National

Miss CI gliding off to pageant

Thursday 10 November 2016 | Published in Local

REIGNING Miss Cook Islands Felicia George has departed Rarotonga to represent the nation in this year’s 2016 Miss Asia Pacific International Pageant.

Local

Glassie asks Samoa to join fight on corruption

Thursday 10 November 2016 | Written by Richard Moore | Published in National

JUSTICE minister Nandi Glassie is in Apia trying to encourage Samoa to join the main body of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Glassie is chair of GOPAC Cook Islands (Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption) and is sharing the integrity, perspective and benefits of the convention with Samoan officials. They include parliamentarians, department heads and senior officials. Samoa’s decision makers are working towards an agreement on implementation of integrity development with the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) project. Glassie said Samoa and Cook Islands shared a number of integrity-reform priorities. “We are well developed in progressing a draft Code of Conduct for parliamentarians and this was a process that the Samoans are very interested in learning from,” Glassie said. Glassie also made separate presentations to the Speaker of the House and politicians of Samoa on the benefits of establishing a GOPAC chapter among Samoan parliamentarians. Already this year, the UN-PRAC team has undertaken workshops in Samoa with civil groups, youth and media, while Samoa's youth, civil society and MPs have participated in UN-PRAC regional workshops over the past year. Opening the Validation Workshop in front of more than 45 senior participants, Samoa’s Minister of Justice & Courts Administration, Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu, said: “Integrity is an avenue to improve all our livelihoods. “Our aim must be to restore trust in our government, communities, private sector and civil society,” the minister said. In introducing Glassie, Ainuu said: “Minister Glassie has distinguished himself by promoting transparency and integrity in his own government in Cook Islands.” Cook Islands acceded to UNCAC in 2015. While Samoa is one of only three Pacific Island countries yet to accede to the convention, the project continues to work very closely with the Samoan government, parliament, civil authorities, youth and media on integrity issues. MS MIHAELA Stojoska, a UN anti-corruption specialist, said that UN-PRAC had prioritised working with Samoa and the nation’s public servants demonstrated a huge commitment to ownership of integrity issues by coming together to prioritise policies and implementation of UNCAC-related best practices. Ms Stojoska said it was important for Pacific countries to benefit from shared learning, so it was a priority that people such as Glassie were able to share their experiences. UN-PRAC and GOPAC undertook workshops with Cook Islands senior public servants and parliamentarians earlier this year, including in-depth work on the Parliament’s proposed draft Code of Conduct for parliamentarians. UN-PRAC is a United Nations’ project supported by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Framed around UNCAC governance, justice and anti-corruption ideals, UN-PRAC aims to support Pacific Island countries to strengthen their national anti-corruption legislation and policies, as well as institutional frameworks and capabilities to implement protections. Glassie’s attendance was funded through the UN Pacific Anti-Corruption project. - Richard Moore/Release

National

Creative crew meet another creative crew

Wednesday 9 November 2016 | Published in Local

Students from the Creative Centre with support worker Allan Stail met and talked with NZ artist and carver Michael Tuffery, second from right, and master carver Michael Tavioni.

Local

Bishop back in court next week for appeal

Wednesday 9 November 2016 | Published in Politics

FORMER One Cook Islands leader Teina Bishop will appear in the High Court next week to appeal against his conviction and sentencing.

Politics

Challenge deadline looms, but 8000 stars already done

Wednesday 9 November 2016 | Published in Local

MORE 8000 stars have been woven for the Star Weave Challenge that leads up to the White Ribbon Day on November 25.

Local

Officers attend gender training seminar

Wednesday 9 November 2016 | Published in Local

TWO POLICE officers from the Cook Islands Police Service are currently in Nadi, Fiji, at a workshop for Pacific police officers.

Local

Drunks on roads give police big concerns

Wednesday 9 November 2016 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Local

SAFETY on the road continues to be a worry for Cook Islands Police Services which had to deal with another weekend of incidents involving drivers under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In the much hyped weekend fueled by the festivities at the Cook Islands International Sevens, police had to attend several incidents involving careless driving.

Local

Sea urchin die-off is spreading in lagoon

Wednesday 9 November 2016 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Local

THE RAPID die-off of sea urchins near Avarua has spread to other parts of Rarotonga.

Local

White ribbon against violence

Wednesday 9 November 2016 | Published in Local

THE COOK ISLANDS Police Service wants men to speak out in opposition to violence against women and children.

Local

Glass crusher to help Atiu residents deal with waste

Tuesday 8 November 2016 | Published in Outer Islands

THROUGH the collaboration of Cook Islands Trading Corporation Limited, Infrastructure Cook Islands and Taio Shipping, a glass crusher was recently shipped to Atiu.

Outer Islands