Friday 27: If that’s final, we don’t want it

Dear Editor,

I am very concerned with the recent outcome of the proposed European Union-funded Pukapuka cyclone project for the design and supervision contract that was tendered early this year.

It has come to the attention of the Pukapuka community that the appointment of the successful tender by the evaluation committee contradicts what the Chamber of Commerce has made public, ie to be seen to support local companies .

The evaluation team was made up ofTeresa Manarangi-Trott, Paul Carrad, chamber president Steve Anderson, Patricia Barton and Chris Reynolds.

It was THEIR recommendation that this contract be awarded to a foreign overseas company because it had won the tender over a local company Romanisdesign by ONE POINT!

To our understanding, Romanisdesign had met all technical and financial requirements, made the final two selected tenders out of the original six (five foreign companies, one local).

Given the one point difference, it is simply common sense to award this project to our local tender Romanisdesign. This shows us that today, we DO HAVE the local expertise and capacity to build and develop our own country and yet this committee is telling us otherwise.

Romanidesign is the only company based in the Cook Islands. By giving the tender to this company, more money remains in the country, more local people are employed and more people are encouraged to stay in the country instead of going overseas.

What will happen when it comes to selection of a contractor to build the cyclone centre? It would most likely go to an overseas company again, therefore more local companies and businesses miss out on jobs and money that could contribute to our local economy.

What this committee’s decision tells me and our people of Pukapuka, is that we are again at the mercy of these evaluation committees that have no idea about how these projects should be done, especially in the outer islands. This is one of many issues why most of the people of Pukapuka have not been given assistance since cyclone Percy back in 2005.

Favouritism and the wrong people on these committees, clearly shows how progress is halted and that no consideration is given for the people. They don’t care, and they are only there to collect their fees from their mates.

I could keep going on more sensible reasons but what I am also very concerned about is the fact that once again our locals, a Pukapukan in this case, are not being given the opportunity to show that we have the expertise, skills and talent right here in the Cook Islands.

I would also like to remind you that this gives government a bad image and it does not help government’s policy on ways to keep our people from leaving the Cook Islands and travelling to live overseas. It is interesting to read that Chamber of Commerce support local industry and blame government for giving jobs/projects to overseas companies. And yet, the same members on this evaluation committee have awarded this local project to an overseas company! Again we are being let down by these committees which in a way are encouraging our people to leave.

If this is the final decision by the evaluation committee for an overseas company to work on the Pukapuka cyclone centre, then we do not accept this and object to the project going ahead. We will not need the assistance of the EU and its evaluation committee to come and work on our island, they may take their money and centre elsewhere, we don’t need the favouritism your committee shows and that your only interest is for yourselves, and to get paid.

I can assure you that my people have survived many cyclones and natural disasters for many years and without a cyclone centre and with little assistance. It is now four years since cyclone Percy, and the restructuring of Pukapuka is still not complete.

I write this in the interest of the people of Pukapuka and supported by the member of parliament, the island secretary, island councils and the aronga mana.

If more clarification is required, I am more than happy to address any other stakeholders regarding this issue.

Makirere Poila

President for the Pukapukan

community, Rarotonga.