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EDITORIAL opinion
If Parliamentary Assistant Clerk Tupuna Rakanui is correct, former minister Peri Vaevae Pare won’t lose his seat over corruption convictions.
According to Rakanui, the 2004 Electoral Act calls for a constituency to be declared void if the member of parliament is given a one year prison sentence or more.
This contrasts with the earlier 1998 Electoral Act which saw MPs lose their seat if convicted of a crime “punishable” by one year or more.
In other words, the MP would not have to actually be sentenced to one year in prison – just found guilty of a crime that carries that kind of punishment.
Under the old act, Pare would have lost his seat.
Under the new act, Pare gets to keep it.
What this means of course is that after years of promising to introduce codes of conduct and other ethical improvements, members of parliament are passing laws that allow more, not less, corruption.
In doing so, the Cook Islands has taken a big step down the long, slippery slope that has seen other Pacific countries like Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga stagger from crisis to crisis.
This has nothing to do with “ethnic tensions” or other such nonsense dreamed up by politicians to hide one simple fact: all these problems are due to one thing: corruption.
Chief Justice David Williams is not exaggerating when he describes corruption as a “deadly evil.”
On the world scale, such a comment may seem a bit over the top.
After all what are a few bits of hard board and a load of cement? Nothing compared with tens of thousands of lives lost and billions of dollars wasted in the so-called War on Terror.
Anyone who complains about nepotism, mismanagement and corruption in the Pacific Islands should take a closer look at the affairs of puppet president George Bush and his obscenely rich behind-the-scenes bosses on the far right of American big money politics.
On the world stage, and in forums like the United Nations, however, big boys like the United States are worth exactly as much as the little boys like Tonga: one vote.
As Pacific Islanders face extinction of their homelands through rising sea levels brought on by corrupt climate change policies, it becomes more and more important that we clean up at home at the same time as attempting to save the world or at least our own part of it.
From the big picture to the small.
Should Peri Vaevae Pare do the right thing and step down?
Of course.
Even if he stood again, and was re-elected, and he probably would be, such a series of events would show we are serious as a nation about corruption, about our duties as a democratic nation state – and, potentially, our responsibilities as a global citizen.
Either that, or we're just another third-world, tin-pot, banana republic, living off scraps from an increasingly rotten first-world table.
. . .
why pare should resign
"corruption is a deadly evil" - judge
NEWS Chief Justice David Williams issued costs of $5,000 against former Health minister Peri Vaevae Pare in the High Court of the Cook Islands this week. Pare was given an open sentence on fraud charges, according to daily Cook Islands News, in case he reoffends in the next 12 months. Earlier this week, the court found Pare guilty of corruption charges involving $463.50 of public monies spent on building supplies for his house. Williams decided against a prison sentence for Pare. He said it was not significant as the offending had not taken place over a long period of time. However, the Chief Justice strongly criticised Pare. “Corruption is a deadly evil,” he said in passing sentence People working in government especially leaders and ministers should not betray the public trust through inappropriate behaviour. He said it was obvious from the maximum penalty of five years that the offence was a serious one. A discharge without conviction would be quite inappropriate, said the Chief Justice. During the case, the court heard that Pare had given instructions for the building supplies to be booked up to a special community fund. As a witness, Pare had also admitted instructing government workers to carry out renovations on his house – and that it was wrong. Before sentencing yesterday, Crown Prosecutor Elikana Tingika asked that a prison sentence be imposed on Pare. It was important in a small community that a message is sent to warn anyone with similar ideas. Tingika referred to earlier cases against government employees including former chief of staff Eddie Drollett and another employee, Junior Areai, both given prison sentences. He said people who have the same or similar duties as Pare need a clear message that they could expect prison if they offend. Counsel for Pare at sentencing, John McFadzien, said the offending was at the very bottom of the scale and that the MP was the epitome of a pillar of the community. A total of 30 character references were given to the court. McFadzien said Pare had already suffered public humiliation and lost his ministerial position.
pm's silence on drollett question
No response yet from the Prime Minister as to the exact nature of links between his office and its former chief of staff. It is not clear whether questions to Jim Marurai’s email address have actually been seen by the PM or only his senior advisor. Trevor Pitt responded from the prime minister’s email address to earlier questions from Avaiki Nius Agency. He complained about “irresponsible” and “short-sighted” reporting. Neither Pitt nor the PM responded to a follow up question nine days ago as to whether the former chief of staff, Eddie Drollett, has had any communications with the Office of the Prime since being convicted on corruption charges. Questions about the exact nature of contacts between Marurai and Drollett were raised after the official car of the prime minister was seen driving into the home of the former chief of staff on a Saturday night. Responding to agency questions, Pitt said the driver rented an apartment at Drollett’s home.
pm's office says report "irresponsible"
NEWS Advisor Trevor Pitt suggests there is an innocent explanation for the official car of the prime minister being seen at the home of a former chief of staff currently serving prison time on corruption charges. Sighting "of the car at the Drollett residence (at any time) is purely due to the fact that the driver resides in the complex and undertakes duties outside of the normal working hours," Pitt told Avaiki Nius Agency. He was reponding to email questions from the agency which sighted the car turning into the Drollett residence late last month. "This has nothing to do whatsoever with the owner of the property, nor is there any suggestion of some type of link between the Prime Minister himself and Edward Drollett. "To assume otherwise would be irresponsible and rather short-sighted," said Pitt. He was today reported by daily Cook Islands News as saying it was "sad" that the agency opted to run a story on this website "without giving the office a chance to reply."
full transcript | pm's car
full transcript of email questions and answers Below is the full questions and answers to a sighting by Avaiki Nius Agency of the Prime Minister’s official car being turning into the home of the former Chief of Staff, Eddie Drollett. Convicted of receiving secret commissions, Drollett last week abandoned an appeal to the Privy Council in London after earlier unsuccessful applications to the Court of Appeal. --------------------------------------------------------------- questions sent Saturday 5th November 2005 Jim Marurai Prime Minister Government of the Cook Islands re: use of official car Kia orana Prime Minister, As discussed with your advisor, Trevor Pitt, here are some questions regarding use of your official car with the numberplate "PM". It was seen by myself at just after 8.30pm last Saturday 29th October 2005 being driven into the home of former chief of staff Eddie Drollett. Could you please have a look at the questions below. 1. Can you please confirm whether the car was being used with your authority and by whom? 2. What business has the Office of the Prime Minister with the former chief of staff? 3. What would you say to concerns that use of the official car to visit the home of a convicted criminal may show evidence of corruption in high places? I would welcome the opportunity to discuss answers to these questions with you in an interview or via return email. Meitaki maata, jason -------------------------- jason brown editor avaiki nius agency editor@avaiki.nuavaiki cook islands +682 50055 answers sent Monday 14th November 2005 Jay, since you've asked for a written response about the car, here 'tis. First off, the Prime Minister was returning from overseas that particular night/Sunday morning. In any event, the official car does spend time at the Drollett residence. That's where the PM's official driver lives - or more acurately, rents a little flat. On occasion, the driver is authorised to take the official car home overnight for more thorough cleaning/washing. On the night in question, the driver had retained the official car for airport duties (early Sunday morning). Therefore, the presence of the car at the Drollett residence (at any time) is purely due to the fact that the driver resides in the complex and undertakes duties outside of the normal working hours. This has nothing to do whatsoever with the owner of the property, nor is there any suggestion of some type of link between the Prime Minister himself and Edward Drollett. To assume otherwise would be irresponsible and rather short-sighted. Regards, Trev. ends
pm's car seen at convict home
NEWS
The official car for the prime minister of the Cook Islands was seen turning into the home of the man convicted of stealing from his office.
With an unknown driver at the wheel and plainly number plated with the letters “PM” the white sedan car was seen by avaiki nius agency turning into the home of former chief of staff Eddie Drollett at just after 8.30pm on Saturday night.
Drollett is supposed to be in jail over the weekend, after being given work leave Monday to Friday between 8am to 4pm.
Prison authorities allowed Drollett to work with the Pitt Media Group. One of the group’s family shareholders, Trevor Pitt, works as the current prime minister’s senior adviser.
Another shareholder, George Pitt, was recently sacked by the Deputy Prime Minister Dr Terepai Maoate from his position as chairman of the capital island’s state-owned electrical authority, TAUT, Te Aponga Uira o Tumutevarovaro.
George Pitt threatened to bring down the government rather than accept being dismissed.
"I know who is behind this," he told the daily Cook Islands News.
"I must warn cabinet that I will bring this government down."
Dr Maoate – formerly a strong supporter of Drollett and the Pitts – is now accused by George Pitt of being pressured by Mobil, one of the country’s two main fuel suppliers.
Pitt alleges Mobil pressured Dr Maoate into sacking him because of an independent fuel review which claims the supplier over-charged TAUT by nearly nz$170,000.
It is the latest twist in a long-running saga which critics say has seen Pitt use his media group to promote and then attack a seemingly unending series of coalitions between the country’s political parties, factions within those parties, and, as well, personalities within those factions.
Since 1999, there have been six different prime ministers, with even local journalists losing count of the different cabinet reshuffles under those leaders.
Over that time, George and Trevor Pitt have been noted in local media as stepping in and out of a number of different public positions within various coalitions including Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Information Infrastructure Committee, the capital Environmental Council and the board of Telecom Cook Islands, either as paid consultants, chairmen of the board, or public servants.
Critics will no doubt seize on Saturday’s sighting as further evidence of links between corrupt public officials and politicians.