Government has not made any considerations to re-establish the Vaka Council, says Prime Minister Mark Brown.

In Parliament last week, PM Brown was responding to MP Vaitoti Tupa who said he had received inquiries from the public regarding the Vaka Councils, and asked whether the government is considering reinstating them in Rarotonga.

Brown said: “I have been reminded by my government colleagues that it was your Democratic Party, while in government that was responsible for abolishing the Vaka Council.

“As such, we have not given any consideration to the re-establishment of the Vaka Council here in Rarotonga at this time.”
He said the government's primary focus is on supporting the Rarotonga community through various initiatives, such as community policing and programmes led by Members of Parliament who are more directly involved with their constituencies.

“Therefore, to provide a brief answer to your question, we have not given any consideration to the re-establishment of the Vaka Council.”

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Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana said that while the Constitutional Review Special Committee made every effort to prepare a final report of the three Constitution Amendment Bills for the December Sitting, it unfortunately proved logistically and technically impossible to do so.

Elikana while thanking the staff of Parliament for their efforts to accommodate the Committee's request in order to have a final report ready for presentation this week, they have had to however present an interim report outlining the challenges they faced in providing a final report.

He also thanked the Business Committee for passing a resolution that allowed additional time for the Constitutional Review Special Committee to continue its work.

Clerk of Parliament Tangata Vainerere had earlier said that consultations for the three Constitution Amendment Bills will continue in February next year for the Northern Group islands.

Parliament clerk Vainerere said they have not been able to complete this due to the lack of available flights to the Northern Group.

Vainerere said the Committee for those Bills will not rush into the completion of this task as it is important for all islands to be consulted on these Bills.

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Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) for Matavera, Vaitoti Tupa questioned the Minister for Corrective Services George ‘Maggie’ Angene on a machine being utilised in Tupapa, Matavera, and Ngatangiia and if the government purchased this machine and whether it was generating revenue through its use.

Angene said he was uncertain which machine MP Tupa was referring to; he has six machines at home, including eight blowers, eight hedge trimmers, eight grass cutters, and two excavators.

“I believe the machine the Member of Parliament is referring to is the digger. The digger that I am utilising does not belong to the government, nor is it owned by George Maggie.

“It belongs to the community and is intended to assist the people in their work without any charge.”