Appointment of Rakahanga Island Secretary in limelight

This week, the MP for Rakahanga Taunga Toka expressed concern at the prospect that former Mayor for Rakahanga, Ngatokoa Takai may be appointed the next Island Secretary.
His concerns stem from allegations set out in a letter sent by former MP Piho Rua to Taki in December 2008.
Takai has informed the Times he refutes the allegations and believes the motive for raising them now is political.
Currently the acting Island Secretary is Taunga Temu.
Interestingly, at the High Court hearing on Tuesday into the Rakahanga electoral petition brought by CIP candidate Toka Hagai against the successful Demo Candidate Taunga Toka, former Mayor Takai appeared as a witness for the CIP.
In response to a question from Chief Justice Weston as to how Island Secretary appointments are made, Takai said they were political. He then told the CJ that he was going to be the next Island Secretary. At that point members in the public gallery burst out laughing. It was not known if Takai was merely speculating when he made that comment.
However, the notion of Takai being appointed Island Secretary is no laughing matter as far as Toka is concerned.
According to Toka, former Mayor Takai has a history of complaints against him. He forwarded to the Times a copy of a letter dated 5 December 2008 sent to Takai and signed by the then MP Piho Rua raising a number of concerns.
The 2008 letter requested that Takai resign within three days as Mayor due to serious allegations of abuse of funds, mismanagement, lack of transparency, going against the wishes of the community and misusing telephone communications.
Takai was informed that unless his notice of resignation was received by midday 8 December 2008, details would be submitted to the Minister to take swift action to remove him from office.
The Times spoke with Takai on Friday morning. Takai said he decided to approach the media following the item about him on CITV News on Thursday night.
Takai, who served as Mayor from 2007 to 2010, said in December 2008 following receipt of the letter from Piho Rua, he did not resign as requested. Instead he went on TV in Rakahanga to explain his position. Piho Rua also went on local TV and called a public meeting. At the public meeting Takai said he gave Piho Rua an ultimatum to step down. Takai believes the allegations against him were generated by Piho Rua over a dispute the two had been having over missing funds.
Takai is adamant he did not misuse any public funds and points the finger at Piho Rua. He said there was controversy over funds allegedly being re-directed to the Hostel construction project on Rarotonga.
Takai said when his term as Mayor expired he did not offer himself for re-election. He has submitted his name for the Island Secretary position and says six other persons have also applied.
Cabinet will make the appointment in due course.
Prior to 1996 the population of Rakahanga was over 300 people. Following the Public Service shake up in 1996, the population dropped to around 170 people. Now there’s about 77 people left on Rakahanga.

By Charles Pitt

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