The
REAP Report - Palmerston and Suwarrow
Currently
before the Environment Council is a project proposal application
to grant a 100% foreign owned business the right to conduct
land and sea tour activities on Suwarrow, Palmerston and any
other island they choose.
All
this is being done without consultation with the people on the
islands and approval from the local island governments.
Let's
take a look at just some of the issues involved.
As
a "National Park" Suwarrow belongs to all the people of the
Cook Islands. Cook Islanders are the stakeholders and it should
be for them to decide what, if any, activities are to be conducted
on, in or around Suwarrow. This would mean consultation with
and approval from the people on every island before any project
proposal is approved.
First,
a proper management plan needs to be developed before any activity
commences on Suwarrow. Such a plan must examine the issue of
what types of activities are to be recommended and how they
are to be conducted and monitored both from an environmental
and economic perspective.
The
management plan must also consider who will pay the costs of
infrastructure and maintenance. What happens in the case of
any emergency? (such as serious injury, oil spills, shipwreck.)
What
about safety requirements, waste disposal, sanitation, water?
Who will monitor the activities?
Where
is the benefit to Cook Islanders by granting a 100% foreign
owned company free economic rights to a national treasure.-
a national park - an asset Government holds in trust for the
benefit of Cook Islanders living today and for generations yet
unborn?
Why
hasn't any "expression of interest" to conduct eco-tourism ventures
to Suwarrow been tendered so that Cook Islanders are first given
the opportunity?
Why
has government failed to support the Palmerston Cook Islanders
in establishing an eco-tourism project?
In
the past debates over Suwarrow many of the same people who expressed
strong opposition to any type of commercial activity, on, in
or around Suwarrow now appear either to have a direct or indirect
financial interest in this venture? If so, then why isn't this
being disclosed to the public?
Why
is this foreign operation being allowed to operate chartered
trips to Suwarrow (and Palmerston) before EIA criteria have
been met and stakeholder approval granted?
The
Democratic Party manifesto states "As the Government, we will
consult and discuss with the Council and the people of each
island the next stage of development to be initiated and to
provide the assistance to set this up properly."
Suwarrow
is a national treasure that potentially can bring much needed
economic, educational and environmental benefits to the people
and the country. But this private commercial project only benefits
a select few at the potential expense of thousands of Cook Islanders.
To
approve this project would be the same as having someone conduct
any type of commercial activity they want on your land without
your permission you will be responsible for paying for any needed
maintenance costs.
Cook
Islands News, 8th July 2003
