Thursday 20 February

Te reo o te KUKI AIRANI

$2 Thursday, February 20, 2014

Even more books for Avatea... sTuDenTs from Avatea school were given a thrill yesterday when instructors from the Hulanesian Fitness group turned up armed with box-loads of new books.

The school lost its library – along with a block of classrooms and the resources inside the buildings – in an act of arson in october last year. rarotongan-born Jane Archer, who runs Hulanesian Fitness in Australia, is an ex-student of Avatea school and held a fundraising event at one of her classes recently. “each person paid $10 for the hour-long class and also gave generous donations. in one class we raised $1400. some of them were Cook islanders but there were also many Australians.”

Archer decided to put the money towards buying new books for the students. “it was really important for us to help, just a little bit. My daughter is an avid reader and she said ‘Mum, we have to give them books’.”

After dropping off the books at Avatea school, Archer then

went to nukutere College to make a $1000 donation.

Archer set up Hulanesian Fitness on the Gold Coast two years ago and already has 50 instructors running classes in 10 locations.

The new fitness movement, which is based around Cook islands traditional dance, was also recently launched in rarotonga. some of Archer’s instructors joined her in travelling to rarotonga this week to donate the books. school Principal nga Charlie said she was delighted by the generous donation.

“The good thing about these is that they are all absolutely brand new. The kids can’t wait to get their hands on them.” she said many of the new books – which include the ‘Twilight’ series and popular roald Dahl titles – were favourites of the students before being lost in the ire.

Archer was joined at the school yesterday by her father Terry Lambert – a former principal of Avatea – who lives in Muri with wife Pupukura. - BCS

Hulanesian Fitness instructors and students from Avatea School stand in front of the donated books. 14021919

Beer gets nod in Murienua

DeMoCrATiC PArTy candidate James Beer has been announced by the Chief Electoral Ofice as the tentative winner after yesterday’s by-election in the constituency of Murienua.

Based on preliminary results, Beer is leading with 187 votes, followed by Tuariki with 184 votes.

However, the result does not include eight previously processed postal votes, 18 advance votes and 27 votes by declaration, to be included in the inal vote count, which is expected in the coming days. (Votes by declaration will be ascertained for eligibility before being included in the inal count.)

on this basis it’s still a wide open race although, if new Zealand trends hold true here, then the specials tend to favour the leading candidate on the night. results were tallied after a full day of voting, which began at 9am at rutaki Meeting House.

A total of 541 eligible voters were registered, indicating a turnout of around 78per cent, close to the 80 per cent recorded in september. if the result holds, the Demo win will give the party 10 seats in Parliament, and closes the gap with the governing CiP, which will be left with 13 seats in Parliament. The remaining

seat is held by independent Atiu MP norman George.

However if enough of the uncounted votes go Tuariki’s way then the win will give the governing CiP 14 of 24 seats in Parliament, leaving the opposition with nine Demo MPs, in addition to independent Atiu MP norman George.

Voting was slow earlier in the day as several Murienua residents were seen trickling into rutaki Meeting House, and, by 2 pm, Chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua confirmed it was a slow voting day, with only 52 per cent of a registered 541 eligible residents having cast their ballots.

By that time, she said she would have expected at least 70 per cent of voters to have showed up.

Joining Tangimetua at the voting station were two other staff members from the electoral office, along with two scrutineers representing both political parties.

Voter nooroa ingaua – Principal at rutaki school – thought coming in to vote for the second time in roughly six months was a “waste of time”, but welcomed the opportunity to exercise her democratic right. “it’s good to be given another chance to choose our leader,” she said.

- ES

Grey Power losing hope Pension er activist group

Grey Power is giving up hope the Government will honour its promise to reimburse money that was raided from the bank accounts of six new Zealand super recipients late last year.

“We’ve given up hope,” said Grey Power vice-president Dennis Tunui. “We don’t think we are going to get our money back.” in December, $30,000 was withdrawn by the Collector of inland revenue from six pensioners, claiming the funds were owed as back taxes.

After a public outcry, Prime Minister Henry Puna announced the Government would be reimbursing the money. secretary richard neves with the Ministry of Finance and economic Management later added

the pensioners would have to work out a payment plan with oficials before any money is returned to the pensioners.

Grey Power has been at the forefront of a battle with government officials over its attempt to tax their pensions, which they say should not be subject to back taxes as it was previously allowed to be earned tax-free. neves has been adamant that under Cook islands taxation law, the nZ pension is subject to tax, and “there has been no change in the taxation law or in the rates which apply to the nZ pension.”

When asked if the group will be planning any protests for their cause in the near future, Tunui responded by saying, “That’s the next item on the - ES agenda.”

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

worldneWs nuti no TeiA nei Ao Reindeer glow in the dark Herders in Lapland are spraying their reindeer with relective paint to help drivers see them in the dark.

The special spray is being tested on their fur and antlers to see how it holds up in diferent weather conditions.

As many as 4000 reindeer die in traic accidents every year in Finland, the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute says.

Most incidents occur in the dark months of November and December, when roads are prone to becoming icy.

Ukraine situation worsens EU leaders to discuss sanctions as civil violence leaves 26 dead KieV – europe’s leaders are

to consider urgent sanctions against ukraine after the worst violence in months of unrest claimed at least 26 lives.

There were sporadic clashes on Wednesday following Tuesday night’s police bid to dislodge protesters from their stronghold in the capital Kiev.

President Viktor yanukovych blamed opposition leaders and russia called it attempted coup.

world BrieFs CHINA WARNED OF ATROCITY COMPLICITY cHINA – china has dismissed a warning from a UN report that its oicials could be complicit in alleged human rights violations in North Korea by forcibly repatriating North Koreans from China. A UN commission of inquiry released a report on Monday detailing atrocities said to have been committed in North Korea. The 372-page report detailed human rights violations including “extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence”. The report by the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea also included “concerns relating to China’s policy and practice of forced repatriation” of North Korean citizens. It called on Beijing to “caution relevant oicials that such conduct could amount to the aiding and abetting of crimes against humanity” in North Korea.

IRAN NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN IRAN – Iran and six world powers have started the irst formal round of negotiations towards a long-term agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program. The meeting, between Iran and the ive permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, plus Germany, is expected to be the irst in a series of talks in the coming months.

The discussions in Vienna – expected to last two or three days – are intended to build on an interim agreement reached on November 24. In the short term, Iran has agreed to curb uranium enrichment in return for limited relief from international sanctions. Western oicials said this week’s talks were aimed at agreeing on how the negotiations would proceed and what subjects would have to be addressed. However, both sides have warned a long-term deal may prove impossible.

WINDOW SEATS WON’T BE THE SAME ENGLAND – A company building a supersonic jet says it plans to replace cabin windows with thin display screens embedded in the wall. Cameras recording outside the aircraft will display pictures on the screens. Spike Aerospace, which is designing the plane, says drag will be reduced by removing windows, which “cause signiicant challenges in designing and constructing an aircraft fuselage”. The S-512 supersonic jet is not expected to launch until 2018. Its website said windows required additional structural support and added weight to the aircraft but these problems could be eliminated by using micro-cameras and lat displays. It plans to surround the aircraft with cameras and display the views on the cabin screens.

Passengers will be able to dim the screens or change the images.

HUNT ON FOR MAN-EATING LEOPARD INDIA – A leopard has killed a ive-year-old boy in central India in what is thought to be the beast’s second such deadly attack. The animal attacked the boy while he was going to the toilet in the courtyard of his home. His family raised the alarm after seeing the animal drag the boy away, sparking a search by villagers who discovered the body. Police say the same beast killed a 10-year-old boy in in the same area, and was also believed to have attacked livestock. “The forest department has already launched a massive hunt to capture the leopard,” he said. The area where the attacks occurred is close to the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, which is home to about 12 tigers as well as leopards.

But the eu said it expected measures to target those behind the “repression”. european Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke of the responsibility of “the political leadership” while several eu countries said they had no doubts that the ukrainian authorities were to blame.

At a joint news conference, French President Francois Hollande said those responsible for the violence “will be sanctioned” at an emergency meeting due to take place on Thursday, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel echoed the threat, saying they were “side by side with the men and women who suffer”.

Meanwhile Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr serafin said there was “complete consensus” among eu leaders about the need to introduce sanctions against ukraine.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland are to meet in Kiev on Thursday to assess the situation before an eu meeting in Brussels to decide whether to impose sanctions against ukraine, said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. ukraine’s security service has announced a nationwide “anti-terrorist” operation to restore order, while the defence ministry said it was sending paratroopers to Kiev – to defend government ofices and military installations, it stressed, and not to confront anti-government protesters.

Police have been trying to wrest control of Kiev’s independence square, also known as the Maidan, which has been in the hands of protesters for several months.

The protests began in late november, when President yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the eu in favour of closer ties with russia.

- BBC

Anti-government protesters throw rocks at riot police during clashes on Kiev’s independence square as European leaders prepare to discuss sanctions against the ukraine government. AFP

Killer soldier found hanged TuCZon – A former us Army

soldier, sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2006 rape and murder of a 14-year-old iraqi girl and the killing of her parents and sister, has been found hanged in his cell.

The Los Angeles Times report, quoting prison officials, said the death of steven Dale Green was being investigated as suicide. Green had been found hanging in his Arizona cell last week, according to the Times

report, which was published on Tuesday.

Green, 28, was convicted in 2009 of the rape and murder of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi and the deaths of her father, mother and six-yearold sister in Mahmudiya, 32km south of Baghdad.

He was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, after a federal jury in Kentucky could not decide whether he should be executed.

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed him as the ringleader of a gang of five soldiers that plotted to invade the home of the family of four to rape the girl, and later bragged about the crime.

Green, who was 19 when he committed the crime, was described as the triggerman in the group of soldiers, who donned black “ninja” outits and raped the girl before killing her and her family.

- Al Jazeera

Nun, 84, jailed for protest oAK riDGe – An elderly Cath-

olic nun has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for damage caused while breaking into a us nuclear defence site. sister Megan rice, 84, and two other protesters cut fences and entered the oak ridge, Tennessee, facility, which processes and stores uranium.

The other two, Michael Walli and Greg Boertje-obed, were sentenced to more than ive years in prison.

The July 2012 incident prompted security changes at the y-12 site.

“Please have no leniency with me,” sister Megan told the court at Tuesday’s hearing in Knoxville. “To remain in prison for the rest of my life would be the greatest gift you could give me.”

During the trial sister Megan, from Washington DC, said her only regret was waiting so long to take action.

The peace activists, members of the group Transform now Plowshares, had initially faced up to 20 years in prison after their conviction last May. The trio were also found guilty of causing more than $1000 of damage to government property.

After cutting a fence to enter the site, the three walked around, spray-painted graffiti, strung out crime-scene tape and chipped a wall with hammers.

- BBC

Dancing downunder

MISSIONARY DETAINED IN NORTH KOREA NORTH KOREA – North Korea has detained an Australian missionary, his wife says. John Short, 75, was making his second trip to North Korea with a tour group when he was detained in Pyongyang. His wife told journalists that he had been open about his work and was carrying religious material translated into Korean. An Australian foreign afairs spokesperson said that the government was aware of Short’s arrest. The Shorts have been living in Hong Kong, where Short owns a Christian book publishing house. Religious activity is restricted inside North Korea and the authorities have arrested missionaries on multiple occasions in the past. Australia has no diplomatic representation in North Korea.

Today’s Daily Bread i sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

read: read: PsalmMatthew 34:1-10 7:21-29

Text: Matthew 7:26 Text: Verse 4

A celebrated Chinese dance company is bringing one of the country’s biggest ballet productions to Australia for a series of performances. A performer dances in front of the iconic landmarks of the opera House and Harbour Bridge in Sydney. AFP

3

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

They just love to party

NEW ARRIVALS

A dancer performs in a street of the Sur neighbourhood in Montevideo, during the annual Llamadas parade. The parade is uruguay’s biggest carnival parade, in which comparsas – groups of dancers and drummers of the traditional candombe music – compete during two nights of colourful parades of music, costumes and dancing. AFP

Divers hit by freak storm DenPAsAr – A Japanese scuba diver who survived three days in waters off Bali after going missing with six other women has told how the weather suddenly turned bad and the sea spun “like a washing machine”. saori Furukawa, one of five Japanese divers rescued on Monday, gave her dramatic account as rescuers hunted for a woman still missing and a day after a body of one diver was found.

Furukawa said the weather seemed “serene” when the group set off on Friday from nusa Lembongan, just east of Bali.

“At the start of our diving, there was no problem in terms of weather and sea conditions,” she said in a statement to Japanese media on Tuesday, adding there were “almost no waves”.

But the group was suddenly hit by a huge storm, she added.

“The surface of the sea started to spin like a washing machine and all of us spun around together, hand in hand,” she said.

The 37-year-old and four others managed to clamber onto rocks and coral reefs, and were picked up by rescuers on Monday and taken to hospital.

They were found about 20 kilometres from where they set off, although Furukawa was in a different spot from the others. she had separated to try to reach a passing tugboat, but said she “couldn’t get close”.

Furukawa arrived at a rocky outcrop late on saturday and survived by drinking rainwater. rescuers continued to search for the seventh diver, instructor shoko Takahashi, who with her indonesian husband ran the company, yellow scuba, that took the divers out on the expedition.

Her husband, Putu Mahardena sembah, joined the search on Wednesday, telling reporters “I wish we can ind” her, although police said her chances of survival were slim.

Japanese friends and relatives of the divers, who had travelled to Bali to help in the search, were among the rescuers setting off from the beach, which is lined with scuba diving centres. rescue agency officials said they would expand their search area to the neighbouring island of Lombok, as well as hunting near the tourist areas of sanur and Kuta in southern Bali.

However, police chief nyoman suarsika warned: “The chances of inding her alive are very slim now that she has been missing for ive days.”

The rescued divers remain hospitalized in Bali with sunburn and dehydration. - AAP

Cossack whips protesters soCHi – The russian punk-

protest group Pussy riot had pledged for months to seek to disrupt the sochi olympics, and has begun carrying through on that promise. But the group’s latest attempt at a protest was dismantled almost before it began. one day after members of the protest group were questioned in connection with some suspected thefts at a sochi hotel, Pussy riot gathered at a restaurant in downtown sochi, about 30kms from the games village.

The band attempted to begin performing, but was set upon by whip-wielding Cossack mi-

litiamen.

The russian police often use Cossacks as a roving security force. recent years have seen an increase in Cossack pride in russia, and Cossacks have proudly stepped into enforcement and security roles.

The entire conflagration lasted about five minutes, according to reports. The Cossacks whipped the members of the punk protest group and pulled off their trademark ski masks, and one member of Pussy riot was observed bleeding from the head. no arrests were made.

Pussy riot has drawn international notice in recent years

for its staunch anti-Putin stance.

The group embraces progressive issues such as equal rights, an approach that has put them at odds with russia’s ruling establishment.

Two members of the group were imprisoned for nearly two years because of their open protests of russia’s policies. “if the olympic Games go smoothly, then the russian government will win,” Pussy riot member Katya samutsevich told media in July.

“That is what we want. To be memorable. if we are noticed, so are the abuses we are trying to highlight.”

- Yahoo

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

regionalneWs nuti no Te PA enuA

Call for urgent investigation Inquiries promised after deadly camp violence on Manus Island LorenGAu – Australia and

Papua new Guinea have both pledged to investigate violence at a detention centre that left one asylum seeker dead and 77 injured.

Clashes broke out at Aus-

tralia’s immigration detention centre on Manus island in PnG on sunday and Monday.

There are conlicting reports on what sparked the violence on Monday night, with reports PNG police ired shots.

paciic BRIEFS ATTORNEY GENERAL AVOIDS JAIL TIME NORTHERN MARIANAS – The former attorney general of the Northern Marianas Edward Buckingham has escaped jail time after Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo suspended his sentence of three-and-half years in prison. Buckingham was found guilty of seven charges in the territory’s Superior Court. All the charges pertain to the violation of election laws. Instead, Judge Govendo ordered Buckingham to pay a US$14,000 and placed him on unsupervised probation. He also prohibited the 65 year-old from employment with the CNMI government for 20 years. The Oice of the Public Auditor legal counsel George Hasselback recommended a sentence of one year in prison, without possibility of parole, and a ine. Before he was sentenced, Buckingham made a brief statement to the court, in which he apologised for his conduct.

SUSPENSION OF POLICE BOSS APPLAUDED PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The leader of a provincial women’s group in Papua New Guinea says the community is welcoming the news that a police station commander has been arrested and suspended from his job. The Wewak police station commander was last week charged with assault against the president of the East Sepik council of women, Sophie Mangae, and two others who tried to lay a complaint on behalf of an alleged rape victim in December. Sakawar Kasieng and two other staf members were themselves charged with the rape of the teenage girl this week. Sophie Mangae says police are still investigating others involved in the alleged group-rape. She says with the station commander gone, the Wewak police have a chance to build a good relationship with the community.

POLICE URGED TO PUNISH SEx TRAFFICKERS FIJI – The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre is urging the police to come down hard on those involved in the traicking of young boys and girls for sex. The Fiji police told local media it has uncovered the domestic human traicking following a two year investigation. The centre’s executive director, Shamima Ali, says she knows of boys and girls as young as nine being prostituted out of their homes or on the street by family members or pimps. She says there needs to be a mindset shift, more education, more resources for police and policy changes for the problem to be combatted. Ali says her centre has the resources to help those children being exploited, and is imploring victims to seek help.

TOUGH BATTLE AGAINST DENGUE FEVER FIJI – The Fiji government says it is deploying extra resources in hospitals and clinics to combat the dengue fever outbreak. The health ministry has set up a task force including international health agencies to monitor the spread of the virus. The government says there are 2589 conirmed cases mostly in the country’s Central Division. The government is also continuing its eforts spraying insecticide, especially in Suva. A doctor at Nadi Hospital says every bed is taken and people are having to line up for hours outside to be seen by medical staf. The doctor says some staf members are also sufering themselves from dengue fever, which has put extra pressure on the hospital.

US$10 MILLION LOTTO WINNER IN TAHITI FRENCH POLYNESIA – An unnamed person in French Polynesia has won just over US$10 million in a French lotto draw, underscoring the Tahitians’ relative good betting luck. The lotto company in Tahiti says the winner has so far not come forward. It says the sum is the biggest one ever won in French Polynesia, surpassing the US$6.8 million by a local ticket three years ago. The company says also Super Lotto has seen two French Polynesia winners in the past, earning up to US$22 million dollars with the winning ticket. It says compared with the size of the population, Tahiti has seen more winners than France.

FISHERMAN KILLED ON PURSE SEINER AMERICAN SAMOA – American Samoan police are investigating the death of a isherman on board a locally-based purse seiner, Cape Breton. The Commissioner of Public Safety William Haleck says the man was killed in an accident on board the vessel on Sunday. The victim was identiied as Raymond Aguirre of San Diego. An industry source said it was while the vessel was unloading for trans-shipment that a cable fell on the victim, killing him instantly.

News from the Paciic region “We’ve got the Paciic covered’

PnG authorities and Australia’s immigration Department are conducting investigations.

The commander of operation sovereign Borders, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, has been dispatched to Manus island as well as 51 additional security staff. rights groups have called for an urgent and transparent probe, warning Australia it is failing asylum seekers.

Australia sends asylum seekers arriving by boat for detention and processing in offshore camps in Papua new Guinea and the Paciic territory of Nauru.

Conditions in these camps have been strongly criticised by un agencies and rights groups. on sunday, 35 asylum seekers briefly escaped after breaking a fence at the detention centre.

The incident reportedly came after detainees were told that they would not be resettled in Australia. on Monday, another outbreak of violence led to the death of one asylum seeker, with 77 injured. Most of the injured suffered head wounds, while

one was shot in the buttocks.

Australian immigration Minister scott Morrison said Monday night’s violence happened after asylum seekers broke fences at the detention centre, breaching internal and external perimeters.

PnG police “were reported to have fired shots” on two occasions, but “there’s no suggestion they ired at asylum seekers”, he said. it was unclear whether the violence took place inside or outside the Australian-run centre, he added.

The nGo refugee Action Coalition told Australian media that PnG police and locals had broken into the centre and attacked asylum seekers. security firm G4s, which provides security in the detention centre, said in a statement: “Claims that the transferees breached the fence following internal attacks on them by local residents are unfounded.”

“A number of transferees were injured after they breached the perimeter fence and the matter became a law enforcement is-

sue for PnG authorities,” it said, adding that G4s staff restored order without the use of force.

Australia has announced an inquiry into the incidents, led by the head of the Australian immigration Department.

PnG has also sent a delegation to the island to investigate.

Prime Minister Peter o’neill said the government “will not tolerate anyone breaking the laws of PnG”.

He said that the asylum seeker who had died was an iranian national.

“PnG remains committed to the resettlement programme and finding a lasting solution to the global challenge of human smuggling,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gillian Triggs, head of the Australian Human rights Commission, told broadcaster ABC that the inquiries into the unrest could fall short.

“The dificulty with inquiries by the varied parties that are being challenged, or whose practices are being investigated, is always less than optimal,” she said.

The Australian inquiry

should be headed by “somebody who has objectivity, and who would be able to look at the development of the facts”, she said, adding that a “retired civil servant” would be preferable.

Amnesty international also called for an “urgent, independent investigation”, describing the asylum seeker’s death as “a result of Australia and Papua new Guinea’s unlawful policy of offshore processing”. unHCr spokesman Babar Baloch said: “unHCr is very concerned about the recent developments on Manus island.” “unHCr has consistently raised issues around the transfer arrangements and on the absence of adequate protection standards and safeguards for asylum seekers and refugees in PnG. “significant shortcomings in the legal framework for receiving and processing asylumseekers from Australia remain, including lack of national capacity and expertise in processing, and poor physical conditions.”

- ABC

Witnesses describe attacks LorenGAu – A witness to the

violence at the Manus island detention centre on Monday night says guards attacked asylum seekers with sticks and iron bars.

His is just one of a number of witness accounts emerging following this week’s deadly violence, reports the ABC The man who does not want to be identiied, says Papua New Guinean guards employed by the G4s security company running the centre became angry when asylum seekers shouted insults about their country and family members.

The witness says he watched PnG guards beat detainees with sticks, iron bars and rubber hoses as well as ists, boots and shields.

“When they pulled them outside they started beating them with the sticks and some of them with all these rubber hoses and pipes,” he said.

The witness says some asylum seekers tried to escape the vio-

lence by going into rooms, but were taken out and assaulted. “once they got inside the room they were trying to hide themselves – they don’t want to get hurt. That’s why they’re trying to lock them up,” he said.

“But the G4s went in, opened the room and pulled them out and belted all of them.”

Another witness, iranianAustralian freelance interpreter Azita Bokan – who was contracted to work on Manus island for the Department of immigration – says she was on Manus island during the violent clashes on both nights.

Bokan claims she was dismissed on sunday after trying to intervene in a scufle between detainees and G4s staff. on Monday night she stood on the roof of the staff housing facility several hundred metres away from the compound and watched the unrest. she has described seeing detainees with horrific injuries after a deadly clash involving

large rocks and machetes. “i haven’t had sleep in three nights. i’m so all over the place, myself. i’ve seen too much and i keep having flashbacks,” she told the ABC. “The injuries were horrendous. it was blood everywhere.

Throats were cut. it was heads crushed by the rocks.”

Bokan claims she saw uniformed G4s guards jump over the fence towards detainees, but could not see who was wielding the rocks and knives because it was too dark and she was too far away. “everyone was running everywhere saying, ‘help us’, shouting, yelling, lots of yelling was happening, and the people say, ‘they’re killing us, they’re killing us’,” she said.

Bokan says the violence she saw is like nothing she has ever witnessed.

“What is in Australia, it does not apply there. i was in Darwin, i was in other detention centres. nothing compares to what you

see in Manus island,” she said. “i do not believe Australians are about this. We do not accept this in our names.” in a statement, G4s says it takes the allegations seriously and does not tolerate violent or abusive behaviour from staff. immigration Minister scott Morrison says he has had no veriication of anything of the nature described by Bokan.

“Those investigations and the collection of that information is under way, and i would caution against such speculation until these matters can be properly confirmed,” he told the ABC. “i imagine there will be all sorts of interviews undertaken from people who were there and the various other authorities and that goes well beyond the perimeter fence. “it goes to establishing the facts of what occurred that night. i think this is going to be a very dificult process.”

- ABC

Security guards give their story LorenGAu – Two G4s security

guards at the Manus island asylum seeker centre have also spoken out for the irst time about the two nights of violence.

The men, who do not want to be identified, say the worst of the violence on Monday night occurred after a riot squad was outnumbered by asylum seekers and guards rushed in to help.

They denied reports that machetes or bush knives were used in the violence.

They admitted to punching detainees and aggressively tackling asylum seekers trying to escape but say the force was reasonable given the situation. one of the Papuan new Guinean guards, employed by G4s,

says around 20 members of the company’s incident response Team dressed in riot gear tried to contain the protests.

The guard says the riot team failed to stop the asylum seekers shouting insults and throwing stones and were outnumbered by several hundred detainees.

“They were swearing at us – swearing ‘f*** PnG’ – and something like that and they don’t like us, so they start throwing stones and start pushing gates,” he said.

“The serious violence happened when we went in to contain the situation. The clients outnumbered them and they can’t contain the situation. “so what we do is, we all

G4s local nationals and expats, we just rushed in to save our counterparts. so that’s where the trouble begin and the ight started.”

The guard says Papua new Guinean and Australian staff working for G4s then entered the compound and serious ighting erupted.

“They are using their hands only, their hands to hit them, the clients,” he said.

The second guard says force was used to contain the situation.

“There were too many of them in the compound because each compound contains about 400 clients. About 50 per cent of the clients they were ighting,

throwing things at us. so some of us were hit and we retaliated,” he said. “i have to save my friends from the clients because they were not playing.”

G4s said in a statement it is concerned by allegations that PnG nationals working for the company may have been involved in violence against transferees on Manus island. “our duty of care to the transferees has always been and remains our highest priority,” the statement said. “our personnel on duty during the disturbances acted with courage, strength and determination to protect those in our care.”

- ABC

5

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

regionalneWs nuti no Te PA enuA

Paciic Rugby Cup 2014 kicks-off PerTH – The next generation of Paciic Rugby talent will be on display across Australia in the coming weeks as the IRB Paciic Rugby Cup (PRC) 2014 kicks off today in Perth.

PrC 2014 will include the A teams from Australia’s super rugby franchises – Force, Brumbies, Waratahs and reds, the national A teams from Fiji, samoa and Tonga, Junior Japan plus, for the irst time, the tournament will also include the Argentina Pampas XV. PrC is being delivered by the irB through its strategic initiative funding programme and will culminate in a inal at TG Milner Field, sydney, on sunday March 23.

The month-long tournament is designed as a high-performance pathway that will give the

Australian, Paciic Island, Japanese and Argentinean unions the opportunity to develop their up-and-coming talent, testing the players on the international stage.

PrC is being hosted by the Australian rugby union and Chief executive oficer Bill Pulver said: “it’s a very exciting time for rugby as we kick-off a new season and the Pacific rugby Cup will assist with the development of our players.”

“PrC, with no age limits, will be a useful tournament for our super rugby teams to give their sides more chances to test their squads, while also competing for the title of PrC champions.

The tournament will add to the depth of Australian rugby and enhance our pathways processes.”

irB regional general manager for oceania Will Glenwright believes the investment in the PrC by the irB is paying dividends.

“This is the ninth year we have underwritten the tournament and it has produced and developed numerous players who have gone to play for Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in the Paciic nations Cup, rugby World Cup and other Test matches,” said Glenwright.

“The PrC now also provides the Australian rugby union with a pathway for its next generation of super rugby players and Wallabies. The development of Japanese rugby continues as it prepares to host rugby World Cup 2019 as we saw it beat Wales last year.”

“And for the irst time we have

Parents search in vain for missing daughter WeLLinGTon – Here’s how robin Wright sees it. Her 19-year-old daughter Danielle is adrift on the Paciic Ocean but is keeping her spirits up with her six crewmates on their wooden sailboat, the nina.

They’re collecting rainwater, rationing food, singing, telling travel stories and planning their next adventures.

Wright igures by now Danielle may even have gotten married to one of the three young men aboard. After all, the nina’s captain is a registered celebrant. new Zealand authorities see it very differently. They believe the 21-metre schooner likely sank more than eight months ago after getting battered by a storm as the crew attempted to cross the Tasman sea from new Zealand to Australia.

That’s when the boat’s crew stopped using their satellite phone. A search turned up no sign of the vessel and they believe there’s no real chance any of them are still alive.

But robin and husband ricky have found it hard to give up the search for their only child.

The couple from Lafayette, Louisiana, have spent the last three months living in Australia and spearheading their own search, long after new Zealand authorities gave up.

This month, ricky Wright earned his pilot’s license. His aim was to fly the Australian coastline in hopes of spotting

‘We know there’s a chance the boat sank. There is a chance. But do you assume the worst and stop searching?’ something. Anything.

They’ve spent $600,000 to pay for private plane searches.

The money has come not only from their own savings but also from fundraisers, friends, family, even their daughter’s college fund.

Deeply religious, the couple says God has kept them strong and determined.

“We cannot assume the boat sank without evidence, and we think it’s highly likely that it did not,” robin Wright says. “We know there’s a chance the boat sank. There is a chance. But do you assume the worst and stop searching?” still, the search has to end at some point. on Tuesday the Wrights, speaking by phone from the sydney Airport, said they were returning to the us after running out of money and were unsure if they would return to Australia. still, they won’t lose hope until the anniversary of the boat’s

disappearance.

“After a year, i think the chances are down pretty low,” ricky Wright says. “But we will not give up on them. We know other people have survived up to a year.” seven people were aboard the 85-year-old American-flagged schooner when it sailed from opua in northland on May 29, bound for newcastle, Australia. it was last heard from on June 4 during a storm in the Tasman sea.

The Wrights remain unhappy with aspects of the oficial search.

They believe it began too late, wasn’t extensive enough, and failed to restart when they presented authorities with a grainy satellite image they believe depicts the nina adrift. new Zealand searchers say they did everything by the book and cannot do anything more.

They say the military reviewed the ghostly image and concluded it was nothing more than the foam from a wave.

The Wrights last month met new Zealand’s Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee in Wellington to express their concerns.

“They have enormous faith that the boat is still out there, that they’re catching fish and freshwater, and will sooner or later make landfall. unfortunately, none of our very extensive and expert-led search efforts concurs with that view,” Brownlee says.

- AP

IDs accidentally published CAnBerrA – Australia has in-

advertently made public the identities of almost 10,000 asylum seekers, the department of immigration has said, raising concerns it could help provide the locations of people leeing persecution.

A ile, published on a government website by mistake, held the names, nationalities and locations of nearly a third of all people held in Australia’s immigration detention network. it is

unclear how long the information was available to the public.

“This information was never intended to be in the public domain,” an immigration department spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

“The file has been removed and the department is investigating how this occurred to ensure that it does not happen again”, she added, according to reuters news agency.

The lapse was irst reported

by the Guardian Australia website, which informed the government of the breach, leading it to block access to the information.

The incident comes as Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s tough stance on asylum seekers has been receiving fresh scrutiny after a series of events, including violent riots, involving its policy of transferring asylum seekers to third countries.

- Reuters

included the Argentina Pampas XV to assist the development of future Pumas,” he added. in the PrC, the teams have been split into two pools.

Pool A comprises reds A, Force A, Fiji Warriors and Jun-

ior Japan. Pool B is made up of Gen Blu (NSW A), ACT A, Samoa A, Tonga A and Argentina Pampas XV. The teams will play each other once in their pools with the top two teams of each pool progressing to the semi-inals.

The match schedule also provides for some additional matches with Fiji Warriors playing nsW under 20 and Pampas XV, while Junior Japan will play Queensland under 20.

- IRB press release

Embrace ‘too soon’

suVA – A Fiji politician, Mick Beddoes, says it is sad at such a critical juncture that new Zealand and Australia have decided to embrace the Fiji regime.

He was commenting on a visit by he Paciic Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group and the meeting between Australia’s Foreign Minister and the leader of the Fiji regime.

That was the first top level meeting since 2008 and has been described as “warm and fruitful”.

Beddoes says it would be better for the countries’ to have improved relations with Fiji when an elected government is in place. “it seems they have taken further steps than one would have anticipated and that’s a great disappointment – especially when we know that they know there are still many things to be put in place before we can have anything close to resembling free and fair elections.”

Fiji’s military ruler Frank Fiji

regime leader Frank Bainimarama described as “fruitful” his “breakthrough meeting” last Friday with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop – the first he has held with an Australian politician since an awkward encounter with foreign minister Stephen Smith ive years ago.

Bishop outlined to Bainimarama a substantial whole-ofgovernment program of new initiatives being offered by Canberra, including full restoration of defence ties that encompasses new or renovated patrol boats; exchanges between public servants in strategic departments including Foreign Affairs, Finance and the Public service Commission; involvement in the new Colombo Plan to bring students from Australia; and participation in the seasonal workers’ program to provide opportunities for jobs in Australian horticulture.

Bishop told the Fiji leader the travel sanctions against regime members – the issue most bit-

terly resented by suva – were being reviewed, and could be reconsidered by cabinet once he stepped down as army commander.

Bishop’s seizure of the initiative helped spur the Ministerial Contact Group of the Paciic Islands Forum, which had suspended Fiji, to announce at the weekend that it expects the country’s full restoration following elections in september.

The pro-government Fiji sun’s managing editor, Maika Bolatiki, wrote at the weekend that Bishop was “warm and gracious” and, “much more importantly, she revealed that she had made a promise to the Australian people that she would strengthen relationships with Fiji, and that is what she is here to do”.

He said “it is a fact that there is very deep affection between the people of Australia and of Fiji”. About 300,000 Australian tourists visit Fiji every year.

- RNZI/PacNews

6

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

Why sell a country’s cash cow?

“WHy WouLD our government consider selling its share in Telecom Cook islands when it returns a healthy dividend of $2 million yearly?” a smoke signaller asks. “Just because Telecom new Zealand are considering the Digicel bid [for its 60 per cent share of TCi], should not cause our government to sell their 40 per cent share.

TCi is a public asset that generates a great return and it is not for the government to sell such an asset without consulting the public.

There are important questions to ask, such as whether in the event of a takeover will prices rise to make a bigger proit, and will they be prepared to continue to support the Pa enua? or will they consider the outer islands unviable and allow the system to run down with the view to eventually cutting them off? And what if Digicel is using the ‘bid’ as a ruse to get a look at the books, as suggested by a recent Ci news letter writer?”

JAPAN PAYING AIR NZ SUBSIDY?

FIRST REFUSAL HAS VALUE A sMoKe signaller asks: “Having undertaken large international business deals over the years, why would the Cook islands government declare a waiver on the right to purchase Telecom [new Zealand’s 60 per cent] shares before that deal is fully understood?

The right of irst refusal has value and leverage to ensure that the future of Cook islands people could be protected.”

Need for due diligence Dear editor, Te Mato Vai is a very expensive project that commits us, and our children, to signiicant debt. The successful completion of the project is essential for a continuing safe water supply and for our future economic stability. We cannot afford to risk a compromised water supply and another economic collapse such as the one that followed the failure of the sheraton project.

For success there must be due diligence in every aspect of the project – and we have not got off to a good start!

At the irst public consultation meeting it was announced that the Chinese ring Main project – costing $28 million with interest -- was a done deal!

We have no idea whether or not the decision was based purely on the loan offer from the Chinese, or on a detailed exploration of multiple contractor and funding options with cost comparisons, followed by the appropriate tendering processes. i would surmise that “we” simply jumped at the loan opportunity and went right ahead – that is not due diligence and is a precursor to disaster!

on the plus side, the development of the Te Mato Vai Master Plan has provided a good basis for exercising due diligence on the construction end of the project. i am no engineer but after reading and rereading the plan i think the consultants have given us the “roadmap” to build a quality system up to new Zealand and international standards – all we have to do is follow it – or we can ignore it and have a Third World water supply.

The Master Plan is pretty heavy reading, but pages 74 to 100 give very detailed speciications about the quality of the materials and the certiications and inspections required; and the transportation and construction methods to be used, together with the testing and inspection requirements.

If, and only if, those speciications are followed we will get a good product; a water system that does what it is supposed to. if we fail to exercise due diligence, if we take shortcuts, skip inspections, or allow any of the corrupt practices that often happen in big government projects, we will not get what

we want and need. i think there might be merit in forming a Community “Due Diligence” Committee – empowered to act as a “watchdog” and make spot checks randomly, and to call a halt to construction if irregularities are found.

Committee members would have to be clearly separate from

Letters government or contractor inluence and have no conlict of interest.

What do you think? – Too extreme – or something we desperately need?

Anaru in ruaau

it’s fast approaching “crunch time” for the ambitious Te Mato Vai water project with the oicial launch on Thursday.

But, for many people, there are still a lot of unanswered questions and one interested observer Anaru in ruaau has dissected the draft Master Plan and posed a number of points that he thinks should be addressed to provide some reassurance to the Cook island public. He is so passionate about the subject and his desire to ensure that everyone fully understands the implications he has personally paid to have his material translated into Maori. The third of his ive contributions is published below, with the remainder to follow throughout the rest of the week.

“i see that Air new Zealand is offering low 30% discount fares to encourage Japanese visitors to ly with the airline,” a smoke signaller writes. “i wonder if it is requiring the Japanese government to subsidise these fares the way it forces the Cooks to subsidise us visitors using Air new Zealand. And i’ll bet it isn’t using its oldest and most fuel ineficient 767 airplanes for the run either.”

PREFECTS OVERLAP A sMoKe signaller texts to 188: “i am so gutted that i didn’t make it to my niece’s prefect ceremony at Tereora College because i was attending my nephew’s prefect ceremony at Arorangi school.

Come on, why do all the schools have to have the prefects’ event on the same day? That’s dumb!”

WORK PORN “is THere any truth to the assertion that a few maverick ministry bofins are checking porn sites in work hours at computer workstations?” asks a smoke signaller in a text to 188. “if so, can we expect resignations or dismissals? An audit of ministry online usage would identify who and when. enough said.”

No soft porn please Dear editor, i was really pleased last week to read that the paper would no longer be publishing letters that were personally attacking individuals. yes! The door has closed to people using the paper to slander and openly criticise others.

This is a great standard to set in our small community.

However today i was disappointed to see the image of the cover page for the 50th anniversary of sports illustrated swimsuit edition. i find these indecent im-

ages highly inappropriate, especially in a local community newspaper. We all know this sort of imagery is just created to make money off the never satisfied lustful appetites of a carnal mind. At least with sports illustrated one knowingly chooses this type of ilth.

We however were unexpectedly exposed to this. i expect more from our local newspaper. Please don't lower your standards in this area by publishing soft core pornography. natasha Cargill

Akatereana tau e te papu tikai e te etita, e akakaiou anga tikai te akakoroanga ote Mato Vai ki runga ia tatou e ta tatou anau ki mua. e mea puapinga ra kia rava ua rai te vai mana, ei akameitaki ite au ravenga kimi puapinga no te iti Tangata, me mania ake teia akakoroanga ite Mato Vai. Kare

e rauka katoa ia tatou ite arii ua rai i tetai au akatikatikaanga no runga ite vae e kare e puapina ia, mei tei tupu ki te akakoroanga ote sheraton. ei ravenga kua puapinga ia teia akakoronanga, ka anoano ia tetai au akateretere anga papu tikai, i roto ite au tuanga tuke

Cook Islands News Building Maraerenga Avarua Rarotonga PO Box 15 Rarotonga Tel (682) 22999 Fax 25303 Email: editor@cookislandsnews.com or adverts@cookislandsnews.com

www.cookislandsnews.com Daily Monday to Saturday

tuke o teia parani, e kare ake rai tatou i kite ake i tetai akamata anga papu tikai. i roto ite uipaanga mua ki te iti Tangata, kua akakite ia e, ko te parani a te Tinio no te $28m, mate moni akairi, (interest), e mea papu te reira. Kare oki tatou i papu e, me kua rave ia rai te tuku anga tika ki runga tikai ite moni akakaiou a te Tinito, me kore raa, ki runga ite au koikoi anga manako no runga ite tu ote au kamupani angaanga e te au akatikatika anga ite moni, kia raka’i tetai iki anga tau tikai.

Te tarotokaka nei au e, kua rere vave ua tatou kit e moni, ma te rapurapu kia rave i ate angaanga.

Kare teia ite akateretere anga tau e te u papu tikai, e akairo ra no tetai manamanata maata.

Te ngai meitaki ua, kua akaari ia mai i roto ite akatupu anga ite parani ote Mato Vai, tetai tango meiraki, no te akameitaki at ite angaanga openga ote te parani, kare au ite engineer inara, i muriake i toku tatou ua anga ite parani, kua manako au e, kua akaari mai te au taunga no te akamarama, ite katoa anga ote mapu, kia Amani ia tetai akanoonoo anga tau tikai, kia aite ki te turanga o nu Tirani e tea o nei ko ta tatou ka rave, e aru ua, me kare, e akaruke iatu. Tena u ate vai ote Ao Tua Toru.

Manga pakari te tatau anga ote Parani Metua inara, kua aka-

papu ia mai i roto ite kapi 74 – 100, te au mea rikiriki no runga ite turanga meitaki ote au apinga aka anoano ia, te au peapa akatika (certiicate), te akarakara anga ka anoano ia, te au apinga akaoro e te au ravenga te ka anoano ia no te au rave anga ite au angaanga, pera ki te au kimikimi anga e te tutaka anga.

Ka rauka ia tatou tetai turanga meitaki, mei roto mai ite au ravenga akameitaki ite vai, me aru meitaki i ate au akakitekite anga manako.

Me kare tatou e rave ite au akaereere anga meitaki e te papu tikai, me ka oro poto ua, e te kape ite akarakara matatio, me kore ra, kia Ariki i ate tu ravenga taukore, mei tei tupu uana rai ki roto ite au parani mamaata a te Kavamani, kare e rauka mai ta tatou e anoano maata nei.

Toku manako, e mea meitaki kia akatupu ia teati Komiti Akateretere anga tau e te papu tikai, kia akamatutu ia ei au tiaki tumu, kia rauka ite akara matatio ite au tuatau e kia tapu i ate angaanga me putuputu te au angaanga tarevake. Auraka rava te au komiti kia akanauru ia e te kavamani, pera kit e au Tangata angaanga, kia kore roa e ta’i’i to ratou akakoroanga tikai. eAA Toou MAnAKo? - kua mamao roa me kore ra, tetai apinga e anoano maata ia nei e tatou.

Anaru in ruaau

Publisher John Woods john@cookislandsnews.com Chief executive Oicer Liz Woods lizw@cookislandsnews.com General Manager Tony Fe’ao tony@cookislandsnews.com Editor Mark Ebrey mark@cookislandsnews.com Deputy Editor Matariki Wilson matariki@cookislandsnews.com Reporters Emmanuel Samoglou emmanuel@cookislandsnews.com Ben Chapman-Smith ben@cookislandsnews.com Rachel Reeves rachel@cookislandsnews.com Court Reporter Merita Wi-Kaitaia merita@cookislandsnews.com Online & Social Networking Editor Briar Douglas briar@cookislandsnews.com Sales and Marketing Manager Susan Tealby susan@cookislandsnews.com Advertising Assistant Ledua Vivian Engu vivian@cookislandsnews.com Advertising adverts@cookislandsnews.com Oice Manager Tere Joseph tere@cookislandsnews.com Accounts Manager Tangi Tauira tangi@cookislandsnews.com Reception Kura Tauira reception@cookislandsnews.com Oice staf Apii Tua apii@cookislandsnews.com Graphic Design & Layout Mahai Daniel mahai@cookislandsnews.com Adam Tutuvanu adam@cookislandsnews.com Web Developer Daniel Rolls dan@cookislandsnews.com Print Manager Dan Johnston danj@cookislandsnews.com Printers Dennis Campos, Lai Gukisuva

7

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

Local group takes on Digicel

William Framhein, director of Mervin Communications and Matariki FM radio station, believes Telecom Cook islands should stay in local hands. 14021808

LoCAL company Mervin Communications has put its hand up to challenge Digicel’s attempts to buy a majority shareholding in Telecom Cook islands.

Director William Framhein said his company, with the backing of other local investors, wants to stop Digicel entering the market by buying any shares sold in Telecom Cook islands (TCI).

“There are some of us Cook islanders who believe that the mighty Digicel is not the most appropriate organisation to be handed control of the monopoly in an industry sector of such strategic national importance,” he said.

Digicel is currently in discussions with Telecom new Zealand (TNZ) about buying its 60 per cent stake in Telecom Cook Islands (TCI). It has also expressed interest in purchasing some or all of the remaining 40 per cent held by the Government.

Framhein said he had “frank dialogue” with the Telecommunications Minister Mark Brown last Friday about the Government’s stance.

“During the meeting the Minister was asked to change his position on waiving the Government’s irst right of refusal in acquiring the TnZ shares in TCi,” Framhein said.

He asked the Government to exercise its right to buy those shares, then later sell them on to Mervin Communications, which is the parent company of Matariki FM, KukiCel and Kukinet.

Framhein said an alternative would be for the Government to assign its right of refusal over to Mervin Communications.

“We’re asking them to because they’re not interested and, under the investment Act, any business for sale in the Cook islands should first be offered to Cook islanders. We want to exercise our rights there.”

Brown advised Framhein that he needs the permission of Tel-

PM says petitioners are acting in “self interest” PriMe Minister Henry Puna says members of a committee behind a petition that seeks to put a halt to the Te Mato Vai water infrastructure project are acting in self interest.

“These individual agendas have nothing to do with the complete transformation of our water supply on rarotonga and the welfare of the population, but everything to do with selfinterest,” said Puna.

Puna questioned the validity of the opposition against Te Mato Vai, saying the petition

against the water partnership – which involves local government along with those of new Zealand and China - may be “tainted by the agenda of disgruntled individuals”.

“The tripartite arrangement is a unique one, and one that speaks volumes about the close working relations between the three countries,” he said. spokesman James Thomson with the Te Mato Vai Petition Committee – the group behind the petition, which has gathered more than 500 signatures

- said he personally hasn’t done any bidding for contract work associated with the project, but admitted to sitting in on preliminary meetings in April when the project was in its infancy to learn details.

He said he attended to see if there were any opportunities to participate, but left thinking conditions set by officials shut out the possibility of locals working on the project, while favouring overseas irms.

Thomson said the petition committee is composed of ten in-

ConsTruCTion crews were seen yesterday putting into place the official Te Mato Vai commemorative monument. Located beside the ofice of the New Zealand High Commission, the structure is composed of basalt rock, roughly two metres high,

and features the project’s signature ish hook logo – carved by artist Michel Kirsch. “Fish hooks, called matau in Maori, are an important symbol in Maori and Cook island culture, representing life, determination and prosperity,” said Te Mato Vai’s com-

munications advisor Jaewynn McKay. The monument will be front and centre today when local oficials and international dignitaries gather for the oficial commemorative launch of the $60 million water infrastructure project.

- ES

Meeting addresses regional trade reGionAL trade will be the topic of discussion at an upcoming meeting organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration.

A public consultation on the Paciic Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER Plus) is scheduled to be held every day next week – except Tuesday – at the new Hope Church and Conference Hall, beginning at 9am each day.

PACer Plus is an initiative of 14 Paciic nations along with new Zealand and Australia that

aims to address a number of issues affecting regional trade.

The meeting hopes to raise awareness of what PACer Plus is; how it can benefit the Cook islands; and how the agreement “can best relect the trade realities on the ground, when it comes to the exporting and the importing of products between Paciic Island Forum countries”.

The meeting is co-organised by the Ofice of the Chief Trade Advisor (OCTA) in Vanuatu and new Zealand’s Customs services.

Development of trade in

goods and services, investment, rules of origin, and other traderelated issues will also be up of discussion.

A series of workshops will be facilitated by Dr edwin Kessie from oCTA, who has 17 years of experience with the World Trade organisation.

A full schedule for next week’s meetings can be picked up from the ofice reception desk of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration and the Business Trade and investment Board.

- Emmanuel Samoglou

dividuals, and include TMV critics sam napa and enua Bishop. it is unknown if any of the other members of the petition group had aspirations to win project contracts.

Puna, who is scheduled to speak at the official TMV launch today, said the project has been “years in the making” and is likely to be adjusted as it progresses.

“The goal however, won’t change,” he said. “The guaranteed supply of safe drinking water for the whole of rarotonga is too important.”

“We are pioneering the way for future development co-operation in our region, and setting a new standard of infrastructure advancement that will serve our people for generations to come.”

- Emmanuel Samoglou

ecom new Zealand for that to happen.

Framhein also expressed concern to Brown about “the apparent lack of evidence or report showing that Government has carried out due diligence on Digicel”.

He believes his investment group should be given the opportunity to carry out its own due diligence on Digicel.

Framhein said he has the backing of other local investors, plus business partners in Australia.

“The guys have asked me to keep their name out of it for now. All i can say is we have some partners from Australia.”

The group would also be looking to buy any of the Government’s shares, if they are being sold.

Framhein has written to the Chamber of Commerce, seeking its support, and registered its interest in buying the shares with the Business Trade and investment Board (BTIB).

He has also written to the board of TCi to let them know he is interested in buying shares. if the group was successful in buying the TCi stakeholding, they would keep the company “completely local” and probably leave it named Telecom Cook islands, Framhein said.

“We haven’t gone down that track yet in terms of branding but i don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t stay the same. We want to keep it local.”

- Ben Chapman-Smith

8

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

9

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

Wanted: New dog ranger

PoLiCe will soon be commencing their search for a new fulltime dog ranger in rarotonga.

The last dog warden retired two years ago and the Cook islands Police service has now decided to try and ill the position.

“Must be it and healthy, have good communication skills and with good attitude,” reads the job advertisement which will appear in Cinews this weekend.

A spokesperson for the Police service said the new recruit will receive full training for the role and will be working out of Police national Headquarters in Avarua. Application forms can be picked up from the public counter at national Headquarters or from any police station in the outer islands.

The deadline for the submission of applications is 4pm, Friday February 28.

Cook islands Tourism Corporation chief executive Halatoa Fua recently expressed concern that reports of tourists being attacked by stray dogs are damaging rarotonga’s reputation.

“When they go for walks in

Guides to turn out

GuiDes, Brownies, rangers and Brigaders will be turning out in force for the annual World Thinking Day celebrations at the Titikaveka sunday school Hall on saturday. under the auspices of national Patroness Mrs Tuaine Masters, a large crowd is expected to assemble at 9 am for a full programme of activities including prayer, blessings and entertainment. national Commissioner Mrs Haumata Hosking will report on Guiding projects, while another highlight is expected to be the cutting of birthday cakes.

After five minute entertainment items based on education by the young people closing speeches will be made by national President Mrs ngara Katuke; secretary of Titikaveka cicc Mr William Hosking; and Ms naomi iro (Adviser for the Titikaveka Girl Guide Company).

- ME

The ive students from Pukapuka were meant to have started school at Tereora College three weeks ago. Left to right: Michael Auora, rite William, Tavini Mataora, Taraa ravarua, Teaute ravarua.

14021911

the morning they’re getting attacked. it’s now affecting the reputation of rarotonga and it’s something we really need to address.”

Fua said he thinks the dog problem has increased since the last dog controller retired.

The most recent attack on a tourist took place at the start of this month, when an Austrian visitor was mauled by a pack of three dogs while walking along the beach near the edgewater resort. The attack came just days before a major tourism forum, where Police Commissioner Maara Tetava was questioned about whether police are doing enough to tackle the problem.

Tetava said a new solution is needed and he announced his intentions to revive the dog control committee, which ceased to exist several years ago.

The committee will be made up of representatives from the Police service, Ministry of Agriculture, sPCA, Chamber of Commerce and Koutu nui, he said. Meanwhile, others in the community – such as the sPCA and esther Honey Foundation - assert that the best way of tackling the dog problem is for more owners to get their animals desexed.

- BCS

Police hope a new dog ranger will be able to reduce the number of stray dogs in rarotonga. 14021824

Help offered for proposal writing HoW To write proposals and ten-

ders will be the focus of a community education course next month.

Tutor Amelia Borofsky, who planned and developed the community education programme at the Cook islands Tertiary Training Institute (CITTI), said the course will help demystify the process of writing formal applications.

“The idea came about because a lot of civil society and private

sector organisations are expected to know how to write these complicated government proposals.”

How to write a good proposal is something that can be taught, she said.

“Writing is not an intrinsic skill but a learned skill. The language required in a lot of these proposals is not intuitive and can be bureaucratic.”

The course will cover both proposal writing and tender writing, so targets those in civil society

organisations and private sector organisations who are seeking project funding or bidding on projects.

“This is also coming off the back of the Development Partners Meeting and wanting to bring more people to the table who might not feel empowered to do this work,” said Borofsky.

“Participants in this community education course need to bring their own projects to work on as it will be a hands-on course

reviewing and discussing their proposals and covering some general writing techniques.”

The $50 course will run Monday March 3, Wednesday March 5 and Friday March 7 from 4-6pm at CiTTi’s ngatangiia campus.

To enrol or ask questions about the course, call CiTTi on 22 628, come by and pick up an enrolment form or email Amelia Borofsky (aborofsky@gmail.com) or Violet Tisam (violet.tisam@ citti.edu.ck).

- BD

Runway repairs about to start LonG-AWAiTeD repairs to Pukapuka’s airport runway are one step closer now that a barge carrying workers and machinery has inally arrived at the island.

The barge, pulled by tug boat Tiro ii, left rarotonga last Wednesday and arrived in Pukapuka at about 7pm on Tuesday. oki Apera, operations manager of Cook islands Towage, said strong winds and big swells

during the weekend made it a slow trip north.

The barge was also called on to stop at nassau to pick up four workers from infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI), who will be doing the repair work.

The iCi staff were heading to Pukapuka on police patrol boat Te Kukupa when it reportedly had engine troubles and had to drop the men in nassau.

“The barge had to divert to nassau to pick them up,” Apera said.

Pukapuka’s runway has been out of use since December, when heavy rain left its surface in a state of disrepair and unsafe to land on.

Among those waiting to reach the island are four teachers, who are stuck in rarotonga and have missed the start of the school

year. The four teachers they are replacing in Pukapuka are also waiting to leave the island.

Apera said the heavy machinery and construction materials were being unloaded from the barge yesterday and today. repair work is expected to take about two to three weeks and Air rarotonga will be carrying out a test flight in midMarch.

- BCS

Pukapuka students tired of waiting for the boat FiVe sTuDenTs from Pukapuka who have missed the start of the school year in rarotonga are feeling frustrated by the disruption to their education.

The students were supposed to have started at Tereora College at the end of January but there have been no passenger boats travelling to Pukapuka since before Christmas.

Tekemau ribabaiti, Principal of niua school in Pukapuka, said his students are keen to

get off the island and start their education in rarotonga.

“They really want to go.

They’re really frustrated but what else can they do?”

The students have been put in with the younger Form Five students and given work to do, ribabaiti said.

“We’ve got some work for them, which was given to us by Tereora last year.

We don’t have enough materials and resources for these

children so we’re just doing our best.”

Tapi Taio, director Taio shipping, said he is likely to have a vessel travelling north to Pukapuka in the next few weeks. “it may be next week or otherwise the following, because we’ve just got our engine here being installed this week.”

The boat will be stopping at Palmerston and nassau on the way to Pukapuka, and the return journey should take about

two weeks, he said.

The Ministry of education’s outer islands co-ordinator, Teresa Tararo, said she has been told the Taio vessel will be going in about two weeks.

“We’ve been shifted to the irst week of March. They’re the only boat going up.”

Police patrol boat Te Kukupa is presently on patrol in the northern waters but Tararo said there is no way it can pick the students up on its way back to

rarotonga. “not unless we pay a large amount of money per student,” she said.

“They discourage people from using their vessel as a passenger boat.” ribabaiti said the students – when they do inally make it to rarotonga – may struggle to catch up with their peers.

“They might be disadvantaged this time because we don’t really know what these people in rarotonga are giving their students.”

He added that having the ive students there is putting extra pressure on the school. under a government assistance scheme, 41 secondary students from the outer islands are being supported to attend Tereora College this year.

The outer islands education assistance scheme covers each student’s travel to rarotonga and back to their island at the end of the school year but, for those in the north, the Ministry pays only for a boat fare because air transport is too expensive.

Last year’s Pukapuka students did not arrive at Tereora College until June but most of them achieved nCeA Level 1, Tararo said.

- Ben Chapman-Smith

10

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

classiieds pupu kite ngai okotai EMAiL

PhONE

adverts@cookislandsnews.com

Fax 25303

22999

preferred

in the matter of the Cook islands Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1986.

Take note that under section 57 of the above Act, I, Mrs Kristina Tatam on behalf of Wholesale Vehicles hereby apply for approval as salesperson.

The application will be heard after 28 days of the irst appearance of this notice.

Any person who desires to object to the application may serve notice of his/her objection to the Motor Vehicle Licensing Authority at the Ministry of Transport, P O Box 61, Rarotonga.

The person giving the notice of objection shall also cause a copy of the notice to be served on the applicant within 7 days after giving it to the Licensing Authority.

Renewal of Liquor Licences and Manager’s Certiicates for Year 2014 To all Liquor Licence and Manager’s Certiicate holders, you are reminded that your licences and certiicates expire on the 31 March 2014.

Anyone who wishes to renew their existing liquor licence or manager’s certiicate are requested to contact the Liquor Licensing Authority on phone 28810 or email: liquor@transport.gov.ck or come in person to the Ministry of Transport oice to uplift an application pack.

Your applications must be lodged to the Liquor Licensing Authority by 19 March 2014.

Failure to lodge your application before the expiry date may result in the suspension of your licence or certiicate.

Secretary Liquor Licensing Authority.

76933

Kia Orana Mama Mata’s FREE Cook Islands language class, A friendly reminder it will be held Opposite Vonnias West shop in Arorangi Next door to Ministry of infrastructure Cook Islands. (Orange and grey wall).

Today 20 February , Starts at 6.30pm.

You are Welcome.

E noo ra Mama Mata.

76797

777

Zumba Kent hall Thursday 5.30pm, Body shaping Fun!

Has your drinking got out of control?

Call 71744

1pm sharp. Material deadline for display adverts 24 hours prior.

777

The Ngatangiia/Matavera Sea Eagles League Club is calling all our families, friends, supporters and bit part Aitutakians that is residing within Ngati Tangiia to please join us in hosting our brothers the Aitutaki Sharks to a kaikai after our game this Friday 21st Feb 2014, 7pm at our Clubhouse.

Apai mai te ki o te moana e to te enua kia maruarua ta tatou angaianga.

Thank you maata - Committee 76981

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) CCECC has been appointed the general contractor for the construction of the Rarotonga Ring Mains in the Te Mato Vai project.

CCECC is now commencing to source local services and resources. In particular we are seeking expressions of interest for the following: Service providers and contractors should contact Mr. Nicky Nie, Assistant Project Manager of CCECC. Phone 29396 or Email: niekefeng@gmail. com 77001

RESTAURANT

SHIPWRECKHUT

@ AROABEACHSIDEINNARORANGI

PH 22 166

OPEN DAILY FOR BREAKFAST 8-10AM AND LUNCH 12-2PM

LeBonVivant C

A

F

7 NiGhTS

OPEN EVERY EVENING

FOR AL LA CARTE DINING EUROPEAN FOODWITH PACIFIC FLAVOURS

@ 6pm

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT!

PH 20 002

PH 26 860

FEB20

WHAT’SON OPEN

FRi SUN TUE

Tani and rose or Tara Kauvai 5-8pm a la carte dinner from 6pm Lincoln Mail 5.30-8.30pm BBQ dinner from 6pm Lincoln Mail 6.00-8.00pm a la carte dinner from 6pm

OPENEVERYOTHERNIGHTFORALACARTEDINNER6-9PM

Sunset BBQ w/ GArTH younG - Piano 6PM Sunset Cocktails w/ w/Rudy aquino 5.30PM – 7.30PM Sat Seafood BBQ w/ JAKE nuMAnGA - ukulele 6PM

TUE ThU SAT

Our food our passion 6pm till late

E

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday Reservations recommended Ph: 27619

LUNCH

11am to 2.30pm

$10.00 Dine in special

PH 22 279

THU20

FRI21 6.00PM

DINNER

5.30pm to 10pm 7 days

Mon to Sat $7.00 Lunch pack takeaway

AVARUA TOWN

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

DEADLiNES Deadline for next day’s classiieds is

Mon-Tue: $12.95 specials Thursday: Indo Chinese Specials Friday: Bufet Nite ($19pp) All you can eat Sunday: Tandoori night Other nights: A-la-carte

SAT22

SUN23

6.00PM

Cook islands Squash Racquets Association Annual General Meeting February 25 2014 at 5pm Venue: Squash Club, Avarua Agenda: 1. Opening Prayer 2. Minutes of last AGM 3. Presidents Report 4. Treasurers Report 5. Election of Oicers 6. Other matters 7. Closing prayer All are welcome.

777

RATES Minimum $5.80 incl. VAT for 1-15 words.

Casual ads must be prepaid. Cancellation fee $6.40 incl. VAT. Quotations on request.

TUATUA AKAKITE

PUBLIC NOTICES

Rarocars are pleased to announce the commencement in employment of their qualiied service manager KEN PAGE from New Zealand. If you have an outstanding issue with any Great Wall vehicles, we would encourage you to bring your vehicle into Raro Cars at your earliest convenience for Ken and the team to have a look at and ix. Outside customers are also invited to bring their vehicles in for a free evaluation of their problems. Phone 22060 for more information.

ELECTiONS MUNiCiPALES 21 MARS 2014 La procédure d’établissement des procurations a ete modiiee en introduisant, parallèlement au cerfa cartonné , la possibilité pour les électeurs d’éditer à partir de leur ordinateur un formulaire papier accessible en ligne (cerfa 14952*01 (D)). https://www.formulaires. modernisation.gouv.fr/gf/cerfa_14952.do Le demandeur peut se présenter chez le Consul honoraire a Muri vendredi 21 fevrier 2014 entre 9 et midi, avec la procuration imprimée sur deux feuilles (pas de recto-verso), complétée par ses soins mais non datée et non signée.

Renseignement telephone: 28242.

777 Public Notices

777

777

FOR RENT 5 year old, fully furnished 3 bedroom family home for rent in Turangi Valley, past Bill Kaman’s. Open to view 5 - 7pm this Thursday and Friday.

Uipaanga Na Te Au Taunga Maani Vairakau Maori E kapikianga, e patianga teia i te au Taunga maani vairakau Maori katoatoa, e te aronga maoro tei taangaanga i ta tatou akonoanga Maori kia tae mai ki tetai uipaanga puapinga ki te ngutuare o Mama Mou i Matavera a te Varaire ra 21 no Peperuare i te ora rima (5.00 pm) i te aiai. Me e rapakau maki ana koe na roto i te amani vairakau Maori e te maoro, noou teia kapikianga. Te tumu manako – kimi ravenga no te paruruanga i te au rakau ta tatou e taangaanga ana i roto i ta tatou vairakau, e tetai au manako keke.

Me e uianga taau taniuniu mai i aku i runga i te numero tereponi 75 176 Tekeretere Te Vaka Taunga – Te Rito O Te Vairakau Maori.

777

FOR RENT

ID: 76957

Muri 2 bedroom unit available, long/short term. Phone 23012 / 55752.

2 bedroom plus study, next to main road, Turangi, $160 per week. Mobile 73821.

Inv#36466

777

3 bedroom house,2 bathrooms, partly furnished, water tank & solar hot water Inland Matavera, Open to view 6 – 7pm Thu & Fri only. Ph 75583.

2 bedroom partly furnished home in Upper Tupapa $200 per week. Contact Helen 55717.

Classiieds • Phone 22999

• adverts@cookislandsnews.com

777

2 bedroom absolute beachfront house for long term rental in Arorangi area. $350 per week. Genuine enquiries only.

Ph 55 418.

777

BEREAVEMENT

KO TE ATUA TO TATOU AKAPUANGA E TE MAROIROI, E TAUTURU VAITATA ROA IA KIA ROKOIA E TE TUAMATETENGA TE TUMATETENGA NEI TE ANAU E TE KOPU TANGATA KATOATOA I TE AKAKITE ATU E KUA TAKAKE ATU NA TE ARA TIROA O TE MATE, TO MATOU METUA TANE AKAPEREPEREIA E MATOU, KO

ARCHER VIVIAN HOSKING SNR (MBE) I TE APA NO TE ORA TORU KI TONA NGUTUARE I TURAMATUITUI, NIKAO I TE MONITE RA 17 O PEPERUARE. E VARU NGAURU MA VARU ONA MATAITI TEIA TE AKANONOANGA O TONA POROKARAMU: I TE ORA ONO I TE AIAI PARAPARAU RA 20 O PEPERUARE, KA AKAOKI IA MAI TONA KOPAPA NO RUNGA MAI I TE AREMAKI KI TE NGUTUARE O TANA NGA TAMARIKI KO ALBERT E HAUMATA HOSKING I TURAMATUITUI, NIKAO. I TE ORA ITU I TE PO VARAIRE RA 21 O PEPERUARE, KA RAVE IA TONA APAREANGA KI TE NGUTUARE I TE ORA 9 I TE POPONGI MANAKAI RA 22 O PEPERUARE KA RAVE IA TONA PUREANGA OPENGA KI TE NGUTUARE. I TE ORA NGAURU I TE POPONGI KA RAVE IA TONA PUREANGA KI TE ARE PURE CICC I NIKAO MEI REIRA MAI KA APAINA IATU AIA KITE PAEPAE OTINOMANA ARIKI I ARORANGI TUKU IATU EI AIA KITONA NGAI AKANGAROIANGA OPENGA KITE PAE ITONATOKORUA AKAPEREPERE KO TINOMANA RUTA TUORO ARIKI II GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH A VERY PRESENT HELP WHEN IN TROUBLE BEREAVEMENT NOTICE IT IS OF GREAT SADDNESS THAT WE ANNOUNCE THE PASSING AWAY OF OUR DEAR & LOVING FATHER, FATHER IN-LAW, GRANDFATHER, GREAT GRANDFATHER, GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, BROTHER, UNCLE AND A GREAT FRIEND

MR ARCHER VIVIAN HOSKING SNR (MBE), AGED 88 YEARS 8.30PM

8.30PM

I,FRANKENSTEINI,FRANKENSTEINI,FRANKENSTEIN I,FRANKENSTEIN 6PM

8.30PM

6PM

8.30PM

PH 189 FOR UPDATES ON THE MOVIE HOT LINE

BIGSCREEN,DOLBYSOUND,UNBEATABLEBLOCKBUSTERMOVIES every Monday & Thursday - Call Advertising on 22999

“WHAT’SON”

or adverts@cookislandsnews.com

AT 3.30PM ON MONDAY THE 17TH FEBRUARY 2014 AT HIS HOME IN TURAMATUITUI, NIKAO HIS FUNERAL PROGRAM IS AS FOLLOWS: AT 6PM ON THURSDAY THE 20TH FEBRUARY 2014 HIS BODY WILL BE RETURNED HOME TO THE RESIDENCE OF HIS CHILDREN ALBERT & HAUMATA HOSKING IN TURAMATUITUI, NIKAO AT 7PM ON FRIDAY THE 21ST FEBRUARY 2014 THERE WILL BE A FAMILY SERVICE AT HOME AT 9AM ON SATURDAY THE 22ND FEBRUARY 2014 THE LAST FAMILY SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT HOME. AT 10AM A CHURCH SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT THE NIKAO CICC AND AFTERWARDS

11

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

FOR SALE

SITUATIONS VACANT

Parts Cabinet with electronic parts included, Pile of timber.

Phone 55300.

Date: 20 Feb 2014.

WANTED TO BUy Second hand Quad bike in good condition. Call 55667 or 26445.

777

777

20ft & 40ft containers for sale limited stock Call 24441 or 55242 for details.

Date: 20,21,22 Feb Charge General Transport.

777

Washing Machine Brand New Samsung WF1752WPW/ASA 7.5kg Energy and water eicient Front loading Latest model Recently imported Still in Original packaging $1300 Call Sean cell 53380 Home 22550.

777

8 & 9 month old pigs for sale Price: $150-$250 Call Ph: 75661.

76970

FOR SALE STihL chainsaw 029, In excellent condition, $900. Phone 26617 or 52412.

76993

VEhICLES FOR SALE Daelim silver motor bike.

Good cond. New warrant and rego to 2015. $700 Ph 54 585 777

Mazda Bongo pick up Truck $8000 Hyundai H100Pick Up Truck at $5000 Phone 51152 ask Rouru TangataPoto.

777

200cc Fiver bike for sale, $1990 ono. Phone 76779.

Dates: 20,22 Feb 777

WANTED A live in house girl/baby sitter is needed for long term. Contact 56980.

777

MiNiSTRY OF iNTERNAL AFFAiRS Employment Opportunity MINTAFF, invites applications for the position of GENDER PROJECT COORDiNATOR, in its Gender and Development Division.

Applicants must be self motivated, proactive and have the ability to coordinate projects through to completion. A good knowledge and understanding of Gender and Development is preferred.

Applications close on Friday 28 February 2014. Job descriptions available from the Ministry. Please submit a cover letter with Curriculum Vitae and references to: Eva Mapu PO Box 98, Rarotonga or email: eva. mapu@cookislands.gov.ck

“SPCA Garage Sale” Fill a bag for just $5.

Sale starts now, ends February 28.

777

SERVICES Self Storage Raro U Store it!!

-Secure & Private -Short or Long term -For oice, Shop or Home Storage.

Phone 22188 or 26189.

Email beach@moanasands. co.ck 73695

ThE SALON Permanent Hair Straightening – Full Head from $180 Cut, Treatment & Style – from $45 Head Massage, Treatment & Style – from $55 Highlights – from $120 De Lorenzo Hairspray – Light Hold & Firm Hold $22 Open Tuesday – Saturdays from 9am – 6pm Wednesday & Thursday 9am – 8pm For colour, cuts, highlights, straightening, hair styling & makeup services.

PH 22811.

777

SITUATIONS VACANT Chef required.

Tamarind House/Rickshaw With Asian and International cooking experience Please send CV & Refs to Box 50 Rarotonga. Phone 26487 and ask for Sue or Julie.

76946

To encourage honesty and good citizenship.

A Cook Islands News public service.

The rotary Club of rarotonga has refurbished the Te Ara Maire nui signs at either end of the Main road in Avarua. The signs were originally installed as a rotary project 22 years ago back in 1992 for the Pan Paciic arts festival, and have been maintained and repaired since then by the club as part of its Community Service projects. 14021933

BELATED BIRThDAy

Here’s wishing our Mum a special Happy birthday

Maintenance person to do work around the house, with sober habit, Send CV to P.o Box 418.

SITUATIONS VACANT

NEW YEAR – NEW CAREER

76997

Chef required.

Tamarind House/Rickshaw With Asian and International cooking experience Please send CV & Refs to Box 50 Rarotonga.

Phone 26487 and ask for Sue or Julie Retail Manager Raromart is looking at relocating in a few months time and is now looking at hiring an experienced shop manager.

This is a career position and we are looking for someone who can successfully implement the expansion projects that we have planned for Raromart over the next 24 months. Email sunny@paciicapparel.co.ck or call 21060.

Love you Mum Tetaa-O-te-Raand MatamakiMelody Tetauru & Dad in Aus

BIRThDAy

Maintenance person to do work around the house, with sober habit, Send CV to P.o Box 418.

ID: 76997.

777

a highly qualiied, motivated and experience Carpenter/ Builder •Must have at least 5 years work experience in the Building Industry • Senior supervisory skills • Must be honest, reliable and of sober habits • Commitment to excellent and quality work output Please apply in writing with CV to: Pati Ravarua Executive Oicer Pukapuka/Nassau Island Administration PUKAPUKA Phone/Fax: (682) 41712 Email Address: eopuka2@oyster.net.ck Applications close 3pm, Friday 7 March 2014.

777

handyman/Laundry hand Full time work for the right applicant who is versatile and keen.

Please go to the Reception desk and ill out an application form.

777

At CiTC we give everyone the opportunity to earn while you learn, we run NZQA accredited training courses up to Level 4!

CiTC AVARUA Cashier – Part time – 11am – 2pm Mon-Fri some Saturdays!

• Involves assisting customers with their purchases, completing all point of sale transactions, balancing and reconciling cash.

Suit a reliable person who can welcome our visitors with a big smile.

SUPERMARKET

777

76937

Retail Manager Raromart is looking at relocating in a few months time and is now looking at hiring an experienced shop manager.

This is a career position and we are looking for someone who can successfully implement the expansion projects that we have planned for Raromart over the next 24 months. Email sunny@paciicapparel.co.ck or call 21060.

FOUND Notices are FREE

76995

777

GARAGE SALE

Spruce up for signs

MAYYOUHAVEMANYMOREBLESSINGSINYOURLIFE

LOVE MUM AND DAD

ALL THE FAMILIES NEAR AND FAR THINKING OF YOU THIS DAY! APPRECIATION We, VALERY AND DAVID OULDS, the parents of

Larry Oulds And on behalf of his wife Cher, Would publicly like to thank: Papa Akai + family in Atiu, for use of his land for the burial of our son’s body The Aitutaki Island Government The Paciic resort The Akitua Resort The diferent business houses on the island of Aitutaki The Catholic Priest (Fr. Fausthino) and all friends, colleagues and neighbours on the island of Aitutaki, for their assistance, help and comforting words during the recent passing away of our beloved son Larry Oulds Thank you atupaka Valery + David Oulds, Canada.

Deli Assistant – Food prep experience an advantage!

• Full of variety, this position involves preparing, cooking and serving of food and small goods over the counter.

You will need a big smile, good customer service skills and basic food preparation experience!

Meat Packer/Butcher – Good knife skills or previous retail meat experience!

• Working in our butchery department, this involves preparing meat for sale and serving customers over the counter.

You will need to be organized and able to work with a small team.

LiQUOR Sales & Merchandising Assistant – full of variety!

• Completing all point of sale transactions, balancing and reconciling cash, rotating and displaying of stock and helping customers with their purchases.

You will need to be accurate with cash and have great customer service skills.

BUiLDiNG CENTRE Sales Assistant/Merchandiser – Some electrical experience an advantage!

• Working in the electrical department you will be helping and advising customers with their purchases and making sure your department is fully stocked and well displayed.

You will need to be customer focused and have good attention to detail.

Talk to us today about starting a career in Retail!

For further details and a full job description contact Eileen or Kai on phone 23-191, Email: KLouis@citc.co.ck 77026

12

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

Smoke settles on water at Panama had a fuel pump problem.

There was a signiicant amount of black smoke and because the weather has been so calm for the past few days, it’s settled on the water and had the chance to gather in small patches.” simpson said he went out in a tug boat to inspect the slick, which he described as being “very thin”.

“We did run through it a couple of times with the tug and break it up.”

The slick posed little threat to the environment because it would be broken up by waves on the reef before it was able to

PLuMes of black smoke from a

cargo ship settled on the water outside Avatiu Harbour and created what looked like an oil slick on Tuesday.

Many members of the public stopped to inspect the dark slick, which sat in long, thin patches about 50 metres off the beach in Panama. steve simpson, Director of Maritime at the Ministry of Transport, said he believed the slick came from soot and unburned fuel which billowed from the Tiare Moana on Monday. “i’m led to believe that ship

Smoke seen billowing from the Tiare Moana on Monday. 14021936

enter the lagoon, he said. “i would class it as minimal environmental impact. it looks like a lot because it’s so thin and spread out a long way,” he said.

He predicted the slick would soon disperse and said a cleanup would not be necessary.

Malcolm sword, from Cook islands General Transport, conirmed that the Tiare Moana has been having engine problems. “if the engines are not running correctly you’ll get soot and obviously that’s where its (the slick) come from.”

- Ben Chapman-Smith

a dark slick seen of the coast in Panama yesterday was formed by soot and unburned shipping fuel. 14021801

A close up view of the soot and unburned fuel. 14021935

SPECIALS AVAILABLE TILL WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY

PORK RIBS

SPEC IAL

CHICKEN NIBBLES

$6.50kg

$5.50kg

LAMB LOIN CHOPS 10KG

CHICKEN THIGH FILLET

$112.00 or $11.50kg

$8.50kg

NECTARINES, PEACHES & PLUMS

BACK INSTO RE!

Nz GREEN/RED CABBAGE

BACK INSTO RE!

LAMB OSSO BUCCO

SPEC IAL

$8.50kg

SPEC IAL

BACK INSTO RE!

HEAT & EAT COOKED ROAST BEEF

$8.50kg

SHELLED EDAMAME BEANS 454G

COLBY CHEESE SLICES 200G

$6.10pkt

$4.50pkt

Nz MANDARIN

GINGER & GARLIC

$9.40kg

OPENING HOURS

Mondays to Thursdays 8am - 5.30pm Fridays 8am-6pm Saturdays 8am-3pm Check us out on ST JOSEPH RD, AVARUA. Ph 22259.

SPEC IAL

BACK INSTO RE!

WEALSODOSEA/AIRFREIGHT FOR OUTER ISLANDS, SO PLACE YOUR ORDERS NOW!!!

13

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

FLiGhT FROM ARRiVES thursdAy feBruAry 20 NZ748/749 AKL 12.30AM NZ46/745 AKL 4.10PM VT35/36 PPT 2.50PM FRIDAY feBruAry 21 VA163/162 AKL 11.55PM NZ46/61 AKL 1.55PM

TO

DEPARTS

AKL AKL PPT

1.30AM 5.25PM 3.50PM

AKL SYD

1.05AM 3.05PM

Air Rarotonga

International Flights

Flight Times | Voyage details RARO TO ARR DEP thursdAy feBruAry 20 0800 AITUTAKI 0850 0910

TO

ARR

RARO

1000

1030

AITUTAKI

1120

1140

RARO

1230

1530 1800 1100

AITUTAKI AITUTAKI ATIU

1620 1850 1145

1640 1910 1205

RARO RARO RARO

1730 2000 1250

DEP

TO

TIARE MOANA 21 - ETD AUCK 27/02, ETA RARO 07/03, ETA AITUTAKI 09/03

Shipping OLOMANA 24 - ETD AUCK 04/03, ETA RARO 17/03, ETA AITUTAKI 19/03

GOT A STORY? text us on

Su-Do-Ku EASY

Crossword

instructions

instructions

Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the blank squares so that no digit is repeated in each row, each column or each 3 x 3 square.

Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the blank squares so that no digit is repeated in each row, each column or each 3 x 3 square.

AnswertoWednesday’spuzzle

AnswertoWednesday’spuzzle

HÄGAR the Horrible

By Dik Browne

®

THE PHANTOM

By Lee Falk & Sy Barry

®

[

HERE

see your business/products in this space. PHONE 22999

Issued at 2pm at Rarotonga Situation: a trough of low pressure lies slow moving over Southern Cooks. a trough of low pressure with associated cloud and showers remains slow moving over Northern Cooks.

Forecast to midnight for the Southern Cooks: Occasional showers and few thunderstorms. Moderate northeast winds.

Moderate to rough seas.

Further outlook: Fine apart from brief showers.

For Rarotonga: Occasional showers and few thunderstorms.

Further outlook: Fine apart from brief showers.

For the Northern Cooks: Fine apart from brief showers over Suwarrow. Occasional showers and few thunderstorms elsewhere.

Moderate east to northeast winds, fresh and gusty at times. Moderate to rough seas.

Further outlook: Fine apart from brief showers over Suwarrow. Occasional showers and few thunderstorms elsewhere.

Tides

21

Rarotonga Thursday, February 20, 2014

Forecast Map 2pm Thursday

Thu High 12.57aM 0.94M 1.11pM 0.99M

20

Low

FRI

High 1.34aM 0.92M 1.49pM 0.99M

21

7.00aM 0.33M

1.1m Ne

7.30pM 0.32M

N

Low 7.36aM 0.34M 8.10pM 0.34M

29°

Sun, Moon & Arapo

N 10kts new Moon Feb 28 10.00PM

First Quarter Mar 8 3.27aM

Full Moon Mar 16 7.09aM

Sunshine hours

5

Third Quarter Feb 22 7.16aM

ArApo - roto te rAkAu thu 20 TAnu (Planting)

TAuTAi (Fishing)

Tanu i te kai katoa. Good time for all planting.

Po ika kore. Maata roa te turama. not good ishing nights. Too much light.

humidity FRI

[

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Weather Forecast to Midnight

20

OLOMANA 23 - ETD AUCK 15/02, ETA RARO 25/02, ETA AITUTAKI 26/02

or call us at Cook islands news

Su-Do-Ku hARD

Thu

ARR

1.1m Ne Front Key:

Cold

Warm

Occluded

y

Swell direction and size

Stationary

Outer Islands Weather Outlook Thursday, February 20, 2014

Morning

92%

night

85%

Morning

90%

night

82%

Forecast thanks to Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

Thu Sun rise 6.32aM Sun Set 7.13pM

20 FRI

21

Moon rise 10.22pM Moon Set 11.28aM Sun rise

6.33aM

Sun Set

7.12pM

Moon rise 11.06pM Moon Set 12.48pM

Aitutaki

30° NE 10kts

Mangaia

28° N 10kts

Mitiaro

29° N 10kts

Atiu

29° N 10kts

Penrhyn

31° NE 10kts

Mauke

29° N 10kts

14

Thursday, February 20, 2014 cook Islands News

tarekareka

sPorT Winless sides chase conidence booster nuKuPure Park in ngatangi-

ia is the place to be this Friday where the ngatangiia sea eagles will host the visiting Aitutaki sharks.

Both sides are winless at this early stage of the tournament and that sets the scene for a bruising encounter as both teams will want to get points on the board.

The win will also be massive confidence booster as the sea eagles and sharks will be keen to get their season on track.

The match kicks off at 5.15pm after the ground is softened up by the stars of yesteryears when the masters take to the ield at 4.30pm. it’s set to be an exciting match and a great start to the sporting weekend on the island.

Four other games will be played on Friday with the Tupapa Panthers under 16 and reserve grades host their Titikaveka counterparts at Victoria Park.

The Avatiu eels under 14 and reserve grade will head out west to meet their opponents from the Arorangi Bears club. on saturday remaining grade games will be played with a physical match expected be-

tween the eels and Bears premier grade while the Bulldogs and Panthers premier grade match should be an interesting showdown.

- MW

Friday 21 Ngatangiia Sea Eagles vs Aitutaki Sharks at Nukupure Park – 4.30pm-

Masters, ref-Moeroa Takairangi, 5.15pm-Premier, refs-Tua ngaputa, Touch Judges-Arthur Emile/Bishop Bishop (Sub Oficial-Simiona Teiotu).

Friday 21 Tupapa Panthers vs Titikaveka Bulldogs at Tupapa Field – 4.15pm-under 16, ref-Tutai Taurarii, Touch Judges-Puis Mitchell/Poto ngaroi, 5.15pm-snr reserve, refnga Takaiti, Touch Judges-Puis Mitchell/Poto ngaroi.

Friday 21 Arorangi Bears vs Avatiu Nikao Eels Arorangi Field – 4.15pm-under 14, refTaua Benioni, Touch Judges-Jeffery Murray/Dawn Crummer, 5.15pm-snr reserve, ref-Tangi Taomia, Touch Judges-Jeffery Murray/Dawn Crummer.

Saturday 22 Tupapa Panthers vs Titikaveka Bulldogs Tupapa Field – 3.50pm-under 14, ref-Tutai Taurarii, Touch Judges- Poto ngaroi/Johnny Hosking, 5pm-Premier, ref-

The Sharks are heading back to Raro with their eyes irmly ixed on the Sea eagles and Friday’s match is set to be a thriller. sean Willis, Touch Judges- Tua ngaputa/Tutai Taurarii, (sub Oficial-Simiona Teiotu/Johnny Hosking).

Saturday 22 Arorangi Bears vs Avatiu Nikao Eels at Aro-

rangi Field – 2.30pm-under 16, ref-Andrew Tanga, Touch J u d g e s -Ta u a B e n i o n i / J e f fery Murray, 3.30pm-under 19, ref-Puis Mitchell, Touch Judges-Andrew Tanga/Dawn

Crummer, 4.50pm-Premier, ref-Arthur emile, Touch Judges-Tangi Taomia/nga Takaiti, (Sub Oficial: Taua Benioni/Jeffery Murray).

14021932

Eagels vs Takuvaine Warriors Ngatangiia Field – 3pmsnr reserve, ref-Bishop Bishop, Touch Judges-Tua ngaputa/ simiona Teiotu.

Saturday 22 Ngatangiia Sea

On the pitch action for referee Patia development oficer Lai Gukisuva says it is always a proud moment for the Cook islands to have a representative at these oceania tournaments.

“Tupou has excelled since 2010 and it was no surprise to her to receive the call back to officiate at this tournament,” says Gukisuva.

Successfully passing her itness test here on rarotonga before departure to Auckland and again before the commencement of the tournament has seen Patia’s hard work pay off.

“Fitness plays a big role as a referee,” says Patia.

“However when you work hard and set your goals you can achieve it. in saying so i am excited for the tournament

this week and look forward to improving myself at this tournament.”

When not sporting her referee uniform Patia can be seen in the community with her work colleagues as a probationary oficer in the Cook Islands Police enforcing the ‘law of the game’ off the ield.

Tonga, Papua new Guinea, new Zealand and Vanuatu are the participating countries at the women’s tournament which is being held from February18 to 22.

- CIFA Media

Masters make curtain raiser

ouTer islands junior rugby is set to get a boost with the donation of playing jerseys thanks to the rongokea family of Arorangi and the Harlequins rugby Club in Blenheim.

Among the donated goods in the 20-foot container for Avatea school were boxes of rugby jerseys donated by the south islands rugby club.

There is a strong rugby and family connection between the town of Blenheim and the Cook islands with a number of rising rugby players in training in the town.

The donation of jerseys came about when the rongokea family were helping the book drive for Avatea school and the Harlequins rugby Club in Blenheim offered rugby jerseys.

Pare rongokea, husband of

CooK isLAnDs Football’s elite match official Tupou Patia is currently in Auckland officiating at the oceania Football Confederation (OFC) under 20 women’s championship at Mangere Centre Park.

Patia is the Cook islands’ sole representative and is officiating alongside fellow colleagues from Fiji, new Zealand, Vanuatu and American samoa.

Patia is no stranger when it comes to international refereeing. she first exploded onto international scene when she was selected to oficiate in the OFC under 20 women’s championship back in 2010 which was also held in Auckland.

Cook islands Football referee

M i n i sT e r of sport Mark Brown was in try scoring mode at the swamp last Friday when he fronted for ‘the rest’ masters league team that went up against the Papa eels.

Minister Brown wasted no time in posting two tries before the Papa Eels scored their irst.

The Eels took a while to ind cohesion, until Tiri Toa, Flash Tou and Donald Tua combined in the backline to form a potent attacking unit. in the forwards, Johnny Hosking, rob Matapo and Andy

Akavi held their own against the solid pack of ricky Cowan, Amoa Amoa and Bishop Bishop.

Bobby Hunter’s ability to consistently ofload the ball in the tackle, earned him the ‘man of the match’ award. referee Moe Takairangi kept a tight rein on the game, despite the usual unsolicited advices from players.

This Friday, the masters will play the curtain raiser to the sea eagles and sharks game at ngatangiia, kicking off at 4.15 pm.

- Slow and Steady

Tupou Patia carrying out her duties as match oicial during the semiinal men’s match between Tupapa and Takuvaine last year. 14021930

Harlequins donate rugby jerseys passionate mum behind the book drive Andrea rongokea, has played for the club when the family were staying in the town and accepted the jersey donation.

The donations have been delivered to the Cook islands rugby union and the outer islands junior rugby teams have been

targeted to receive the donations as part of the local union’s junior development.

“This is really great,” says Ciru chief executive Ben Koteka.

“We are so grateful for the generous support for our junior development programmes here where we emphasise creating

pathways from home.”

The local rugby season kicks off in June and rugby in schools is set to begin shortly.

Ciru would like to thank the rongokea family and Harlequins rugby Club in Blenheim for the generous and greatly appreciated donation.

- Matariki Wilson

andrea and Pare Rongokea with CiRu chief executive oicer Ben koteka with some of the jerseys donated by the Harlequins rugby Club in Blenheim destined for the outer islands. 14021908