Matter beyond my control says Taio

Tapi Taio, Chairman of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) responded on Tuesday afternoon to comments made by former Chairman of the Ports Authority Board, Sam Crocombe in last week’s Times concerning his (Taio’s) involvement in the appointment of John Tini Snr to the Ports Board as the Aitutaki representative.
Crocombe whose contract as Chairman expired some two months earlier, had attributed the non renewal of his contract as Ports Chairman to Taio.
Crocombe had alleged that his efforts to remove John Tini Snr from the Board had been thwarted by Taio and blamed politics being behind Taio’s actions.
Taio told the Herald that Crocombe had written to him to fire Tini Snr from the Ports Board over Tini’s failure to meet Crocombe and Bim Tou when they visited Aitutaki in 2008 to view Aitutaki Port operations.
Taio said he followed this matter up with Tini Snr who advised him he was elsewhere occupied at the time of Crocombe’s visit. Taio said Tini’s appointment to the Board as Aitutaki representative had been sanctioned by Aitutaki’s two Democratic Party MPs. Tini was the Chairman of the Aitutaki branch of the Democratic Party. To remove Tini from the Board would have required the approval of the two MPs said Taio. As there was no response from the MPs, Tini remained on the Board.
At the beginning of December 2009 Taio said he learnt that Tini Snr had resigned from the Democratic Party in Aitutaki to align himself with the new political group that had started in Aitutaki. Taio said the two Aitutaki Demo MPs asked then Minister Vavia to remove Tini from the Board.
Taio said he discussed Tini’s removal from the Board with the Minister who approved. Taio said he then asked the Minister to approve a new appointment.
Taio said word came on 20 December 2009 recommending Tamarua Kiria be appointed. The appointment had to go before the Board however the Board had already had its December meeting and had broken up for the Christmas and would not reconvene until January 2010.
In December there was a change of Minister with Robert Wigmore replacing Vavia. Taio said he told the CIIC’s acting CEO to hold off on Kiria’s appointment until advice was received from Wigmore as to his likely preference. Meanwhile Taio said he advised Wigmore that Crocombe had not invited Tini to attend any Board meetings.
Wigmore wrote to Crocombe in January 2010 advising that Tini be invited to Board meetings.
The Minister also decided not to reappoint Crocombe and instead has appointed Titikaveka Builder Vaevae Tangiiti as the new Chairman of the Ports Authority Board.
The other Board members have had their appointments renewed.
Taio said the matter concerning the appointments was beyond his control and Crocombe should understand that and that appointments are for the most part, political.
Taio believed if Crocombe had not been so critical and outspoken about government, he may have been reappointed.
Taio advised that Board members are paid per sitting up to a maximum of $6,000 in any one year.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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