opinion | editorial
reform efforts in avaiki host nation, the cook islands, seem stuck on two opposing notions – good governance – and cheap governance.
years – decades – of public protests over corruption have focused tightly on cutting costs and downsizing governance systems, including parliament.
reforms stalled because politicians responded to threats of extinction by blocking new laws.
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you can't have both
looking back: tourism sours, labour falls flat
OPINION EDITORIAL Interesting reading in recent statistics suggesting fat profits have been made during recent boom years in tourism. Looking back, it now seems extraordinary our tourism industry could nearly double in five years to current arrivals around 85,000. Labour figures in one tourism sector, accommodation, however show flat levels of employment. Even now, accommodation workers do not number much more than 500. Each tourist represents, say, $1,000 to the local economy. Hopefully more! Whatever the true figure, there was about half as many tourists less than a decade ago. Now there might be $85 million in the local tourism pool. Minimum wage is still $4 an hour. Most workers do not get more than $6 to $7 an hour. One rumour has it that draft legislation has been in place for several years to raise minimum wages to $7 an hour. Cabinet has approved it. Caucus of every coalition shade and hue has approved it. But, so the rumour goes, the Chamber of Commerce opposes it. "Them or the cartel," says our source, nodding sagely. To some, big business is the same thing as corruption and corporate self-interest. Others claim myriad good intentions - but even tourism boosters admit clear leadership is lacking. One thing is clear. As an industry, tourism is failing badly at providing quality employment to Maori Cook Islanders. Years of complaints among papa'a investors about Maori Cook Islanders being "dumb" and/or "lazy" continue to this day, begging the question: why? Tourism operators need to start asking the hard questions in public. And prepare themselves for the hard answers.
flowers at the oasis
EDITORIAL OPINION
A young man burnt himself to death over the weekend on this tiny island of Rarotonga.
Scorch marks from his self-immolation left light sooty stains under a flying wing roof of the island's only 24 hour petrol station.
Capital of a rapidly-shrinking micro-state, Rarotonga is not really well-known for any cultural proficiency in suicide, unlike, say, neighbour Samoa.
As a centuries-old crossroads between Samoa and Tahiti, Avaiki Cook Islands are famed more for hearty hospitality.
Today, Maori still form a healthy majority of the population. Land is secured by missionary-sanctified lease systems. Social services like health and education are good compared with other bigger, island countries. Similarly, minimum wages of about us$3 an hour are princely for an independent pacific nation. Hundreds of migrant workers, mainly from Fiji, have signed up for short-term contracts with a country enjoying free-assocation under New Zealand and the full freedom its passports-by-birth regime brings.
One young Rarotonga man, however, did not feel free. He felt trapped enough to attempt suicide by means most dramatic and heart-breakingly awful. His family and friends started the weekend in deep shock, waiting for news from hospital where the man was reportedly treated for serious burns to 80% to his body.
He died after 12 hours.
Some may read much into his death, the manner of his passing and how that reflects on our society. Others could claim equal veracity for the randomness of anguish. For a five year old, losing a favourite pet can be heartbreaking. For a 19 year old teen, still learning to deal with the naturally powerful hormones of adulthood, and the surges of sometimes extreme emotion they bring, losing public face can be much too much to bear. One early story described trouble with the law.
Whatever the details, a young man burnt himself to death over the weekend. Those who witnessed his suicide attempt could be encouraged by employers to cooperate with professional counsellers for awhile. Might such counselling might have helped avert tragedy in the first place? Time enough for questions. We hope for now there will be flowers at the Oasis.
And prayers there too.
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