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CI Times Weekly | Current Issue 439|23 March 2012

New Briefs

Petition against Selina withdrawn
Legal Counsel for Cook Islands Party (CIP) candidate Teariki Matenga has filed a memorandum seeking leave to withdraw his petition against his sister, Selina Napa the Democratic Party candidate in the Titikaveka by-election held on 21 June 2012.
Matenga had planned to contest 20 votes for Napa.
Selina is now expected to be formally confirmed by the Chief Registrar of Electors, as the outright winner and new MP for Titikaveka, by the margin of just 14 votes.
The submission to withdraw was filed at the High Court (Electoral Court) on Thursday around 3.30pm.
Counsel for Matenga, Heinz Matysik, in his memorandum to the Court sought leave to withdraw advising that in assessing Matenga’s current position in respect of the evidence to hand as of today’s date (Thursday 19 July 2012)and the compressed timetable until hearing, Matenga sees some difficulty in adducing sufficient evidence within the timetabled period in support of the petition.
Final outcome to be confirmed: Napa (Demos) - 297 votes, Matenga (CIP)-283 votes, Iro (Ind)-104votes. -Charles Pitt

Outlook stable, economy vulnerable
Ratings on the Cook Islands affirmed at ‘B+/B’, on sound tourism

MELBOURNE (Standard & Poor’s) July 20, 2012--
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it has affirmed its ‘B+/B’ issuer credit ratings on the Cook Islands. The outlook is stable. The Transfer & Convertibility assessment remains ‘AAA’.
The ratings on the Cook Islands reflect the vulnerabilities associated with the country’s weak policymaking culture and institutional settings that have the potential to further reverse past strong gains in fiscal consolidation and debt reduction. In addition, the sovereign has a weak and narrowly-based economy that suffers from heavy emigration, vulnerabilities relating to cyclone-related disasters and changing tourism preferences, and a rising public-sector debt burden. Further constraining the ratings are infrastructure shortcomings that impair investment in the tourism and allied sectors, and data deficiencies that constrain analysis of the Cook Islands’ external position.
These factors are offset, in part, by the government’s supportive relationship and high labor mobility with the highly rated New Zealand sovereign; the use of the New Zealand dollar; the sound outlook for its key tourism sector; financial and technical assistance from donor agencies; and the country’s insulated financial system.
“The stable outlook balances the Cook Islands’ tourism sector prospects and supportive relationship with New Zealand and donor agencies with the challenges it faces in overcoming weak political and institutional settings and infrastructure shortcomings to raise the prospects of the population,” said credit analyst Kyran Curry. “We would lower the ratings if a weakening in global economic conditions reduces tourism sector receipts, and in turn, worsens the government’s finances. A weakened commitment to upholding past fiscal gains through undisciplined spending, and further sharp rises in the debt burden could also bring pressure on the ratings.”
Standard & Poor’s sees little prospect for improvements in the Cook Islands’ creditworthiness without sustained gains in policymaking stability and effectiveness, evidenced by the closing of sizable data deficiencies, strength in the government’s fiscal position, and progress in opening up the economy to create opportunities for residents to stem the population decline.
-Standard and Poors release

Stop thieving!
With the Samoan vessel Lady Naomi barely arrived from the north and berthed at Avatiu port, in the ensuing confusion as passengers jostled ashore, some passengers noticed some of their precious items brought to the Maeva Nui for sale, STOLEN.
A woman from Rakahanga has advised she has had her rito hats stolen. These were for sale during the celebrations. Another woman has had her sack of uto and container of paua sent from the north by a friend, stolen. Other passengers have also noticed items missing.
These missing items have been reported but because of the general confusion at time of arrival with masses of people milling and moving about, very little could be done.
Those with items missing acknowledge that they were warned to look after their products.
One woman now regrets showing other passengers during the voyage, her rito hats.
It is a great shame that some people feel the need to steal the hard work of others in the hope of gaining some income at the expense of someone else’s loss.
If someone took these items by mistake, then hand them in to Police. -Charles Pitt

Tere o te Pa Enua Tokerau
Kua riro na Robert Ioaba mei roto mai i te tuanga o te Tauranga Vananga i apai mai i te tere mei te pa enua Tokerau mai tei aru mai i te Pai Lady Naomi tei uru mai i runga i te tua o to tatou enua no te akakoro’anga o te Maire Maeva Nui e akateatea mamaoia nei a te ra 26 o Tiurai nei ki roto i te Are Karioi Nui i Maraerenga. Te akakite nei oki te va’a tuatua o te Tauranga Vananga a Robert Ioaba i te tumu maata i aere ei tona tere ki nga pa enua no te akarakara i tetai au tuanga ngai tei manako mai te .tauranga vananga kia aka’meitakiia. Te mea mua te ngai nooanga e te moenga o te tangata i runga i te pai, te ngai vairanga kako, e pera te teretere’anga mai na runga i te moana. Kua kitea ia mai tetai au ngai tukaui e inangaro nei te tauranga vananga i te akameitaki e akakite nei a Ioaba. Tei runga i te pai te iti tangata Pukapuka, Manihiki, Rakahanga, e pera a Tongareva. Kua kite katoa tikai a Ioaba i te turanga o to tatou iti tangata Tokerau tei apaiinaia mai ki Rarotonga nei. Te inangaro nei aia kia akatupuia teia no teia mataiti ki mua. -Bernadette Teremoana

How to be a force in the world

For this article I will be speaking about WISDOM. There are so many knowledgeable people around but they lack ‘wisdom’. And wisdom means ‘being able to reflect the mind of Christ’. By the same token wisdom is ‘the correct use of knowledge. Therefore the title of this article of encouragement is How To Be A Force In The World. In the Book of Proverbs 30v.24-28 is the story or character study of 3 small insects and 1 small animal. Although they are small and have no natural means of protecting themselves from their enemies, v.24 reads they are exceedingly or unusually wise. The lesson here is that God does not want His people to be ‘wise only’ but to be ‘exceedingly or unusually wise.’ In fact God uses His creations to teach us spiritual truth and principles to help encourage us in this life that we’re living in. The 4 insects or animal mentioned in our reading are the Ants; Rock Badger; Locust and the Spider. The important thing is not these insects or animal but rather their habit or behaviour. In verse 25 it reads “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in summer.” Ants speak to us of PREPARATION. The lesson is that the people who prepare themselves are regarded as “wise people”. Otherwise people who do not prepare themselves for any work they do are “unwise”. James 1v.5-6[a] reads “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith…” Whatever we do in life we must prepare ourselves properly. I Corinthians 3v.19 reads “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness.” Proverbs 4v.7 “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 30v.26 reads “The rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the crags.” The Rock Badger speaks of PROTECTION. Rock Badger is a weak animal. Whenever the enemies come to attack the Rock Badger they always run for protection into the gap in the rock or crevice. The Rock symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ. When we struggle in life we must run and seek protection and security in Jesus. To seek ‘protection’ and ‘security’ in Jesus is an act of “wisdom”. Jesus said in Matthew 7v.(v.24)‘a wise man built his house upon the rock’ (v.26) ‘ a foolish man who built his house on the sand.’ The question is where are you building your life on? The ‘Rock’ or the ‘sand’. Proverbs 30v.27 reads “The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks.” The Locust speaks of the PRESERVATION OF UNITY of the saints. The locust knows that when they go out separately or individually the enemy will have a greater chance of killing them. But when they all move together as a group they will have a better chance of survival and they can do a lot of damage over the things of satan. Likewise with us, if we all combine spiritually and go forward we will be a synergetic force and we will have a greater chance of survival and overcoming the enemy. This is a combined energy going in the same direction. Jesus said in Matthew 12v.25[c] “…a house divided against itself will not stand.” There’s power in ‘unity’ Hebrews 10v.25 “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Proverbs 30v.28 “The spider skilfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings’ palaces.” The Spider speaks of PERSEVERANCE. Not giving up. Wisdom is portrayed through perseverance. Things will change if we persevere. “Tough times don’t last but tough people do!” so don’t give up – Persevere in the things of God! God bless you this weekend!

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
- Lucky $1,000 winner
- Century old palm trees and the French connection
- Koutu Nui takes part in Raui meeting in Moorea
- WOM Award Dinner for Ake Hosea-Winterflood
- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009

 
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