State Of Affairs Surrounding TOA Petroleum

Friday, 23 October 2009, 11:40 am
Press Release: Government Of The Cook Islands

Government Of The Cook Islands
Office Of The Deputy Prime Minister

The Government has engaged a Queen’s Counsel to examine the entire state of affairs surrounding TOA Petroleum and the Government’s position and provide advice on the best way forward for the country.

He is Mr Kit Toogood QC of Auckland.

The recommendation to commission an independent senior professional with strong commercial expertise to analyse all issues and risks facing Government and decide how best to move forward was endorsed by Cabinet late last week.

Deputy Prime Minister Sir Terepai Maoate says “Cabinet needs to have confidence in the advice that is given on the TOA situation and that the advice is in the best interests of the country”.

“Mr Toogood comes highly recommended and we expect him to commence this task within the next few days.”

ENDS

World Headlines

WORLD > >

U.S. Politics: STOCK Act Passes House - 'Political Intelligence' Omission

The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the STOCK Act today, which omits disclosure requirements for "political intelligence" workers that were included in the version of the bill passed by the Senate last week ( S 2038). More>>

Exhibition - West Papuan Women of Resistance: Dear Friends Of Art And West Papua

You are invited to what is perhaps a unique exhibition featuring women of West Papua in their living response to the suppression of human rights and freedom under Indonesian occupation and military brutality over the past fifty years. More>>

U.S. Politics: David Swanson: The Election We Should Be Following

For progressives and populists around the country who take an interest in Congressional races there are always a few good challengers we might hope to send to Washington. Incumbents, we assume, can take care of themselves. But in Northern Ohio, redistricting ... More>>

Greenpeace: Industry Figures Confirm GM Food Is European Commercial Flop

Annual industry figures to be released on Tuesday are expected to confirm the commercial failure of genetically modified (GM) food in Europe, said Greenpeace. Only around 0.06% of the EU’s agricultural land was used in 2011 to grow GM food, the report ... More>>

Asia: IFJ Press Freedom In China Campaign Bulletin

1. China’s New Clampdown: Press Freedom in China 2011 2. Senior Newspaper Staff Sacked for Reporting Inflation Concerns in China 3. Journalist Attacked in Taiwan 4. Dissident Writer Yu Jie Flees to the United States 5. Writer Li Tei Sentenced ... More>>

Women’s Rights: 2,000 African Communities Abandon Female Genital Mutilation

New York, Feb 6 2012 1:10PM A new United Nations report shows that almost 2,000 communities across Africa abandoned female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) last year, prompting calls for a renewed global push to end this harmful practice once and for all. More>>

Connie Lawn: Newt Gingrich Wins In South Carolina

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich gives his victory speech in Columbia after winning the South Carolina primary with 40% of the vote. Runner-up Mitt Romney pledges to fight for Republican nomination in 'long race', while third-placed Rick Santorum says of Gingrich: 'He kicked butt. I'm proud of him.' Ron Paul finished fourth ... More >>

ALSO:

Gordon Campbell - On Mitt Romney’s victory in Florida
Connie Lawn - Connie Lawn Audio: Florida Primary

Pacific.Scoop: Real Change In Burma No Longer A Pipe Dream – But Don’t Jump The Gun

For a long time, it was easy for us to hold an opinion on Burma. It fitted neatly into the classic dichotomy of good and evil. The regime – made up of cruel, despotic military generals – was bad, and Aung San Suu Kyi and the huddled masses of Burmese people she led were good. More >>

Burma: After Political Prisoner Amnesty, Ethnic Warfare Is Rekindled In North

Even as the Burmese government initiates political reforms in much of the country, it has intensified an ethnic civil war in the resource-rich hills of northern Myanmar, a conflict that at once threatens its warming trend with the United States... More >>