So whats new in 2010

Its been a while. I have been ill with pneumonia.
Much is happening particularly in Niue with our efforts to get a mobile gsm phone system, improving Internet services, finding out that IUSN has been using radio frequencies without license, which they have managed to get away with because we have been too poor and fearful they would cut Internet services to the island
The power that these people had over us in terms of Internet access was and continues.
This will change if I can help it.
The GSM service is being affected by wifi using the same bandwidth without license. Yes it is illegal but what can we do.
Watch this space I guess.
Someone has pointed out that the domain name is the biggest export earner for Niue!! That is a different angle I guess
Lets talk about what else is happening
Tourism is starting to take slow steps with two special envoys/consultants appointed by myself and Minister McCully to establish and drive the implementation of the Trevor hall Report.
Contrary to what you may have heard, I do actually support the report and believe that it will form a major part of our of our economic aspirations
So will fisheries and other resources we have .
Part of this process is communications and hence the focus on GSM mobiles and Internet services. But it also all the other key infrastructure such as the airport, wharf, power, water, roads and so on
Unless these are also put in place well and are dependable, reliable and work well, tourism and any other economic drivers will fail.
And frankly we must not allow these to fail because I am not a dependent person and I don't want to allow Niue to be beholden to anyone.
The budget is in process and I hope to pass it in the house before the end of June. It will be balanced because we don't have anything to support and deficit-not yet anyway
The budget is simple and its main functions are to pay public servants and pensions, make sure education and health services are supported well, run and manage government services with minimum waste and fuss, collect revenue.
Tax reforms The special report requested by me to PACTAF has been completed in draft form. We will review and decide which reforms will be introduced to the house to help boost revenues over the next year. I hope to have at least some reforms in place as part of the budget process.
Future AID relations with NZ.
The Halavaka 5 year agreement has been completed and we are looking at a new agreement to start the new financial year. Minister McCully and I agree to hold talks soon to finalise this
I am not interested in any increases in support from NZ and would like to try and live within our current arrangements and continue with the incentives.
I would also like to ensure that we have one reporting mechanism. NZ has often requested some special conditions but my argument is that we have reporting mechanisms in place by law and our accounts are scrutinised annually by AUDIT NZ so that should suffice. Extra reporting demanded by NZ seems superfluous and seems to indicate that our treasury regulations are not doing their job. This is a ridiculous notion.
I hope to have talks with NZ by end April and have an agreement in place before the budget is introduced to the house in June
Development and Investment Budget I have been trying to have this in place for some time but have not had the time to devote to it. I hope the Infrastructure Coordinator and Strategic Planner working with the SOG, HODs and External will be able to finalise this.
This is a very simple and basic matrix of projects funded by donors which we will and can use to develop the economy, support the community, and private sector. It will involve a annual budget of anything up to $20m-$30m which is a substantial amount.
It requires strategic prioritisation, consultation, coordination, and implementation plans. It links to the recurrent budget.
In both both , the strategic visions goals and objectives have been set with the Niue national Strategic Plan.
I will leave it there and will write more later
Happy reading folks