Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 7 guests online > island's post cyclone rebuilding programme. > Niueans Flock To Polynesian Festivities > > Pasifika 2005 opened in Auckland last night with a concert and > a competition celebrating the growing strength of popular > Pacific music. Thousands of Niueans attended the function and > they'll be out in force again today at Western Springs for > Pasifika umu kai and island entertainment on five stages, nine > cultural villages and more than 300 stalls. > The music awards was not the only first for this year's > festival. There is also Off Da Hook - a hip hop dance > competition featuring several top acts from around Auckland > and a Pacific fashion show. > Among this year's performers are Adeaze, Dei Hamo and > perennial favourites Nesian Mystik. > The usual sights, sounds and flavours from the Cook Islands, > Fiji, Niue, Samoa and Tonga will hijack Auckland's Western > Springs park and stadium for the day. Taking the stage will be > Niue's Miss South Pacific Sina Hekau (24). She's representing > the region in one of her biggest public outings since she won > the coveted award last October. > > [date.gif] Friday, 11 March 2005 > Exclusive! > > WHERES MY $15,000 BACK PAY? > > Former Leader Considers Legal Action > > By A Contributing Editor > Former Niue Premier Sani Lakatani is incensed by the treatment > hes received from the country he once led. > > Hes angry the Niue Government stopped paying his parliamentary > salary without formally telling him. > > Mr Lakatani, who was Premier for three years from 1999, > believes he has been shabbily and unjustly treated. > > He believes hes entitled to back pay of nearly $15,000 as well > as costs hes incurring from seeking legal advice over the > issue. > > Speaking from his home in Auckland, he said: "I have done my > best to do things right for them on Niue and now this is how > they treated me. > > "I have been there [Assembly Member] for over 13 years and > this is how they treat me. Some people.I gave them everything > when I was Premier of Niue." > > After being dumped from the Cabinet of his Premier successor, > Young Vivian, Mr Lakatani said he was granted leave of absence > from the Niue Assembly by the Speaker, Atapana Siakimotu, in > mid-2003. > > Mr Lakatani moved to Aucklands North Shore to be with his > ailing wife Betty. > > In January last year he learned from his bank on Niue that the > Fale Fono had not been remitting his pay since November 2003. > > "They stopped paying me but didnt tell me," he said. "I found > the money I thought I was getting was not there. > > "I think Im entitled to pay because I had legitimate leave > given by the Speaker. If he took off that authority he gave > me, he should have informed me and I would have been quite > happy. > > "I do not think I was treated as a former leader of the > country. > > "I was angry when I first learned they had stopped my pay. I > kept quiet because my family said I shouldnt kick up a stink." > > Mr Lakatani said he was annoyed by public discussion of his > pay issue, suggestions he was being paid for doing nothing and > some allegedly derogatory comments about him. > > The former Premier decided to challenge Mr Siakimotu to > resolve the situation when the Speaker was in Auckland last > October. > > He said Mr Siakimotu claimed he had informed Mr Lakatani by > letter in November 2003 that his pay was being stopped. > > "I never got it," said Mr Lakatani. > > He then told Mr Siakimotu of his intention to resign as an > Assembly Member from November 30 last year. > > At the Speakers behest, Mr Lakatani sent him his letter of > resignation. In January this year he received a letter from > the Speaker urging him to resubmit his resignation letter, > this time to the Clerk of the House, Mrs Moka Tano. > > Mr Lakatani said he was still waiting to hear about his back > pay claim. > > First elected to the Niue Assembly in 1990, Mr Lakatani said: > "I love my politics in Niue but I had to give it up to be with > my wife because of her health. She needs me here." > > [ The Cabinet last week asked the secretary of government to > investigate Mr Lakatanis request for back pay]. > > Here's Where Your Taro Went > > What happened to the container load of Niue taro donated to > the Cook Islands after three cyclones bashed the outlying > atolls ruining food crops? The Cook Island News reports that > Office of the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Denise Rairi, > said the container of taro shipped from Niue on the MV > Southern Express was consigned to the Prime Minister. The > container with 292 bags of taro was placed outside the Ports > Authority office at Avatiu wharf. It is understood that the > taro was sent as part of Niue's cyclone relief to the Cook > Islands. > However half of the bags were addressed to people on Rarotonga > and some in Atiu, while the remaining half were not tagged. > > Members of the public arrived to collect their bags after > hearing an announcement on radio. > Ms Rairi says they did think about sending the remaining taro > to Pukapuka but are now uncertain what they will do with it as > the boat is already up north. > > State Employees Cautious Of Pay Promise > > Niue public servants say they are wary of promises of pay > increases. Some are claiming its a political stunt others are > wondering why it became an issue straight after a Whole Of > Government Report draft by Mr Don Hunn was published > exclusively in the Niue News. Mr Hunn revealed a state of > apathy and low morale among the islands state sector and > attributed to a lack of pay increments and allowances. > > Niues Premier Young Vivian has this week given an assurance > that he will investigate a pay increase for the islands 430 > public servants. > > But he said because of the time factor its unlikely to happen > until after the April general election. [Realistically a pay > increase would have to be included in the 2005/2006 budget.] > > "We need to re-consider things like pay rates to keep our > people on the island," Mr Vivian told the Niue News. > > "New Zealands economy is booming and there are new > opportunities there in the labour market but its really > difficult trying to match what New Zealand has to offer," he > said. "We have to do everything we can to keep our people here > improve pay and housing and get rid of the old homes so well > achieve a new look." > > Mr Vivian conceded that New Zealand pay rates are out of the > question. > > The Hunn report also revealed a rift between Cabinet and the > state employer-the Niue Public Service Commission. > > Sources told the Niue News that some top politicians are now > regretting localization of the NPSC. They say in such a small > community it has exposed nepotism and favouritism and some of > its decisions have led to people leaving the island. > > The NPSC was originally based in Wellington with New Zealand > state service appointments and one Niuean representative. The > move from Wellington to Niue with full local membership was > achieved by an amendment to the Constitution in July 1992. > > Mr Hunns report also recommended clearing derelict homes from > around the island to dispel the much publicized "ghost town" > image. > > With a diminishing population there have been increasing > accusations leveled at the Commission over their methods of > promotions and appointments. Niue has recently reverted to > appointing a New Zealander as chief of police. Most heads of > departments are now employed on three-year contracts. > > The Niue Public Association, the union that represents the > workers, is in limbo because of a "universal apathy," a former > officer of the association told the Niue News. > > Food Security Project Offers Huge Pickings > > Niue is having trouble spending a $298,000 grant by the > international FAO as part of a food security project following > last years cyclone. > > An FAO official said this week that the money must be spent > before June 30. So far fertilizer, shade cloth, shade houses, > seeds and seedlings have been funded along with five aluminium > fishing boats and fishing lines and tackle. > > The project was instigated after a survey was carried out to > determine the need of farmers and fishermen after damage > caused by Cyclone Heta. It is hoped the donated materials will > re-establish food security. The FAO official said the > government was responsible for fairly distributing the > materials and equipment. > > Start Underway On Two Major Projects > > Initial ground work on the islands new $6m hospital at Kaimiti > is underway and part of the concrete slab for the floor of the > new $400,000 industrial park is being poured this week. The > hospital is being constructed by a New Zealand firm and the > industrial park by local volunteers headed by project manager > Steve Jefferson. > > Both projects have faced long delays due to the lack of > materials and plant. The 80m x 7m industrial park designed to > provide rental space for private sector companies who lost > their businesses in Cyclone Heta was due to be completed 10 > months ago. The steel portal building will house a joinery, > panelbeating shop, laundry, mechanical workshops and provide > office space. There is adequate parking and the complex will > be managed by the Niue Chamber of Commerce in association with > a government committee. > > The hospital is expected to be completed by early 2006. > Materials for the project are due on the MV Southern Cross > later this month. > > Legislators Head Off To The Hustings > > The 10^th Legislative Assembly session will draw to a close on > March 23 with the Speaker officially dissolving the islands > parliament on March 24 and announcing April 30 as the day for > the 11^th general election. The Premier Young Vivian said > there will be no businesses in the House, rather it will be a > farewell gathering. > > Niue will then be administered by a caretaker executive, > comprising of the Premier and the Cabinet. The past three > years in the Assembly, headed by Mr Vivian have been free of > major political upsets, votes of no confidence or Cabinet > changes contrary to the previous term when the Treasury > benches were headed by Premier Sani Lakatani. > > There have been no official notices of any politicians > retiring this term and commentators predict there will be few > changes to the village representatives or common roll seats. > The seat to create most interest will be Alofi South where > career politician Robert Rex jr is likely to face stiff > opposition from at least two candidates. > > Fuel Price Rise Expected Tank Farm Settled > > Motorists on Niue could be facing a fuel price hike. Oil > prices in New York went above $NZ75 a barrel last week up > almost 20% in under a month. > > In New Zealand petrol has gone up 2 cents a litre to about > $1.22 for unleaded 91 and $1.27 for unleaded 96. Diesel went > up 6 cents a litre. A new petrol tax of 5.6 cents which comes > into force in April will take unleaded 91 to $1.28 per litre. > > Niue is at the mercy of international oil prices and without a > bulk fuel tanker service its fuel prices will be dictated by > current sources and shipping fuel costs. > > Meanwhile the island government has negotiated a lease for > land at Amanau to set up a bulk fuel farm. It replaces the > cyclone damaged storage units at Sir Roberts Wharf. An attempt > to have tanks installated at the Tuila powerhouse was aborted > because of safety concerns. Reef Shipping will bring in > tanktainers because a regional fuel tanker no longer calls at > Niue due to a lack of unloading facilities. > > New EU Fund Will Boost Dollars For Tuna > > A new project funded by the European Union will maximise the > income Pacific states get from their tuna fisheries. > > The development project for Pacific ACP countries is getting > money totaling nearly $US4m to be implemented by the > Honiara-based Forum Fisheries Agency in conjunction with the > Secretariat of the Pacific Community. > > Radio NZ International > quotes the legal counsel at the Forum Fisheries Agency, > Transform Aqorau, as saying the project wont neccessarily lead > to more European involvement in the fisheries. > > But, he said Pacific nations should be able to make business > deals with whoever offers the best deal. > > Surfers Put Niue On The Map > > Niuean women surfers did the island proud at the Oceania > Surfing Chamopionships at Kingston Reef Norfolk Island > recently . Chantelle Mc Coy was place second and Hana Evans > was fourth. Results were- Womens Open Class: Anau Burling, > (Tonga)1; Chantelle McCoy (Niue) 2; Lavinia Sunia (Tonga) 3; > Hana Evans ( Niue) 4. Mens Open Class - Michael Burling ( > Tonga) 1; Jamie Andrews (New Zealand) 2; Laurent Cressly ( New > Caledonia)3; Kirk Menghetti (Norfolk Island) 4. Mens Under 18 > -Richard Christy (New Zealand) 1; Wiremu Rakutu ( New Zealand) > 2; Isaac Coste (New Caledonia) 3; Arnaud Reuter (New > Caledonia) 4. Youngest Surfer Award - Alan Burling from Tonga > (9 years old). The next Oceania Championships will be held in > Samoa next year. > > Since the Niueans success several surfers have inquired > through the Niue News about surfing conditions on the island. > > Stiff Competition Luring Workers > > Niue wants its expatriate communities to move home and help > develop the island. The island has mounted a large number of > campaigns over the past decades to attract fellow countrymen > home, without any noticable success. > > The situation is becoming more urgent as private sector > projects mature and more skilled labour is needed. The Niue > government has publicly expressed its desire to open its doors > to more New Zealanders. But now it is competing with the > country it has a constitutional bind to. > > The New Zealand Government is preparing a major campaign to > lure hundreds of thousands of Kiwis home and increasing > pressure on officials to fill migrant quotas as it tries to > plug growing job vacancies. Niueans are New Zealand citizens > and have the right of free entry. > But the New Zealand government is so far resisting employer > calls to increase immigration to cope with the problem, > brought about by a drop in unemployment. > It says the skilled migrant quota won't be reviewed until next > year. > The Australian Government is under similar pressure. > The push to increase temporary unskilled migrant numbers was > growing and the Government would increase the skilled migrant > intake by 20,000, the Australian newspaper reported at the > weekend. > If the New Zealand Government has its way, Australia might > find itself battling to keep the several hundred thousand > skilled Kiwis bolstering its workforce. > > New Zealand recently recruited Samoans to work in prisons and > drive buses. > > More Money For A Hand Up > > Niue is one of 14 Pacific states that will benefit from two > new regional projects funded by the European Union. > > The Acting Head of Delegation of the European Commission for > the Pacific, Ms. Maria Ralha this week, signed Financing > Agreements for both projects totaling $NZ 7.5 million. > > The "Development of Tuna Fisheries in Pacific ACP Countries" > (DEVFISH) project will be implemented by the Honiara-based > Forum Fisheries Agency in conjunction with the Secretariat of > the Pacific Community in Noumea. Its goal is to increase > economic benefits to the 14 Pacific ACP countries through > better management of its tuna resources. The project aims to > increase indigenous private sector involvement in the > management and development of the tuna fishery and to address > important trade issues for tuna products. The project will be > run over four years. > > The other project, the "Pacific Environment Information > Network" (PEIN), will be implemented by the Apia-based South > Pacific Regional Environment Programme over a three-year > period. The project builds upon earlier work to establish > environment information networks across all Pacific ACP > countries. The network is used to share environment > information so that countries may better plan environment > strategies and initiatives. This phase of the project totals > $1.2 million and will focus on the Cook Islands, Niue, > Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and > Nauru. Phase one of the project received international acclaim > by winning the environment category in the "Stockholm > Challenge" in 2004. > > Shooters Target Commonweath Games > > The Niue Government has funded the islands shooting federation > team to Melbourne to compete in a Commonwealth championship. > The tour is preparation for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and > the next South Pacific mini games. The team is Robert > Togiamana (Manager), Lakepa; John Operator Siakia > (coach),Lakepa; Morgan Magatogia, Lakepa; Soione Belle > Tongiavalua, Lakepa; San Juan Talagi, Hakupu; Talaititama > Talaiti, Vaiea; Brendon Pasisi, Alofi. > > The national team took part on the Manchester Commonwealth > Games 2002 and the Suva South Pacific Games in 2003. In 2001 > the team won nine bronze medals at the Norfolk Island SP > mini-games. > > IN A NUTSHELL > > Report: Ask Premier Young Vivian what his big successes were > during the past three years of his leadership and hell tell > you a strengthening of bonds with New Zealand and a five-year > guaranteed $40m aid programme. He also said he now wants to > improve housing on the island with each home having hot water > and proper ablutions. > > Language: The Taoga Niue Committee has declared 2005 as the > year of Vagahau Niue. > > The declaration has the backing of the Niue government and is > aimed at increasing the use of the Niuean language. > > Poll: Road maintenance has been listed as No 1 priority and > our pollsters think the $200,000 donation from the Peoples > Republic of China should go towards the upkeep of roads. 27.8% > voted to have the cash injected into the new medical centre, > while 22.2% favoured an investment in the trust fund. Only > 5.6% of voters supported the governments decision to put the > money into housing development. > > Gender: A big turnout at Makini Hall for a International > Womens Day rally with the catch-cry this year of Gender > Equality Beyond 2005 Building A More Secure Future. > > The all male Cabinet turned up en mass and were so impressed > with the womens action plan they gave tacit agreement to > providing the group with a $16,000 allocation from the next > budget. > > Check-up: Three consultants from SOPAC /USP have been on Niue > assessing the economic impact of Cyclone Heta. The assessment > report came at a time when Dr Marilyn Waring, a former > National Party MP, was checking out the effectiveness of NZAid > on Niue. New Zealands monitor of aid distribution and > standards is Scott Elwarth of AC Consulting Group Auckland. > > Dents: With the islands sole panelbeater in New Zealand > undergoing medical treatment there is an increasing number of > vehicles driving around with dents and dings. Rental car > companies are being forced to carry out their own panel > repairs one firm is looking at bringing a New Zealand > tradesperson to the island to carry out urgent repairs. > > Co-operation: An early draft of a plan to strengthen > cooperation among Pacific Island countries has proposed the > free movement of workers throughout the region. > > A draft of the Pacific Plan is being widely circulated by the > Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, which is seeking feedback > before it is presented to this year's Pacific Islands Forum > Leaders. The working draft suggests incorporating trade in > services, including free labour movement amongst island > countries, into the Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement. > Other things the draft suggests are the strengthening of > justice systems through assisting with the establishment of > human rights mechanisms. > > Saving: From five schools in the Apia area, the demand to be > part of Samoas School Children Banking Scheme called 5 to LIFE > has exploded for the National Bank of Samoa (NBS). It is the > first time a bank in Samoa has put together a savings scheme > for school children. A scheme where the bank goes to the > school to do the banking. "Its an amazing response", says CEO > for the National Bank, Bruce Phillips. "We started this > savings scheme to initiate a behavioural change in our peoples > savings habit. But for it to be taken on by the Samoan > community similar to a lifestyle-trend has gone beyond our > initial projections and goals." > > Officially launched on 21 February with an original Pilot > group of 5 schools, there are now 14 schools and a further > batch are keen to join with others behind thatwithin two > weeks. > > TALKING POINT > > Small Islands Voice Community Visions > > "On Grand Bahama Island (The Bahamas, Caribbean) there is no > community visioning used. We would like it if there was," > writes Gail Woon. > > "While we were hardest hit by Hurricane Frances in September > 2004 we were fortunate in that despite all of the damage we > had only one death on our island. We were without power for > six weeks. Water was turned on within a week. > > "Many businesses are still trying to reopen. Development is > promoted on our island. We are called the industrial capital > of The Bahamas. There has been unprecedented expansion at our > harbour, making it one of the largest container ports in the > world. But the development has changed the coastline in such a > way that when a hurricane hits us - it really hits us. Now our > airport floods as well as surrounding > communities. > > "The last two hurricanes, Frances and Jeanne (in 2004) caused > flooding on our island on the north shore and the south shore. > I am still 'displaced', a term for those made homeless by the > two hurricanes. I am moving as far inland as possible in April > after my experience of having my house flooded three times > (including Hurricane Floyd in 1999). This hurricane flooding > only started happening after the industries at the harbour put > dredged material into a natural waterway, the Hawksbill Creek, > and into the blue holes or cave systems that run throughout > our limestone underground rock. We would be very happy if our > leaders would include us in community visioning, but I fear > that they are in a state of denial. Read more about this in > 'Why the whole island floods now', an article published in the > Nassau Guardian and The Tribune. ( > http://www.unesco.org/csi/smis/siv/Caribbean/bahart3-nassau.ht > m ) > Gail's voice is joined by several others in calling for > community led-planning, specially in a post-tsunami world. > Natural disasters are not confined to tropical islands. > > Laura Lee Howard from Prince Edward Island, Canada (Atlantic > Ocean) writes: "Dear SIV Community: Here on Prince Edward > Island, off the east coast of Canada, we are concerned too > about the unique position of Island dwellers. This evening > there is a forum called 'Small Acts: Island Communities within > a Globalizing World' to discuss how we can contribute and > create knowledge regarding the potential role that islands can > play in public and political areas. In January, we experienced > a serious tidal surge. This has happened with unusual > frequency in recent years...but this time, the ice in the > waters damaged many structures. For example, I work in a > seasonal kayak adventure business on the North Shore. The ice > and water damaged the wharf, surged into the building, tearing > and destroying parts of the building, and thousands of dollars > worth of equipment. > This, combined with recent high insurance costs for 'Adventure > Tourism businesses' may indeed mean the end to this business, > which has provided a living for many in the past 10 years. > Large scale disasters, and smaller scale incidents like storm > surges, are reminders of the challenges we face as islanders. > When we can start with 'small acts' that respond to and reduce > our > vulnerability, we will empower ourselves to gain more and more > control over our destiny." > And finally from Susan Fields: "Hello, I am a writer, living > on the island of Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands > (Caribbean). Curiously, the human > condition is such that optimism often over-rides planning. We > do not seem to > look for trouble or plan for it in many areas of life. The > events, surely of 9/11 and the recent tsunami's have brought a > new recognition for our need to anticipate danger. Here, on > our island, next week, we have been invited by the Valley > Sound Lion's Club to hear a public lecture about tsunamis. > This kind of event seems to recognize the preliminary need for > both discussion and action from within the community." > Title: Communities Reducing Island Vulnerability > Author: S. Fields, L. Howard, G. Woon > Please send your comments to > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To see all the messages in this global forum, visit > <http://www.sivglobal.org/> > To find out more about Small Islands Voice, go to > <http://www.smallislandsvoice.org/> > 33614 Visitors
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