In this issue:
Premier Vivian has dismissed allegations that the Government of Niue has been using ‘Donor Funds to meet current expenditure requirements,’ adding in the Government’s response that it will be ‘able to account for all aid money including that received from New Zealand and other donors.’
Premier did confirm that the current financial situation is critical and that donor funds have been used from time to time to finance immediate needs, ‘but this was done sparingly and in the knowledge that we can replace the funds.’
Mention was made of the Government’s fiscal responsibility in making expenditure decisions to save money such as reducing the numbers of public servants through natural attrition, no overtime or allowances and/or blanket salary or wage adjustments.
The realities in a small island state are not always obvious to those living in bigger countries whose perceptions are often based on personal experiences, and on the level of understanding in knowing how things should really work. That Niue has a population of 1700 ‘that could fit comfortably into Auckland Town Hall’ is irrelevant when one considers the costs in maintenance and sustaining essential public infrastructures like schools, hospitals power stations, Telecommunications, to name but a few.
Take for example the recent fuel price rise of 11% from $1.80 to $2.00 for both diesel and petrol. If one is to translate this percentage to the total overall budget for Niue we would be facing a $2.3 million deficit right now and without having to spend or regard the figure as ‘missing money.’ So fragile and precarious is Niue Government’s budgetary requirements that it could easily be ‘unbalanced’ simply by factors and variables outside of its control, such as inflation, the exchange rate or overnight fuel price rises.
Although the Government has been able to manage in the past to maintain a balanced budget, for the majority of the time Niue will continue to remain on the verge of a deficit. This has commonly been the case since 1901, so what really is new? Far from being ungrateful to the generosity of the New Zealand Government it might be prudent to reconsider all sides of an argument before anyone can point a finger without a good reason.
Acting
Minister testing Fale Fono prime Corner Suite
Rookie Acting Minister Hon Organ Viliko who is filling in for Premier Vivian for two weeks is enjoying the Pacific Ocean view from his office, the prime Corner Suite at Falefono. Hon Viliko enjoys his being here so much that he is often among the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave in the evening.
“It is good to experience the ‘other’ side of Government,” he said. “But there is so much work here I have to be here early so that I can be on the top of things. And the reading of the paper work that passes through my desk…”
It was Hon Viliko’s first time in attending a full Cabinet Meeting, where he contributed well in the discussions on matters that concern Cabinet Ministers in the way they govern Niue. Acting Premier Hon Fisa Pihigia welcomed and thanked the Acting Minister for his contributions.
Meetings:
Endorsed or Approved.
· The Niue Immigration Bill 2006 has been approved. Cabinet noted that Cabinet Ministers should retain the prerogative to collectively veto decisions relating to the issue of Visitors’ Permits and Permanent Resident status and a request for this provision may be submitted to the Bills Committee.
· The request from Niue Telecom to replace and service their damaged Billing equipment in last month’s lightning strike is approved.
· Cabinet has agreed to support the Niue Fisheries’ decision to endorse our preferred candidate as the Director General of Forum Fisheries Agency [FFA].
· Cabinet has agreed [in principle] a request from the Health Department to re-activate two vacant Charge Nurse Positions in its Department.
· Cabinet has approved the Niue Customs Tariff [Reduction and Elimination of Tariffs] 2006. These regulations implement the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement [PICTA] to which Niue became a party to in 2001.
· Joeli Tuana is now eligible for parole.
· The request for assistance from UNDP/GEF in the preparation of Niue’s Third National Report to the Convention to Combat Desertification is approved.
· Cabinet has noted a reminder from Treasury that Capital and Project Expenditures and Transfer of Budget vote items before the end of the current financial year be first approved by Cabinet and then only for emergency expenses.
There were four main items discussed in this meeting:
The introductory addresses by Premier Vivian and the Secretary to Government were primarily pep-talk, intended to inspire, motivate and mobilise all Heads of Government Departments to lead from the front and to visualise the probability that more could be achieved if everyone adhere in the spirit of kaufakalataha, or working together or team work.
Premier Vivian went on to remind HODs of the need to resolve issues relating to the Government, the Public Service and the community. “We have a significant partnership developing with New Zealand,” he told the HODs. “We have a cash-flow problem that we need to address and we will need to manage our budget prudently so that we can achieve a balanced budget which New Zealand has agreed to advance on our next allocation as long as we are frugal and careful.”
The way forward, the HODs were told, is to lead from the front, and by following the Code of Conduct that has been prepared by the Niue Public Service Commission to guide Public Servants’ behaviour and develop good, honest work habits.
“You
need to think beyond yourself,” counselled Minister Pihigia, “to improve and go
forward, remembering where we have been, what we are doing now and where we are
going from here.” Long term visions, commitment and working together, are tenets
of guiding principles are the things that will make us who we are.
“But who wants to live in a country that begs all the time?” said SOG, “We have to do better than just sitting here waiting for someone to give us something.” A poignant thought as no one really wants to know all the sordid details of our past, yet how do we propose to change after over 100 years of reliance and a dependant nation?
One of the ways is to restructure the whole of government according to Don Hunn whose recommendations are being seriously pursued by government – to reduce the number of Departments to a manageable proportion. The Joint Working Group for the Review is looking for ways of reassuring HODs that restructuring should work as a way of allaying the present HODs and their status [but not their salaries] being downgraded. Performance, accountability, good governance and transparency are some of the main goals to be achieved.
Mrs Malua Jackson’s presentation of her NPS Commission of the Code of Conduct was more interesting than at first thought. Courtesy at all levels, in particular by Ministers, is encouraged, again by leading from the front; normal everyday housekeeping matters like arriving to work on time, lunch breaks and finishing times are to be observed; submissions for Cabinet consideration should be completed in time or preferably long before you are due to travel; submitting reports within the timeframe required [normally within two weeks of returning]; to use the Travel card [this will be included in SOG’s Travel Policy Review] and compulsory retirement at 55 years of age.
The retirement issue appears contradictory in view of our lacking of people to do the work or that retirees could be enticed back into the workforce on a contract basis if required. More to the point the Commission should lead from the front too with warmer tones, tact, diplomacy and to thank these people for all the years devoted to the government service, in their correspondence to the retirees, for believe me when one is 55 years or over, or have reached their ‘used by date’ it is not a very secure feeling being unwanted.
Mr Clark Barry, the new Chief Accountant who is here to assist with the Economic Support Package was direct in his address, reaffirming the need to be mindful of a cash-flow crisis that we are facing. Again the voluntary reduction of salaries by 20%, or a four day work schedule was mooted but without firm commitment from the floor. A Band Aid solution at this point does nothing more than hiding the root of the problem. “Better,” said Mr Barry, “to spend wisely and prudently in the future and for now only Cabinet can make those decisions.” Only emergency funding such as flu vaccinations, or life threatening expenditures will be considered and then only with Cabinet approval.
It
takes a very serious issue to galvanise any spirited local citizen to mount a
protest against his or her Government.
Mr Vilikai obviously thought very strongly against anyone from outside, who has
been allowed to cut our precious trees, so he has been making his point by
driving around Alofi in his truck, and in front of Falefono, with signs
protesting against the logging of our timber and by honking his horn for extra
attention.
“Do not cut our trees,” says one placard, while another sign said, “Trees are our children’s future.”
The Government and Enrich Corporation Ltd [a Malaysian Timber company] have been negotiating about forestry development and timber products in Niue since 2003 and early this month Cabinet Ministers signed an Agreement with the said company allowing them to go ahead. It is now up to the landowners and Enrich to negotiate on the volume of timber to be logged from their family lands.
“What I really want is an opportunity for landowners to make some money out of their lands, and Government would fail in its duty to its people if it doesn’t allow them choices to increase their income potential,” explained Premier Vivian. “Government’s role is primarily to make sure that the guidelines are followed in how our forests are to be protected during logging operations. Government does not own land so it has no logging rights.”
Mr Vilikai, by his early activities will be hard to discourage and most people in Niue probably feel the same. Trees are part of our ancestral bio-property and we are connected to every living plant and animal that has made their home there. We are but the guardians of our ancestral heritage, and therefore we do not have any rights either to do what we want without consulting those who cannot decide or speak for themselves.
A young Ovava
being strangled by a rampant Monstera
Speciosa
The
following points explain, in layman’s terms, the intentions of the Agreement and
the role of the Government.
What everyone would like to know at this stage of the proceedings is will logging our timber be a worthwhile economic and financial venture for the landowner and their families? If someone can provide the necessary numbers for consideration it might help the landowner to make decisions whether to log or not to log.
Although Cabinet Ministers were not unanimous in the decision to log Niue’s meagre timber resources, they cannot deny landowners their right to earn money from the sale of timber from their lands.
Current key issues of concern for the Niue Police are as follows:
Dog registration. It has been noticed that some dog owners are still reluctant to register and put a collar on their canines. The Police are going to enforce this by-law which allows them to collect and destroy any dog that does not have a collar. Please make sure your dog is registered and wears a collar at all times.
Mr Ross Arden would like to thank all the people who have registered their dogs and their vehicles. It would be fair to those who have paid for registrations, if the remaining cars and animals are unregistered.
Mokasehina with her granddaughter, and namesake,
Mokasehina Vaetoru
Mokasehina of
Alofi North at 95 years makes regular trips to Niue especially during the winter
months to get away from the cold weather of her adopted country, and her family
is adamant that they share the care for their elderly tupuna. Unfortunately,
most of our Niuean people do not share this time-honoured practice. Last weekend
Mokasehina’s family and close friends celebrated her return home together with a
lavish 21st birthday party for her namesake, Mokasehina Vaetoru, at
Clayton’s Bar. I watched with admiration and envy the way they fussed, pampered
and cared for their tupuna – the love and the valuing were all so obvious and
open, while idly wondering why we could not all perform the same ritual of
respect in celebrating our elderly with the same level of commitment.
One of the
most important values of our society, of looking after our own, has been eroded
by being citizens of another country. Continuous Diaspora persist in haunting
what has remained of our society, fragmenting entire families, hindering
Government’s drive for sustainable economic and social development of our
country and ‘putting our cultural heritage, or Taoga, to the sword’ by their
preferences in forgetting where they have been.
“I always have great admiration for family members who return to help look after their tupuna who do not want to live abroad, some returning when they could, others wintering theirs in their ancestral home while fewer still who sacrificed their newly acquired lifestyles to stay permanently in Niue to care for their elderly,” Premier Vivian said. “Our new hospital with its limited capacity to house the abandoned elderly, cannot be used to baby-sit ‘home alone’ tupuna while they are still mobile and content to potter around in the villages where they belong. They all prefer to live at home anyway unless they are sick and cannot care for themselves.” Wouldn’t it be admirable if the community takes time and effort to visit their respective elderly while they are still alive to provide company for them and reaffirm their value as a tupuna in their respective communities and to remind themselves of how privileged we are for their presence or generally to make them feel wanted. It would be pointless to turn up at the funeral to say things that they could have treasured while they were still alive and wondering if they are treasured and cherished.
Mokasehina’s
support network of family and friends
One wonders
how many of our tupuna who are living abroad would really want to return before
they depart this physical world and say goodbye to their banana and breadfruit
trees, chickens, uga and kalahimu or the land that had nurtured them, or the
rocks that have seen the hundreds of generations of our ancestors? These are
vitally important to our tupuna, yet only a few have been fortunate enough to be
brought back to enjoy and to reminisce in the peace and quiet of their homes.
We who live here in Niue have listened and read stories of Niueans abroad of how they could not return because their homes were destroyed in the cyclone of 2004; we suspect dishonourable motives for good reasons because the anomalies in the re-roofing project for example, was a result of Government ‘bending the rules’ to accommodate those who came and expressed desires to return, and creating jobs for some with the inclination to work and live here.
“I am grateful to the families living in Niue who are committed to stay behind, those who come regularly each year and particularly those who have made huge financial sacrifices and personal costs, to look after our tupuna in their own homes where they are spiritually happy and comfortable,” added Premier Vivian. “And to the village communities please do make time to visit a tupuna in your area because I have always believed that village beautification is more than just planting flowers and building attractive garden rock fences. The presence of a tupuna or two will beautify and bless your homes and your village communities a thousand fold if you value and care for them as if they are your own family.”
Publisher: Public Relations Office
Premier’s Department
Falefono
Alofi, Niue
With assistance from visiting editor, Talava Tuhipa – Turner.