Robert MacCulloch
Robert MacCulloch is a native of New Zealand and worked at the Reserve Bank of NZ before he travelled to the UK to complete a PhD in Economics at Oxford University.
Forget Dunedin hospital. Forget Whangārei hospital. Forget all of the infrastructure projects promised by National. Forget any Wellington Tunnel. All bets are off. The finance minister’s budgets have officially been blown out for the next several years. Unless taxes are increased by the National Party, which it won’t do, the only way out of the NZ government meeting its responsibilities to Samoa in the aftermath of the sinking of the Manawanui is to explode this country’s borrowings and debt. Of course, it won’t want to do that either – so it is presently on course to betray the Samoans.
If you listen to the NZ Navy chief, or the defense minister, or NZ prime minister, you’d think they are doing everything they can to save Samoa from an ecological disaster. But that is not what the Samoans say. Outside of the Wellington bubble, here is how the Samoa Observer is reporting what’s happening right now:
Oil can be seen floating on top of the sea where the ill-fated HMNZS Manawanui sank on Sunday morning. An environmental disaster looms. ...
Along with the oil, rubbish and debris from the wreck are also floating on the ocean threatening marine life, food sources and tourism in the area ...
A day after the unrecoverable ship sunk into the ocean, nearby villages and tour operators didn’t wait for the authorities to clean up the debris and items from the sunken ship.
Many villagers who went out to sea confirmed seeing uncontained fuel in the ocean and debris littered everywhere.
Ituau said he was at sea on Sunday afternoon with other men and managed to pull to shore a life raft used during the rescue operation abandoned on the reef.
He said one of two dispatched boats on the HMNZS Manawanui was still sitting out at sea ...
“The fuel smell is strong at night and if you go out further it is visible,” said the Saanapu resident ...
“This is a tragedy for our people and no amount of money can repair the damages to the marine life.”
Offshore Adventures tour operator, Brent Ross, went out with his boat on Monday to assess the situation for his guests who were scheduled to explore the popular surfing spot in the area.
“[Fuel is] washing up in the lagoon, it’s an environmental disaster – unbelieving [sic].” ...
Mr Ross picked up some of the debris out at sea including first aid kits, multiple five-litre gallons containing chemicals, packages of food items, lifebuoys, life vests and other equipment. ...
Samoa Observer confirms other villagers also returning equipment to the Lotofaga police post.
The tour operator expressed concerns about seeing no salvaging teams to contain the leaking fuel and clean up the rubbish on shore.
Shame on Defense Minister Collins. Shame on Rear Admiral of the NZ Navy Golding. What was your priority? Flying back the crew members of the sunken ship for the prime minister to give them a heroes’ welcome back in NZ? Why didn’t they stay in Samoa and help pick up some of the thousands of tons of plastic and rubbish and diesel that they left behind? Why isn’t Collins in the lagoon with Golding right now? Is picking up rubbish beneath them?
Source:
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/111434
This article was originally published by Down to Earth Kiwi.
