Cabinet Meeting 050406.
Approved:
Travel by Public Servants:
Cabinet Ministers’ Comments:
Patrick Lino’s Radio Talkback.
Special guest last Monday night was Mrs Ida Hekesi [Director of Niue Tourism] to explain the mechanics of the Village Development Concept Proposal that is being funded by MOA/Halavaka Ke Monuina Initiative under Niue Tourism.
There were more questions raised and not enough satisfactory answers received which made the whole exercise both frustrating and exasperating at the same time.
Some important social and economic issues were raised by participants who wanted to know more. What appeared to take everyone by surprise was the suddenness of its existence, despite Mrs Hekesi’s assurance that the village councils and other stakeholders had held consultations in May 2005. The next meeting was last Friday at Makini Hall.
The issues that came up in a series of questions that Patrick and his guest fielded were: Was there an impact study done to gauge the social and economic effects to the community? Who really will own the units and on whose land will they be built? How will they resolve the multiple land ownership and what will happen if the landowners demand their land back? Who are going to be the real beneficiaries, and how will the benefits, if and when they are available, be divided or accessed?
Another point to be considered is the plight of the private sector whose accommodation businesses will be in direct competition with a Government driven initiative. As the project stands, the money spent will not require repayment, so why not put the entire amount into the Niue Development Bank and let anyone or any village who wants to borrow, on preferential terms if need be, to be paid back at a percentage when they receive their returns on the investment. This way everyone in the communities and the private sector will be competing on equal terms.
Premier Vivian returns.
Premier Vivian, his Private Secretary and Deputy SOG returned last Friday from a meeting to ‘promote cooperation for common development’ funded and organised by the People’s Republic of China.
The China – Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Co-operation Forum was held in Nadi, Fiji, for the Leaders and Ministers.
Premier Vivian was very pleased to announce that China has promised to give Niue $600 000 worth of funding for ‘Goods, Services and Training.’ “China continues to be generous in providing us with the necessary funding with which we will use for our development projects,” he told me in an interview. “I would like to thank them on our behalf.”
China has been particularly visible in Niue since the 2004 cyclone. They built the BNC Tower in Makefu so that all the villages could receive clearer Television programme, there were two consultants who were attached to DAFF for four months, and the $200 000 gift to assist with the housing that were damaged in the cyclone.
The other exciting news is that Niue is almost certain to host the PIF Forum meeting next year. The final decisions are yet to be made and confirmed.
World Health Day.
The celebrations of Niue Foou Hospital continue to feature in the community. Last Friday a number of healthy minded locals joined the Hospital staff in the early hours of the morning to participate in a public awareness activity to promote World Health Day.
“Every day should be a World Health Day,” said a participant, “to promote wholesome and healthy living in our communities.”
The promised programme included a walk of about two kilometres, followed by warm-down activities at the venue which everyone enjoyed with on the spot free testing of sugar and blood pressure levels. A healthy breakfast of fresh fruit and other healthy food were also served.
The whole awareness promotion was to encourage people to adopt healthy living practises and adapt their lifestyle accordingly so that we live longer in our happy paradise.
Air New Zealand Watch
103 passengers arrived from Auckland Friday 8th April last week but only 30 left the island. Most of the arrivals are here to attend the Land Court sessions plus the remainder of Team Niue who returned from the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
While it is good that visitors are using Air New Zealand it is still a puzzlement to locals that our Niuean visitors are hardly to be seen frequenting our eating houses and other places of interest. So where are they?
Breeding Pig Stocks.
Vaipapahi farm manager Vano Heaki was happy to show us their latest additions to the farm. No kidding, pigs as big as houses [I am kidding] have settled in well, have had piglets and appear to be doing very well in their new home.
The pig breeding programme was suggested and approved by FAO in 2004 that eventually provided 13 breeding stocks. Before their arrival the general idea was to select suitable pig farmers/keepers based on predetermined criteria. This exercise was completed by DAFF and the Minister responsible for the Project. First they [the recipients] have to be serious about raising pigs, have 20 or more pigs that they are feeding and caring for and that they are capable of looking after them properly.
The plan was that where they were found [the farmers, that is] each of the qualified in selected villages were given a boar or a sow.
The persons to whom the breeding stocks were allocated are charged with the care and the feeding while at the same time anyone who wants his or her pig sired will be charged by the keeper when the piglets are born. What the charges are will depend on the keeper of the breeding stock.
The Minister’s advice is that instead of waiting for the pig keeper’s litter have your own sows serviced by the breeding boar and negotiate the charges with the breeding stock’s keeper.
Retirement at 55 years.
Attention all Public servants who have reached the magic age of 55. There is a current Niue Public Service Regulation 29 [2] which states that “all permanent employees must retire at 55 years of age,” in place to let you know, [reading between the lines] that now you are too old to be working please gratefully accept your $50.00 a week [tax free] benefit and stay home. A bit brutal and definitely tactless but that was the gist of what my friend and I received last week from the Commission upon our reaching the age barrier.
Fortunately for me I have choices while my friend has practically none. I have my own plans at this stage and I sincerely hope that those of you who are approaching the retirement will have yours in place.
Niue Primary Sports Day
Futu: The winning House in the March Past
Niue
Primary School organisers have chosen a beautiful day to hold their Annual
Sports Day. As usual the grounds were packed with spectators, mainly parents,
caregivers, uncles and aunties who went early in the morning to claim a shade
spot with the best vantage point from which to watch their children perform on
the sports field.
“You are all beautiful and your uniforms are fantastic,” exclaimed Chief of Police Mr Ross Ardern who was given the enviable task of announcing the winning House, Tufu, in the march past section of the competition. “If my judging team and I had it our way you would all be first, and the little ones from ECE I would have bought you all a pair of sunglasses. Congratulations everyone.”
Hon
Va’aiga Tukuitonga, the Minister for Education opened the Sports day competition
after accepting the Sports Baton from the competitors. ‘Congratulations to all
of you for the beautiful uniforms, your beautiful faces and for the marching
performance that I have had the pleasure of watching this morning. I thank your
parents and your caregivers for the way they have looked after you, BCN for
taking photos and the drumming team for your effort. Remember our theme for
today: Respect, Perseverance, Working together and participation. I hope you
will enjoy yourselves today.”
Minister Tukuitonga accepts the Baton
Everywhere
around the perimeter and the centre of the ground was resplendent with a rainbow
of colours like a Christmas tree. Flags, banners, pennants, competitors in their
uniforms, spectators in their most colourful wear, umbrellas, headwear – you
name it the School grounds had turned out to be one big spectacular festival.
The Primary School Sports day is an annual event to which most locals flocked to be part of every year. In the not too distant past there were seven Primary schools on Niue and the competition among the schools always began with a fever pitch excitement in response to the drums and the march past event.
Remember these schools? Matalave, [in Tuapa] Kofekofe, [Mutalau] Lialagi, [Lakepa] Halavai [Liku,] Tuatea, [Hakupu] Liolau [in Avatele] and Tufukia [Alofi] and just imagine the fierce, and sometimes ferociously contested competitions [often among the heated up spectators as well] among the schools – it was after all the pride of an entire community was vested in them.
Although the scale down from seven to a single Primary School during the late 1980s has not produced the same competitive spirit among our people the popularity of the Niue Primary Sports days still remain as one of the most important events in our calendar year. One really has to be there to be part of the excitement, to feel the adrenalin rush of competing sportspersons and to cheer for both the victors and the vanquished so that one can remember what today was all about.