TOKELAU – The Ulu o Tokelau says his country is not yet ready to seek full membership of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Aliki Faipule Afega Gaualofa was speaking after the admission of French Polynesia and New Caledonia as full members – the first time the regional body has accepted non-self governing territories as members.

Tokelau is a colony of New Zealand and is presently an associate member of the Forum.

The Ulu said that becoming a full member is something being considered but he says Tokelau needs to improve its administrative services first.

“Let me say that Tokelau is encouraged by the decision of the Forum leaders to accept French Polynesia, New Caledonia into the Forum.

“We believe that the Forum will become a more robust organisation now that we have French Polynesia and New Caledonia as full members.

“Anyone who paddles a canoe will tell you that more paddlers and more paddles can only strengthen the journey.

“In regards to the question on whether Tokelau will be applying for full membership, this is a matter that is under consideration but I do not see the need any time soon for Tokelau to be a full member.

“We want to focus on progressing issues for institutional strengthening before we can consider membership and the responsibilities that come with it. Until such time that Tokelau has progressed its self government, being an associate member continues to meet our requirements.

The Ulu was asked: “When you say the more paddlers you have on your waka the better it goes, so there is every chance that American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, they could also become members couldn’t they? Would you be happy with that?”

He said: “I would be very happy with that. As I said with more paddlers and more paddles it strengthens the journey.

“You know the world has changed and we need to change the world – the more people that come on board this Forum the better.

“As I said Tokelau will decide when the time comes. At this stage we need to strengthen, we have to look at infrastructure, and look at the capacity of our people.

“Those are the things we need to do first and then decide. It will take one to three years. When we are ready then we will join the family.” - RNZI

MPs’ allowance hikes ‘outrageous’

FIJI – A former Fiji prime minister and opposition politician has slammed the government for passing large-scale allowance hikes for MPs.

Mahendra Chaudhry, the Labour Party leader, said it’s “mind-boggling” that on top of their generous salaries, MPs now get US$215 a day, instead of $73, in sitting weeks, while most ordinary Fijian workers receive around US$53 a week.

Chaudhry said that for a trip to Wellington, the prime minister would receive US$1464 a night under the new rates, which is “outrageous”.

“The prime minister will receive more than three times the UNDP rate for overseas travel plus an extra $293 a day on top of that,” he said.

Chaudhry said it’s contemptible that MPs are so generous to themselves with public money while a significant portion of the Fijian population is extremely poor.

“One third of our people live below the poverty line and they go to bed each night half hungry,” he said.

“And how do you justify these kinds of increases to people who are already very well paid indeed in terms of the general prevailing rates of pay both in the public and private sectors.”

Chaudhry said it was unethical to have the allowances reviewed by a committee wholly made up of MPs.

- RNZI