > wasn't clear however that he would play for them as he had > said he wanted to pursue an All Black jersey. The > 23-year-old Chiefs winger played in the All Black trial in > Auckland on June 1. However, according to International > Rugby Board (IRB) regulations, the Fijian-born winger who > had intially come to New Zealand for education, doesn't > become eligible to play for New Zealand until December. The > New Zealand Rugby Union unsuccessfully tried to persuade > the IRB to bring his eligibility forward. Pacific Island > squad: Soane Tongahuia, Taufaao Felise, Aleki Lutui, Joeli > Lotawa, Mosese Moala, Tevita Taumoepeau, Inoke Afeaki, > Filipo Levi, Ifereimi Rawaga, Leo Lafaialii, Semo Sititi, > Alifereti Doviverata, Sisa Koyamaibole, Sione Lauaki*, > Benhur Kivalu, Mosese Railuni, Steven So'oialo, Tanner > Vili, Tasesa Lavea*, Seremaia Bai, Brian Lima, Seleila > Mapusua, Seru Rabeni, Sireli Bobo, Lome Faatau, Sitiveni > Sivivatu, Aisea Tuilevu*, Norman Liqairi [*Subject to > fitness test.] > > Extreme Responses: A two-week 'Pacific Island Training > Institute on Climate and Extreme Events' is expected to > enhance the capacities of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) > to understand, anticipate and effectively respond to > current and future patterns of climate-related extreme > weather events such as droughts, floods and tropical > cyclones. The Training Institute is being held at the > University of the South Pacific (USP) Laucala Campus, Suva, > Fiji. The event was officially opened on June 15 by > Assistant Minister for Local Government, Housing, Squatter > Settlement and Environment for the Fiji government, Hon > Joji Natadra Banuve. The Training Institute is convened by > USP's Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable > Development (PACE-SD); the East-West Center (EWC), Hawaii; > and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric > Research (NIWA), New Zealand. The Asia-Pacific Network for > Global Change Research (APN) and the U.S. National Oceanic > and Atmospheric Administration are the major sponsors for > the Training Institute with additional contributions from > USP, EWC and NIWA. According to the 2002 World Disaster > Report, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red > Crescent Societies, the number of people in the wider > Pacific region affected by weather-related disasters has > increased from 1.2 million to 18 million over the past 30 > years. Already, more intense cyclones - such as Cyclone > Heta which pounded Niue on January 5, 2004, Cyclone Zoe, > which caused much destruction in Solomon Islands in > December, 2002, and the El-Nino related drought in 1997-98 > which had a bad effect on Fiji's agriculture - and rain > patterns are being experienced in the Pacific. Small > Islands Developing States (SIDS), such as those in the > Pacific region, are considered among the most vulnerable to > the consequences of climate variability and change and > associated extreme weather events. > > Festival Backing: The European Union (EU) has signed a > Financing Agreement with the Forum Secretariat for > $F$990,000 to assist with the organization of the 9th > Festival of Pacific Arts in Palau July 22-31. The funds > will be used for sound and lighting equipment, including > the training of sound and lighting technicians, catering > services and accommodation of participants. The project is > being implemented by the > Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). Niue is sending > a team to the festival. > "The participation of the French overseas territories are > an integral facet of the festival and through their > participation a sense of solidarity between the French and > English-speaking Polynesians, and between Polynesians, > Melanesians and Micronesians is strengthened," said Frans > Baan, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission for > the Pacific. > > [bewsline.gif] > > [EMBED] > [EMBED] > > [EMBED] > > [bewsline.gif] > > Send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with questions or comments about > this web site. > Copyright © 2002 Company Administrative Services
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