A bold, caring and giving nation

That is us, the wonderful people of the Cook Islands. At no time are these facts more eminently and poignantly demonstrated than when a part of this nation suffers some form of disaster or cataclysm. When that happens we all stand as one nation with the heartstrings of every person throughout the length and the breath of the land responding to the call for help, each giving cash or kind, goods or services with an amazing disregard for one’s own financial problems.
This has happened several times in the past and I have no doubt that many of you will be able to list all the cyclones in living memory that have impacted disastrously one or another part of our nation. This is not all. We have also fundraised for our pacific neighbours who have suffered from the angry forces of nature including New Zealand when Hurricane Bola hit the eastern coastline of that friendly country.
I would, however, venture to say that there has not been anything quite like the outpouring of sympathy and support for the people of Aitutaki as we have seen in the last three weeks. In one day three radios conducted radiothons – Radio Cook Islands, FM 88 and FM Matariki. On the same day cooked food was being sold from Te Atukura at $10 a plate from 7 in the morning until late afternoon. Cash collections from house to house and from individuals continued all day and into the next week. From that one day alone the Aitutaki Cyclone Committee was able to bank a little over $98,000.
The small population of Rakahanga reported raising $5,000. Tukao of Manihiki alone raised over $20,000 and rising. Melbourne reported a total in excess of $30,000. Centres throughout New Zealand had yet to report their individual results as their fundraising had yet to conclude. Donations were still coming from the other islands outside of Rarotonga. The response has just been massive. However, at the end of the day, when all the money has been banked there are several questions which need addressing.
The first is, of course, how all this money might be best used. Is it to be shared? Is it best to target the real needy? Might infrastructure repairs be involved? Is the money or some of it to be invested against similar disasters in the future? Might the best approach be a combination of some of these considerations? I have no doubt that the Aitutaki Cyclone Committee is addressing these issues right now and this is no place to pre-empt the outcome of their discussions.
The next question relates to the response of government. Did it do so appropriately and in time? The government announced that it was adamant that everything was done right and according to the book. It wanted to first of all conduct a survey to determine the extent of the damage and the likely cost of the recovery plan. That recovery plan is still undergoing re-assessment three weeks after the cyclone! Ask the people of Aitutaki for their view, it is quite different. They have some highly uncomplimentary comments about government’s performance.
Looked at from their point of view their anger is understandable. Come daylight after the cyclone many were houseless while others found their houses severely damaged. There were not many places left for shelter. Their personal belongings and what is left in the houses were exposed to the elements. Fruit trees were without fruit, fallen coconuts were all over the place, cash crops were destroyed and power supply was totally out. What the people needed was clean potable water, food, shelter and electricity – not a team of people to do a “look-see”. That is what they said.
There is one other aspect of government’s response that cannot be overlooked. We all know that for government to be able to spend it must have an appropriation for that purpose in either the latest budget or any of the previous ones. Government expressed the view that the recovery plan would exceed the $12,000,000 originally estimated and it also transpired that government had less than $3,000,000 for any recovery plan. In order for government to engage a sensible recovery plan it must convene Parliament in order to pass an appropriately crafted Supplementary Budget! The Prime Minister, however, announced he will not convene Parliament for fear of the planned motion of no-confidence in him!
Is it right that the Prime Minister is more concerned about his political survival than the human needs of an island that has just experienced the worst disaster it has ever known in modern times? He made no effort to meet the leadership of the two major parties in order to determine whether the human demands of the people of Aitutaki can be placed above politics!!
In conclusion, I would like to suggest that we all give some thought to the real meaning of the words “disaster preparedness”. Does it merely mean warnings and announcements on “preparedness”? Is the installation of warning mechanisms enough? Are our safety centres really safe? What do local governments physically carry out to ensure every household is prepared? Have we given some thought to a safe storehouse to hold food, water, medical supplies and clothing enough for at least five days? What are we doing to create an “immediate response” situation on each island immediately after a major disaster?
Worth a thought, don’t you think?