The new CITC Patai Store in the village of Titikaveka was blessed yesterday in a modest opening ceremony.

The total project cost was approximately $4.2 million, with an additional half-million dollars in stock to be added.

In his address, CITC executive director Trevor Clarke said: “We have complete confidence in the economy of the Cook Islands and the long-term stability of the Cook Islands … and we perform to our slogan – ‘Leading the Way’.”

“We put the effort into the planning of this store, its size, its quality and we’re very pleased with the outcome.”

Clarke expressed his gratitude to the landowners for their confidence and trust in CITC to deliver what they promised to do.

CITC fulfilled their promise to landowners, spending $70,000 on the site by November 1st, and then invested four and a half times that amount in further improvements.

“I’m pleased that we under promised and over delivered,” Clarke said.

“I trust that the residents of Titikaveka village in particular will find this facility very, very convenient and very suitable to their needs.”

Landowner Tereapii Philipa (nee Crummer), the tenth of 11 siblings, spoke on behalf of her siblings who reside overseas.

“This magnificent building is open for everyone to come here, you don’t have to drive all the way to the big city in Avarua,” said Philipa. 

The CITC Patai Store is open every day from 6am to 10pm.