Government Briefs
Government Briefs
Cook Islands
Local councils in the Cook Islands outer islands were to have been given greater responsibility and authority, according to the central government’s budget for 2002-2003. However, in recent months several matters concerning education, health, agriculture and justice have reverted to the control of the central ministries. In May, Cabinet approved the recentralization of personnel, capital and operating budgets for outer island schools, with the exception only of schools on Rakahanga Island. Outer island teachers have complained in the past about delays in receiving pay increases and requested that payment of staff be controlled from Rarotonga. According to Education Minister Jim Marurai, “devolution is not working and there is not enough capacity to run those services.” The move back to centralized control, however, said Marurai, should not be seen as permanent.
—ND
Government leaders in the Solomon Islands are favorably considering a plan to dispose of industrial wastes from Taiwan in a deal that could bring more than $100 million to financially-strapped nation. The deal has been rubbished by Dr. Morgan Wairiu, who says government officials are attempting to launch a waste trade despite the hazardous nature of the waste under consideration.
—GJ
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The Tongan government announced in late May that it was shutting down the operations of its flag of convenience ship registry. This followed the discovery that a Tongan-flagged vessel was carrying arms and explosives to a Middle Eastern country, and another vessel was transporting refugees. Prior to the government announcement, the International Transport Workers Federation said it was putting Tonga’s registry on a blacklist as part of an effort to clean up shipping on the high seas.
—GJ
Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei of the Vanua‘aku Pati has been reelected for another term as PM, following the first meeting of parliament after the May 2 elections. Union of Moderate Parties head Serge Vohor will continue as deputy PM. The two parties control 29 of the 52 seats in parliament, with the UMP having 15.
—GJ
In the wake of a failed effort to get the International Whaling Commission during meetings in Japan to create a Pacific whale sanctuary, Greenpeace officials accused the Japanese government of “buying” votes. Still, independent of the IWC, whale sanctuaries are in the process of being established by several Pacific islands. Sämoa declared in late May that whales are now protected within its 200 mile ocean zone.
—GJ
