Fun bus noise nuisance
Avatea promotes leadership
Turning a blind eye
For better or worse: OI government
Snail mail from Raro?
Rudeness ‘should not be tolerated’
Disrupted by booze buses
Booze buses ‘beyond a joke’
NZ pension on forum agenda?
‘A little less sensitivity’
Xmas card 2 months late
No more mudslinging
Best ever NZ High Comm
Parents ‘half the problem’
Nightlife buses licensed
Booze buses ‘all the way’
The good old days
‘We are acting prudently’
Fun bus noise nuisance
Thu
21 Feb
Dear Editor,
Your front page article of last Saturday February 16, of another new fun bus to the pub crawl scene would have not made happy reading to many people in Rarotonga.
Anyone living on the main road or up to 100 metres inland sees this as another unwanted wake-up call during the night--two to three nights each week.
The fun bus picks up its load of tourists from the resorts and then winds it sound system up to the maximum and heads for town, with its screaming and yelling passengers.
Residents on the main road hear or are awakened long before it passes and after it has gone. This is repeated as each group heads for town.
This is repeated with a much higher level of noise after the visit to various night clubs in town in the early hours of the morning. Can the promoters of these tours justify why it is necessary to upset the sleep patterns of so many with this selfish noise disturbance?
PJ
Kavera
Avatea promotes leadership
Thu
21 Feb
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An ei covered Simone Nicholas smiles at adoring family after being inducted as a school prefect.
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Avatea School prefects were told that not only do they carry the title during schools hours but all day, every day including weekends.
The 14 new school prefects were invested with the leadership titles last Friday where they were encouraged to maintain a high standard of behaviour.
Of the 14 prefects, 9 are young women and it was explained that the prefect selection was not based on gender but rather the leadership qualities of each student.
Leading the prefects will be head girl Rachel Scheel and head boy Adoni Wichman-Rairoa.
Both student leaders vowed to support the school teachers and students however they could throughout the year.
Nah Chi Myo Min was invested as the schools deputy head girl and Jak Wilkinson is deputy head boy.
Remaining prefects are Louana Brown, Ambushia Mateariki, Simone Nicholas, Kiana Puna, O-Hiva Williams, Teraimateata Teataiariki, Charlize Tuara, Mark Leito, Tutoru Arona and Jonah Ezekiela.
Turning a blind eye
Fri
22 Feb
Dear Editor,
It is alarming that we see and hear every day of more of our people and families leaving our shores for NZ or Australia.
They mostly say it’s to do with their mortgages, high cost of living and low wages.
Whatever the reason, government seems to be turning a blind eye to all this.
Even to the extent the PM saying, hey come on get a second job, earn extra money and all will be ok.
Well it’s not that easy PM, where you are sitting its ok but where the ordinary people are sitting, it’s hard out there.
I know of families struggling, kids eating only noodles and cheap foods, not
enough food to eat and little for school, not a healthy way to live at
all.
What is government doing about all this hardship and mass migration and exodus of people going overseas?
Where are the jobs from renewable energy or other projects government has been talking about?
See what is happening to our sister islands, more and more people are leaving.
So what are the roads, harbours, water and airports for?
Government should come up with some good development projects to kick-start the economy so that jobs will be there for our people.
Sitting and doing nothing is no longer an option.
Government start doing work now before it’s too late.
Concerned Islander
(Name and address supplied)
For better or worse: OI government
Fri
22 Feb
On Wednesday afternoon, Parliament passed the Island Government Act 2013. This is the culmination of more than a decade of cutting and pasting legislative provisions that could at least come close to addressing the very complex political and government structures of the outer islands. The Prime Minister Henry Puna called it ‘historical’ but I call it ‘convenient’. In my eyes it is not quite right but when is any law passed by Parliament correct?
For the prime minister this act is an addition to what he boasts to be achievements by his government as having passed close to twenty legislations within their two years in office. But his boasting needs to be tempered as it takes two to tango in parliament; the opposition in fact plays quite a prominent role in shaping those bills by vigorous debate and pointing out to the government to be wary of bulldozing bills thorough passage without noting one side of the public domain.
In the view of the opposition which I articulate here, the Island Government Act 2013 is not that much different from an assortment of legislations, bylaws and regulations dealing with the outer islands. This new act is of course much more practicable in that it bounds together into a comprehensive volume objectives common to all about the outer islands. However, what stands out like a sore thumb was the exclusion of the members of parliament from respective islands in the affairs of the island council. This exclusion also includes the traditional chiefs (Ui Ariki) and Aronga Mana of each island, although they have some minor roles, albeit ceremonial in most cases.
Those two areas of concern to the opposition were additions to the notion of political interference by the central government or agents of the central government to the way island councils and mayors run their islands. In fact it appears the government was very reluctant to grant more than just sufficient freedom for the islands to govern themselves. In other words, the new act gives mayors and islands councils part devolution and that was not the intention of political reform nor was it the recommendation of the Political Reform Commission Report of some years back. The drive was for total devolution, absolute granting of authority of administration and financial responsibility to the outer islands governments.
However, experience has shown because of the very nature of our political system, political differences for instance between mayors (who are elected by the island at large) and MPs, and of course central governments, will always be a factor to consider. The government through this act has been perhaps a tad too ambitious by thinking that it can resolve those inherent differences. The prime minister thinks the act can bring everyone together and be all ‘lovey-dovey’ in the way the affairs of each islands are run. Far from it, the act in my honest opinion will in fact make outer islands politics far more vigorous and nasty.
Let me conclude on this note, I believe that the outer islands act has unwittingly created mini-states of each individual island. A few years from now the government will look back in regret of the monsters the islands have become. I know that deep in the heart of the people of the outer islands, they want political autonomy and they are now well on their way towards that.
Snail mail from Raro?
Sat
23 Feb
Dear Editor,
I was very surprised, while staying with an old friend in Auckland, to find letters I wrote and posted separately to him on January 10, 14, 16 and 21, all postmarked February 13 and arriving together on February 20!
Does this mean Post Office waits until it has enough mail to warrant a shipment?
Nothing will spoil my memories of a wonderful (fourth) trip to Raro, but next time I will not try so hard to write a postcard every day to my children in the US and UK. I imagine that all 40 of these will thud through the letterbox together sometime next month.
Martin Parry
Suffolk, UK
Telecom Cook Islands responds: We have no explanation or excuse for slow service on this occasion and apologise to the customer for it. Although we think this is an isolated incident, we would appreciate hearing from any other customers who may have had a similar experience, and our manager postal is reviewing our processes to reduce the chance of this poor service happening again.
Rudeness ‘should not be tolerated’
Sat
23 Feb
Dear Editor,
Last week we read about a Cook Island lady’s experience at the airport when she was bringing flowers into the country, ‘Visitor humiliated’ at airport’ February 18.
I think I know who the quarantine staff member is and his rude behaviour has been going on far too long.
You see, frontline staff are supposed to be well mannered, polite, and conversational. Above all they must know their responsibilities and the law.
Most of our visitors including our own people are very smart and well aware of their rights, travelling policies and procedures. When they are confronted at frontline areas they can ask questions and be informed of the law. Usually if answers are reasonable and logical, visitors can just walk through. But when you have stupid comments and answers like, “I don’t want to hear your argument, you think you know better”, or “I am the law here and what I say goes” etcetera, it’s not on.
I know because I have been in this situation before and have heard comments like these. The circumstances of this incident are the same as mine, hence why I am assuming he is the same person.
However I am very happy to learn of the (Agriculture) secretary’s quick and prompt intervention resulting in the suspension. In fact I would recommend dismissal or reassign him groundsman or maintenance responsibilities because this behaviour should not be tolerated at any time.
Regular Traveller
(Name and address supplied)
Disrupted by booze buses
Sat
23 Feb
Dear Editor,
I like a cold beer as much as the next guy, but I’m with PJ (‘Fun bus noise nuisance’, February 21). How long must those of us unfortunate enough to live within 200 metres of the main road, have our sleep disrupted by the booze buses and their drunken cargo night after night? At least three nights a week we are awoken between one and 3am by blasting music, screaming and shouting.
The cops and the village wouldn’t put up with it if it were coming from a private house-they would confiscate the stereo system. So why do the promoters think they can wind up the stereo to 100 plus decibels as they continue their drunken orbits of the island disrupting the villager’s sleep? How arrogant that their business model is built upon ruining the quality of other people’s lives!
Can the police and those responsible for licensing these idiots please crack down on this disruptive and anti-social behaviour?
Sleepless in Tikioki
(Name and address supplied)
Booze buses ‘beyond a joke’
Mon
25 Feb
Dear Editor,
I have to agree with the last couple of letter writers about the so called ‘booze buses’. In the last year the problem has been getting progressively worse.
We are now woken up regularly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights a couple of times between midnight and 3am. It’s bad enough that the buses go past on their way to town at 9pm to 10.30pm waking school children on week nights, but the early morning blast of music and screaming is really beyond a joke.
I feel especially sorry for the owners of properties lucky enough to have the house shaking with the music as a bus stops outside at the end of their driveway for passengers to urinate and vomit on the side of the road.
Just to add to the problem we have noticed that the new trend on Friday and Saturdays is for the buses to be followed by up to five teenage guys on scooters with neon lights and defective mufflers! I’m guessing that they are following in hope for the after party at the rugby ground or to ‘help’ the tourist girls who roll out of the bus as it stops at their hotel door?
One other concern for the passengers is when does a truck suddenly become a public service vehicle?
How can driving a modified truck along with a bunch of drunks hanging out the sides and off the back steps (with no closed door) be considered safe? How would one of these ‘booze buses’ cope, God forbid, if it end up in an accident when the driver is distracted by the screaming? There is a reason why they don’t make real buses out of plywood. Are these plywood death traps issued taxi/bus licenses?
As ‘Sleepless in Tikioki’ says, this noise nuisance would not be put up with if it was a private party.
Having buses available to take people home from a night out in town is an excellent idea to reduce drink driving for everybody’s safety. That is totally different to a bus that is used as an after party on wheels! It should (if it isn’t already) be illegal to make loud noise after a certain time of night.
So ‘booze buses’, please stop being so anti-social and do us all a favour by turning the music off and stopping the screaming cabaret on the way home from town.
Dark circles
(Name and address supplied)
NZ pension on forum agenda?
Mon
25 Feb
Dear Editor,
I note in Saturday’s CI News that a joint ministerial forum will be held in Queenstown to discuss, inter alia, economical development and, of course, aid. Since the NZ delegation will be led by Murray McCully, this presents an ideal opportunity for our three delegates to confront him on the issue of the NZ pension portability to eligible expats and locals living here.
Payment of the benefit here is fully justifiable and it should not be construed that we are just begging for more aid. It should be regarded as a legitimate entitlement. Payment of the said pension would certainly improve our social and economic development and also help stem the present population drift to NZ by our senior citizens who, because of the current draconian rules, must spend five years in NZ from age 60 to 65 in order to qualify for their benefit.
Mr McCully should be reminded that after he made a deal with us to change our immigration laws to extend stays here for Kiwi visitors, he pledged (CI News May 14, 2011) “...that the superannuation issue will be resolved in the next couple of months.”
We honoured our part of the deal, but twelve months ago Mr McCully took our issue off the table citing the Christchurch earthquake restoration costs as the reason. We consider this excuse to be quite irrelevant, and hope our delegation is not fobbed off with the usual politically expedient response, i.e. “We are discussing this matter but have yet to set a deadline for resolving the issue.” How much longer must we wait for justice to prevail?
We, the Lost Tribe, therefore hope that Mr Puna and his delegation will return next week to enlighten us with some glad tidings and positive feedback as a result of their deliberations with Mr McCully on this tediously long-standing issue.
Les Priest
Matavera
‘A little less sensitivity’
Mon
25 Feb
Dear Editor,
Can I add my grizzle about pothole non-repair on side roads? There are numerous potholes which continually get ignored along the short road to Nukupure Park and the Muri Beach Club Hotel. Can someone in authority please give the appropriate instruction.
On another note. To those persons, including the Minister of Finance, who are speculating who the author was of the COLAGATE letter in last Tuesday’s CI News let me ease your anxiety. It was not I. If you want to know if a letter came from me go to the bottom line. If my name is not there it is not mine. I have not used a nom de plume in living memory but on this point would comment that I fully understand why people do. Those in the firing line have this compelling need to know from whence the criticism came in order to diminish, cheapen or weaken the message such letters contain and, if the author can be identified, exact some retribution. Get over it!
A little less sensitivity is what is required here. A little more maturity and dare I say it a little more responsibility to address the criticism unsullied by your suspicion as who might be levelling it.
John M Scott
Xmas card 2 months late
Mon
25 Feb
Dear Editor,
It’s not just out-going mail that is held up. On February 21 I received a Christmas card postmarked in the US on December 13, 2012. I have had packages held up on more than one occasion by the Raro post office. And I know I am not the only one on Aitutaki. In fact, I have in the past called the post office in Raro to inquire if they had any packages for me and was told specifically ’no there were none’ and, just coincidentally, I’m sure, the very next day packages for me arrived in Aitutaki. This is a problem that has been going on for years. I have given up saying anything as it seems to do absolutely no good whatsoever. I have even heard employees in Aitutaki admit that mail gets held up in Raro.
I am also afraid that now that I am complaining that my mail might take even longer to get to Aitutaki.
Larry Richards
Aitutaki
No more mudslinging
Mon
25 Feb
The much-maligned CISNOC management seems to have sorted itself out, as there is no mudslinging being done through the media, said the sports minister.
Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked in parliament on Friday whether the problems, which were publically aired, about CISNOC management have been sorted out, and whether there is ‘any good news?’
Sports Minister Mark Brown replied he was in the same boat as Rasmussen in terms of not hearing anything. “There’s been no news in the media, no slandering and accusations so I guess things are going well.”
“That’s because you’re not the chairman,” interjected George.
Brown said he has had many meetings with the newly-elected president and executive and they are “working hard” to make sure its financial systems are up to a standard where they could receive funds from the government to support Cook Islands’ sports.
The executive has a number of new members, and has the secretaries of Finance and Internal Affairs as advisors “to provide them with some rigour”, said Brown.
CISNOC are preparing its budget, to be presented along with other government agencies’ budgets, in anticipation for the budget being tabled in June this year.
Brown said sub-committees have been established within the organisation, and were busy preparing for the Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna, Manea Games in Mauke next year and the Commonwealth Games.
He pointed out the executive is voluntary and voted on by their peers. “In short, the executive is working well.”
Best ever NZ High Comm
Tue
26 Feb
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NZ High Commissioner John Carter.
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Dear Editor,
Upon hearing that NZ High Commissioner John Carter will shortly be returning to NZ, it is with a tinge of sadness that I write this letter.
Carter probably ranks as NZ’s best ever High Commissioner to serve the Cook Islands since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries decades ago. Little wonder that he was a former Cabinet minister in the NZ government.
A very down-to-earth individual who is always approachable but steely in his own ways, especially when it came to making certain that NZ Aid funds were used for the purpose intended, this country has been blessed to have an individual of Carter’s calibre, energy, leadership, passion, strength and vision serve as NZ’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.
Providing a human touch to the face of diplomacy, Carter demonstrated a genuine interest to work at all levels within the community to ensure that assistance provided by NZ was targeted to specific areas that had been neglected, was not squandered by corrupt or incompetent officials and did achieve the desired outcomes.
A person who was not afraid to look outside the box, cut through the layers of bureaucracy and get his fingers dirty to achieve a certain assignment or task for the benefit of this country and its people, Carter will be fondly remembered by those whom he worked closely with for the long term benefit of this country.
In an effort to improve themselves as public servants of this country and its people, hopefully there will be some within our current crop of politicians who will see fit to borrow a few pages from John Carter’s inspirational journey as High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.
Cook Islands loss will be Northland’s gain.
Haere ra John Carter and thanks for everything you have done during your tenure as NZ’s High Commissioner to Cook Islands.
Observer
(Name and address supplied)
Parents ‘half the problem’
Tue
26 Feb
Dear Editor,
This is a letter to the two thugs who broke into our house at the weekend cutting open a mesh screen protector and walking past us with a bush knife while we slept.
The hunt is on and I hope we get to you before the police do, guys like you need to learn a lesson before you go to prison.
Taking our kids school bags, rugby boots, iPads, iPhones and a lot of my wife’s expensive jewellery that cannot be replaced is inexcusable. These are things that we treasure and have worked long and hard to buy. And for two dropkicks to walk into our house and steal while carrying a bush knife that is bullshit and must stop.
Because most of this property are one off products from overseas, we will find it and hopefully you will come with it. Then we will see how tough you pricks are, hopefully that day will not be in court.
To the parents of these kids, you are half the problem as you have done a piss poor job of bringing your kids up. Instead of looking after your kids you have probably been getting wasted and neglecting your job as a parent. This unfortunately looks like never changing here where a lot of these thugs roam the streets and their parents don’t give a toss.
I don’t like writing to the paper, and I realize the police are doing their best to sort this shit out with limited resources. Maybe the kids should get a good hiding first and the parents should go to jail with them for a while. It would probably be the first quality time they have ever had together.
Chris “Piss off” Mckinley
Arorangi
Nightlife buses licensed
Tue
26 Feb
Dear Editor,
In response to ‘Sleepless in Tikioki’ and the other booze bus comments last week by PJ (‘Fun bus noise nuisance’) I would like to say that our company, charters our buses for nightlife tours. Most of these are for the two big hotels out west. Also we do private charters.
The sound systems in our buses are contained to mostly the interior, also the hotel charters have tour guides on board who control their guests so noise is kept to a minimum. As the hotels require their guest to have a pleasant and safe evening, we do not consider our nightlife buses ‘booze buses’, but nightlife tour buses. Our buses also carry very substantial liability insurance, which some others do not have.
There are two new operators out there now, both are not licensed, one has applied under the Transport licensing Act 1967, but to my knowledge, has not had its license granted yet. The other one from Arorangi has not even attempted to apply for one. Both of these operators are in breach of the Act and should not be on the road.
There is a twist here, the Transport licensing Authority is administered according to the Act by the Police department. They are meant to be policing this Act that covers, not only passenger service, but taxis and rental vehicles, which some of our biggest rental companies are not even licensed to operate, but they do in a blas manner.
This is another case of acts of parliament that are not even being administered and enforced properly, but who cares? The ministers are not here most of the time to make sure that the law is being taken care of. No policeman goes around checking if companies and individuals are abiding by the law and that licenses are kept up to date, so please tell me, why do we have law makers making laws in parliament and why are they paid to do so if these Acts are not even being enforced?
Kevin Cook
Cook’s Island Bus Passenger
Transport Ltd
Related article(s):
Booze buses ‘all the way’
Booze buses ‘all the way’
Tue
26 Feb
Dear Editor,
My fianc and I left the Cooks almost 8 years ago and have never looked back. The island was not satisfying our needs both financially and socially. It was sad to leave but there was nothing to keep us back, apart from family of course, most have now moved overseas in the last few years. I noticed the finance part of things have not changed but at least something else has.
Every month someone we know, either family, Cook Islanders or Aussie/NZ mates travel back to the Cooks for a holiday or wedding etc. On their return what they brag about most is the party life. Yes not the beaches or shopping, but the night life.
Lately it has been the awesome booze buses. Many people love them especially my Aussie mates and some have gone on them more than once. If it keeps our visitors and young local people happy and helps with minimizing the road toll then it should be supported.
Those who are complaining have nothing better to do. Oh boohoo, I got woken up by people having so much fun and contributing to the economy. Your moaning is louder than the bus. Try living next to a train station. There are bigger problems on that island and you are worried about something that brings life back to it? I wish the island life was that entertaining when we were still there. We’ve decided to get married this year back in Rarotonga and I will not allow my family and friends to drink and drive-- so booze bus all the way.
Booze Bus Supporter
Sydney
Related article(s):
Nightlife buses licensed
The good old days
Wed
27 Feb
Dear Editor,
Beginning January 28, 2013, I spent three weeks in the Global Volunteers programme in the Cook Islands. I had the pleasure of working, as a volunteer, with the outstanding professionals and wonderful students at Titikaveka College.
During my stay, I heard a few Cook Islands residents complain that it wasn’t the “good old days.”
I say nonsense.
Every school day we volunteers would take the clockwise bus to Titikaveka and other schools. At the end of the school day we’d take the anticlockwise bus to our accommodations.
On Thursday, February 14, I left my wallet on the anticlockwise bus. I had no idea that I’d done this. I was prepared to replace all my credit cards and other identification.
On the next day, Friday, the staff at Titikaveka held a farewell for me featuring the traditional foods of the Cook Islands that I love so much. I wasn’t on the anticlockwise bus that afternoon.
The bus driver, recognising my fellow volunteers, asked if they knew someone named “Ronald Berntson”. They did, and the driver gave my wallet to my friends to pass on to me.
I think the driver showed the honesty and dedication to service that is evident throughout the Islands. When you get on either bus, give them a little smile in order to express your appreciation for what they do to represent the best of the Cook Islands.
Ron Berntson
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada
‘We are acting prudently’
Wed
27 Feb
Dear Editor,
I would like to clarify inaccuracies in a series of articles by your reporter Calida Smylie. Firstly I am flattered that the Opposition Leader Rassmussen thinks I am an economist even while he denigrates them with the statement that "an economist cannot be trusted with finances". Wow! What an insult to our country’s economists. For our readers information my qualification is a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a Diploma in Public Sector Management. I am not an economist. I like economists and I think they have great value to any society. I also like lawyers (apart from one or two) and they too play a valuable role in society (especially on how not to do things). Perhaps that is why CI News seems to quote politician/lawyers statements so often.
In response to the article ‘Govt ‘desperate’: Opposition’ ( February 26), the truth is we are not desperate for money. The government’s prudent and responsible management of the Crown accounts and taxpayers money is something we as Cook Islanders can be satisfied with.
The supplementary budget clearly shows we have an underlying surplus of $824,000 after all adjustments for revenue and expenditure were made. We are acting prudently and we are being responsible. That is why we put away $268,000 into our Disaster Management Trust Fund, to put money aside for times when cyclone will strike us. We now have just under half a million dollars in the fund. The government is aiming for $1 million. This will be our own money that we can use for immediate response in times of emergency without having to wait for donor assistance. That is acting prudently. We have purchased a brand new state of-art-ambulance to replace the ones that are 11 and 8 years old. We did this from our own money when we saw we had made savings in the last 6 months. That is acting responsibly. We have put money away to start the work on the Manihiki Harbour to follow up on harbour work in Mauke and Mitiaro. We have a small window to get the work done between cyclone seasons. We cannot wait for aid funds for this project. The balance of the project costs will be incorporated in the main budget that is currently being prepared. These are all from the savings and revenues of the last 6 months that allow us to do these things.
There was no ambush or surprise in this budget. There were no secret meetings. This is not the government of the past who used to do all these things. February is the time to table a supplementary budget. It happens when we have received our six month reports for the July to December period and we have an accurate assessment of our actual figures against our budgeted figures. To leave the supplementary budget for later in the year would be a reflection of poor management. I can recall the year before my first budget the Demo government trying desperately to pass an act of validation in Parliament. It was trying to pass a retrospective budget after the deadline where it had already spent money BEFORE it had been appropriated by Parliament. Now that is an act of desperation!
The question by Norman George on whether the government would guillotine the budget was posed to Minister Bishop and not to myself, as reported in the paper. The responses are incorrectly attributed to me.
The supplementary budget dealt with a fixed and specific number of amendments. Only two ministries operating budgets war amended for one-off expenses. The rest were on POBOC and donor fund allocation changes. It was expected that debate would centre on the amendments that are listed in page 21 of the Appropriation Amendment document. It was anticipated that all members would have sufficient time to debate these specific matters. There would be no need to curtail the debate with the time allocated. However, Norman George took it upon himself to use the time to grandstand and talk about budget items that had already been passed in June and were not part of any adjustment in the supplementary. His comments had nothing to do with the budget at all (an example was talking about the Cook Islands position regarding Fiji and the military government?). Norman George is no stranger to "abuse of process" as we now see in the Court of Appeal judgment against him for exactly the same thing. He wanted to drag out proceedings and use the time for personal self aggrandizement. He is a master at self promotion. This is evident in the childish questions he asks in Parliament about the state of the roads in town (hello major project going on), and errant grass cutter operators (reallyis this a Parliament matter?) But his time and his type of politics is coming to an end. There are new and younger MPs coming into the house who are not interested in his type of politics. We want to do what is best for our country not what is best for ourselves.
Let’s get on with the work.
Mark Brown
MP Takuvaine Tutakimoa
Minister of Finance
Editor: CI News has run a series of articles about the supplementary budget and the parliamentary debate on the Appropriation Amendment Bill 2012. The first article on February 22 set out where the budget savings were made and where the funds will be allocated – including the Emergency Disaster Trust Fund, POBOCs, and the civil list. During parliamentary debate, the opposition made comments on the bill which were broadcast live and recorded by the newspaper to inform the public.
However, CI News wrongly attributed a reply to a question on guillotining to Minister Mark Brown, instead of Minister Teina Bishop, and apologises for the mistake.
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