Aitutaki Cyclone Pat appeal exceeds $142K
The Aitutaki Cyclone Pat Appeal by the people of the Cook Islands has now reached $142,000. Fundraising chairman, George George said when the Cyclone Appeal committee were elected, their task would last until up to the point where the money raised was ready to be handed over to the existing Aitutaki Community Committee (ACC) under whose umbrella the fundraising committee functions.
George George said the project was ‘people driven’ and the money is going to go toward the people with government taking care of the infrastructure.
He said the process is open and anyone can check the records and that the accounts will also be audited by Paul Allsworth from the Audit Office which will be carried out before the funds can be handed over to the ACC executive.
Fundraising treasurer, Nga Takaiti from Westpac Bank agreed saying that last week’s focus had been on gathering the pledges promised in the radiothons held on all the radio stations on the island of Rarotonga..
Takaiti said there was a need cash for the people in Aitutaki and his own personal opinion was to let each householder decide for themselves how to use the money given to them. He said it was crucial to do something immediately and the committee would hand the money over as soon as the audit is ready hopefully by this Thursday 4 March. .
Perhaps it is the banker in him but he says that cash will be good for the economy of Aitutaki and will stimulate the economy and might help those businesses that gave their resources freely in the firs 2 or 3 days and are unlikely to recover that money and a cash distribution would be beneficial to the economy of the island.
One of the options being considered are to use Red Cross as they are independent and the reputation of Nikky Rattle and her team is excellent. They also have the statistics and know who is in need and aware of the problems facing people there. The committee has set a deadline of Thursday for all monies to be in their account so they can present their financial report to both committees (ACC and the Cyclone Pat relief fund committee.
