Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698145584163.pdf (Kiribati)
QUESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT The following Oral Questions are to be asked and answered in the Maneaba ni Maungatabu on Monday 19 April 2021.

The numbers refer to the Questions as entered in the Order Book.

By Hon.

Taoaba Kaiea, MP (South Tarawa) OQ1.
Ibukin buokan kabebetean boon bwai ni kateitei ibukia kaain Kiribati, e kona te Minita are tabena ni kakai anga ma waaki iaan tuan te ununiki ao tararuan arokan Kiribati n te aro ae a na kona ni kariaiakaki rokon bwaai ni kateitei mai Tiaina aika materaoi ma n nakoraoi n aron ae a katauaki rokon ana bwai ni kateitei Tiaina akanne i Biti n te aro ae a na aki manga kabaeaki kaain Kiribati bwa a na otani bwai ni kateitei aikanne mai Biti n te boo ae bubura riki nakon are a bon kaoa naba mai Tiaina?
Rairana/Translation In order to reduce the cost of imported construction materials for the people of Kiribati, will the Minister responsible review its quarantine policy to enable Kiribati importers to order affordable and good quality construction materials directly from China similar to the quarantine policy of Fiji permitting their importers to order the same construction materials directly from China so that the people of Kiribati are no longer obliged to order such materials at a higher price through Fiji suppliers?
Reply by Hon.

Ruateki Tekaiara (Minister of Environment, Lands & Agricultural Development) E waaki au Aobiti ni mwakuri ma ana Aobiti Tiaina ni kabaitian mwakurian bwaai ake a kainanoaki ke te import risk analysis.

Man tian te mwakuri aio ao e a kona naba ni waaki te kaobwai mai Tiaina iaon bwaai ni kateitei.

Rairana/Translation My Ministry is engaging with the Chinese Embassy to fast-track the import risk analysis required to enable the import of construction materials from China to commence.

By Hon.
By Hon.

Tessie Eria Lambourne, MP (Abemama) OQ10.

N na butia te Tautaeka bwa e na kaotia ao ni kamatoa raoi bwa te mwane ibukia ake a aki mwakuri e na teimatoa ni bwaka ke e na aki?

1 Rairana/Translation I want to ask Government to confirm if the social fund for unemployment will continue to be paid out or not?

Reply by Hon.

Martin Moreti (Minister of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs) I kukurei n taekinna bwa e na teimatoa te bwakamwane ibukia ake aki mwakuri.
Translation/Rairana I am happy to say that the social fund for the unemployed will continue to be paid.

By Hon.

England Iuta, MP (Beru) OQ19.

I a tia ni karina taekan te kanganga n rootakin mataniwiin te oo ni Katorika are Futuna i Taboiaki Beru iaan te mwane ni buoka are tabe ma itera aikai.

Manga rimwiana riki te kan ongora e a bwaka ia ngkai rinanoan te bubuti aei, taiaoka?
Rairana/Translation I have already lodged a disaster fund application for the coastal and seawall repairs for the Futuna Catholic Church compound in Taboiaki.

I am following up to ask the latest regarding this application?

Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau (Te Beretitenti) I kukurei n kaongoa te Tia Tei mai Beru bwa aia bubuti kaain te Katorika Futuna i Taboiaki Beru ae e mwakuriaki man au aobiti n iterana are e tabe ma buoka ibukin kabuanibwai.
Rairana/Translation I am pleased to inform the MP from Beru that my office through its section responsible for Disaster Fund Project is currently working on addressing this request.

By Hon.

Taoaba Kaiea, MP (South Tarawa) OQ2.

E kona te Tautaeka n angania taan Ababa i Bonriki bukin aia tabo are nako nakon neei ni baneawa bwa ana kabongana ni maeka?
2 Rairana/Translation Could the Government give the permission to landowners in Bonriki to utilize the extension of the back of their lands extended to the shrimp farm aquaculture?

Reply by Hon.

Ruateki Tekaiara (Minister of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development) E karautaeka te Tautaeka nakon te bubuti aio ngkai bon iai karikirake aika iaoni kawaia ni waakinaki n aban te Tautaeka ke n taabo aika a maneweaki iroun te Tia Tei.
Rairana/Translation Government regrets to inform that the said sites or state lands have been earmarked for major projects that will be starting soon.

By Hon.

Tessie Eria Lambourne, MP (Abemama) OQ11.

E kona te Tautaeka ni kabwarabwara bwa bukin tera ngkai ti tengaun (10) Tia Reirei man reirein Ekaretia aika a kaboaki ao e aera aki bwaka aia mwane ni motirawa ngkai aei tiaki kanoan ana berita n tain te rinerine?
Rairana/Translation Can Government explain why only ten (10) teachers from Mission Schools are being paid by Government and why they are not paid their leave grants as this is not what it promised during the election campaign?

Reply by Hon.

Alexander Teabo (Minister of Education) Te Tia Babaire, mwaitiia Taan Reirei aika tengaun e kaineti ma te katautau n mwaitia Taan Reirei aika a beeba iaon Kiribati ao n kona n mwakuri n reirein aaro.
Te mwane ni motirawa e na kona n bwaka ngkana a anai aia motirawa n aekaia Taan mwakuri n te Tautaeka.

Rairana/Translation Madame Speaker, ten is the number of qualified teachers forecasted to be available in Kiribati and ready to work in mission schools.

The leave grant is payable once they take up annual leave as applicable to all civil servants.

3 By Hon.

Taoaba Kaiea, MP (South Tarawa) OQ7.


Ibukin karaoan te eti ao te riai ibukin te I-Kiribati ae akea ana tibanako ao e bua maiun Nei Jayset Tebakatu mai Tarawa Teinainano imwin taonakina n te kaa ae kabutaki iroun temanna te turaiwa ae te I- Abatera n ana botaki teuana te UN ae tei aobitina iaon Tarawa, e kona te Tautaeka ni boraraoi ma te UN n te aro bwa e na iai te kabomwi ae riai ni kabwakaaki ibukin te teei aei?
Rairana/Translation In the interest of justice and fairness in a case involving a loss of life of an innocent infant girl, Jayset Tebakatu of South Tarawa, who died recently after being ran over by a car driven by a foreign staff of a certain UN entity with an office in South Tarawa, will Government kindly seek an appropriate compensation to the family concerned?
Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau (Te Beretitenti) I karabwa Te Tia Tei Temanna ae e karineaki mai Tarawa Teinainano n ana titiraki ao I reita te rawawata ao te nanokawaki ae e taonaki iai ana utu Jayset Tebakatu.

I kan reita aio n taekina bwa e teimatoa n reitaki te Tautaeka ma UNICEF iaon te kabuanibwai aio ao e a tia naba n reitaki ibukin te kabomwi ao n teimatoa ngkai n taninga te kaeka nakon aio.
Rairana/Translation I thank the Honourable Member of South Tarawa for this question and I share the anguish and grief expressed by the family of Jayset Tebakatu.

I can confirm that my Ministry continues to pursue this matter with UNICEF.

By Hon.

Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, MP (North Tarawa) OQ12.

E teimatoa ni kakoauaaki bwa e tuai man waaki ana mwakuri te kaboowi are e Rietata ao a rangi ni mwaiti aomata aika a tataningai ongoraeakin aia keiti n te tabo ni boowi aei.
E kona ni kabwarabwara te Tautaeka bwa ai tera ngkai ae e a karika raoi te kanganga aei ao tera ana waaki te Tautaeka n tobwaa te kanganga aei?

Rairana/Translation The High Court is currently not functioning in terms of hearing high court cases while people are still waiting for their high court cases to be heard.

Can the Government kindly explain why this is happening and what is the Government action to address this problem?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Tarakabu Tofinga (Minister of Justice) 4 Te Bowi ae e Rietata e teimatoa n waaki iaon keiti tabeua ngkai bon iai te kamitina ibukin te boowi ae e rietata.

Te Tautaeka e tabe n kawaekoa reken te Tia Moti ae e rietata ae e boou bwa buokan kawaekoan karaoan taian keiti aika iaon Tarawa ma ake i aonnaba.

Rairana/Translation The High Court is still functioning in hearing certain high court cases because there is a Commissioner of the High Court.
Government is trying to get the new Chief Justice soon to speed up the hearing of more cases both in Tarawa and Outer Islands.

By Hon.

Taoaba Kaiea, MP (South Tarawa) OQ5.

E kona te Tautaeka n karekei riki tabeua classrooms ibukin te reirei ae Sunrise Primary School ngkai a bon rangin mwaiti ataein te reirei aio?

Rairana/Translation Could the Government provide extra classrooms for Sunrise Primary School to accommodate the increase in number of its students?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Alexander Teabo (Minister of Education) Te Tia Babaire, e tauraoi au Botaki ni Mwakuri n rinanoa te bubuti aio.

Rairana/Translation Madame Speaker, my Ministry will consider this request.

By Hon.

England Iuta, MP (Beru) OQ15.

E a maan n tuai man raoiroi te reitaki n te tareboon iaon Beru, e kona te Tautaeka ni kakaea buokan te kanganga aei n te tai ae e waekoa taiaoka?
Rairana/Translation The mobile communications signal has been very poor in Beru for quite some time, can Government expedite ways to remedy this problem urgently?

Reply by Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development) E tauraoi te Tautaeka n kakaea buokan te kanganga aei n te tai ae e waekoa.

5 Rairana/Translation Government is ready to find ways to expedite the remedy for this problem.

By Hon.

Taoaba Kaiea, MP (South Tarawa) OQ6.


N na butia te Tautaeka e kona n noora riain karekean te kabomwi nakon ikuakin matan Iareto Kabunare are e a tiku ni mwauku iai ngkai imwiin SPMS?

ana mwakuri kaimoa ngkoa te ni n Rairana/Translation I wish to request Government if it could provide compensation to Mr. Iareto Kabunare a former seaman of SPMS who suffered from eye injury?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Taabeta Amuera Teakai (Minister of Employment and Human Resource) Te Speaker ae ko karineaki, I kaitaua raou n Tia Tei mai Tarawa Teinainano ae karineaki n ana titiraki ao aio ngkanne kaekaakin ana titiraki.

I nanokawaki n taekinna bwa te kabomwi nakon ikuakin matan Iareto Kabunare e aki moa butimwaeaki man ana itera te Tautaeka n te tai aio.

Ni kaineti ma te Tua ibukin te Kaboomwi nakoia Taan Mwakuri ke Compensation Act ao bon taben te Tia mwakuri ma te tia kamwakuri rinanoan aio.
Rairana/Translation Hon.

Speaker I would like to thank the MP from South Tarawa for raising this question however, I regret to inform that this compensation claim was not considered as proper.

In line with the Workmen Compensation Act, the procedure involves both parties the worker and employer to discuss and agree on how to deal with such an issue.

By Hon.

England Iuta MP, (Beru) OQ16.


N te Maneaba ae e nako ao I aki toki n tabeka taekan rootakin mwakoron Beru n te aono ni kaan nakon te matabaiawa i Tebikeriki.

Te kanganga n aron are I taetaekinna bwa e a rin taari ikai ao ni katamneian baika a riki ngkai a bane n rootaki niina ao e a kan mwakoroua te kawai nakon te uaabu.

Bon ti te titiraki ni kan oota bon iai ana kantaninga te Tautaeka ni mwakuria te kanganga aei?
6 Rairana/Translation I have raised this same issue during the last House on an area seriously affected by sea intrusion close to the boat passage at Tebikeriki.

Present picturesque view of this area is that all the coconut trees are dead and the road will probably be destroyed.

A point to clarify does Government really have plans to salvage this area?
Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau (Te Beretitenti) I kukurei n kaongoa te Tia Tei mai Beru bwa bon iai ana kantaninga te Tautaeka n mwakuria te kanganga aio.

Bon iai baenikai ibukin mwaitin bubuti ake a roroko inanon bain te Tautaeka n katoa ririki n ikotaki n kaitaraaki ma mwaitin te mwane n buoka aio.

Rairana/Translation I am pleased to inform the MP from Beru that there is Government’s plan to address this issue.
However, there are delays in addressing it due to limited funds against a large list of requests received on a yearly basis.

By Hon.

Betero Atanibora, MP (Abaiang) OQ22.

E kona te Tautaeka ni karekea buokan te reirei ae St. Paul i Tuarabu ngkai ti kakoaua a bon rotaki bwaina nako ngkai e a rangi ni maan imwin te tai are e moan bwaibwai iai te Aro ni karokoa e a manga roko iroun te Tautaeka?
Rairana/Translation Could the Government provide proper assistance to St. Paul Primary School in Tuarabu since most of the properties are worn out from the time of the Church’s administration until it is now in the good hands of the Government?

Reply by Hon.

Alexander Teabo (Minister of Education) Te Tia Babaire, e tauraoi au Botaki n Mwakuri n rinanoa te bubutii aio.

Rairana/Translation Madame Speaker, My Ministry will consider this request.

7 By Hon.

Vincent Tong, MP (Maiana) OQ28.


Inanon ririki aika a nako ao iai aia bubuti Katorika man te kaawa ae Buota ibukin karaoan aia bono.

Te kanganga ngkai bwa titebo ma e a manga marua taekan aia bubuti anne.

E kona te Tautaeka ni kabwarabwara bwa e kanga n riki aio ao tera waekoan karekean buokaia koraki aikai?

Rairana/Translation In previous years there was a request from the Catholics from Buota village for the construction of their seawall.
Unfortunately, it would seem that such request has been misplaced.

Could Government explain how this occurred and how could such villagers be best assisted?

Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau (Te Beretitenti) N na karautaeka nakon te Tia Tei ae e karineaki mai Maiana bwa akea ana bubuti te Katorika Buota n tia n roko inanon bain au aobiti ibukin aia bono ae a tangiria.

Ma I kukurei n taekinna bwa e tauraoi au aobiti n buoka te kainnano aio.
Rairana/Translation I regret to inform the MP from Maiana that there was no request for a seawall from the Catholic Buota received by my office.

However, I am happy to say that my office is ready to look into this problem.

By Hon.

England Iuta, MP (Beru) OQ18.

E kona te Minita are tabena n iangoa karaoakin ana bwam n ran JSS i Beru n ai aron ake a karaoaki n taian moan rinan reirei?
Rairana/Translation Can the Minister responsible explore the possibility of providing JSS in Beru with a solar water pump system similar to those provided for the primary schools?

Reply by Hon.

Alexander Teabo (Minister of Education) Te Tia Babaire, e tauraoi au Botaki ni Mwakuri n rinanoa te bubutii aio.

Rairana/Translation Madame Speaker, my Ministry will consider this request.

8 By Hon.

Betero Atanibora, MP (Abaiang) OQ46.


I kona ni butiia te Tautaeka e kona ni karekea ana sublease Abaiang iaon Tarawa ibukin n nen aia mwakete iaon aia karaobwai ni Kiribati ma marin taari n arona nako?

Rairana/Translation Can I request this Government to provide a sublease for my constituency on Tarawa to use for fish market and local produce?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Ruateki Tekaiara (Minister of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development) I kukurei n taekinna bwa bon iai taabo aika a tia n taketenaki bwa ana tei iai taian mwakete ao aikai ana kona ni kabonganaaki irouia Taan karaobwai ni kabane.

Rairana/Translation I am pleased to say that there are sites earmarked for local markets which would serve all local producers.

By Hon.

Taiaki Irata, MP (Onotoa) OQ35.


E a bwaka iaa ngkai taekaia ataein Onotoa ake a tia aroia iaan ana kainibaire te Labour n te kamwakuri itinaniku ao a tuai man reke mwanangaia?

Rairana/Translation What is the update of my constituency on those who have been selected for the Australian and NZ scheme but are still waiting for their turn?

Reply by Hon.
Taabeta Amuera Teakai (Minister of Employment and Human Resource Development) Taekaia ataein Onotoa ake a tia aroia iaan ana kainibaire te Labour n te kamwakuri i tinaniku are a kinaaki n arana ae te “work ready pool” bon tii te arona naba ma taekaia taan kiniuanikai ni kabane ke kaain ni kabane te work ready pool are ngkai a bon bane n tiku n kariaria kainanoaia mai irouia Taan kamwakuri are n te tai aio moa ao e a bon mwaarara man baenikai n kaineti ma kangangan te mwamwananga n irekereke ma te COVID 19, n aron ae ti bon bane n ataia.
9 Rairana/Translation Update information about Onotoa candidates which also applies to the rest of the candidates in the work ready pool, is that; they are all waiting for employers’ demand which progress remain slow due to the COVID 19 Pandemic travel restrictions as we all know.

By Hon.

Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, MP (North Tarawa) OQ14.

Babaoia aoraki ake a rangi ni kakaiaki ao n tangira kuakuakiia n te Onaoraki i Nawerewere bon taian booti ake a kakaotinakoaki ke aeanaki.
E kona te Botaki ni Mwakuri n Kuakua ni kariaia karekean te mwane ni mwakuri are e na angangan te Kauntira ni katoa ririki are e na tararuaki iroun te MA ma te Clerk ibukin totokoan te kanganga ae iremwen reken baoia aoraki mai Tarawa Ieta?

Rairana/Translation Patients who need medical treatment at the main hospital in Nawerewere are usually transported by boats which are hired by the Ministry of Health.
Can the Ministry of Health and Medical services be possibly allocating and sending certain financial provision to the Council every year for referral purposes, which will be managed by the MA and Clerk to address the problem on the delay in transporting patients from North Tarawa?

Reply by Hon.

Dr Tinte Itinteang (Minister of Health and Medical Services) E rabwa te Tia Tei ae e karineaki temanna mai Tarawaieta n ana titiraki ao e kukurei au Tabo ni Mwakuri ni mwakuria te bubuti aio.
Rairana/Translation I thank the Honorable MP from North Tarawa and my Ministry is happy to consider this request.

By Hon.

Ieremia Tabai, MP (Nonouti) OQ23.

Rongorongon te stadium, bon te bwai ae kananokawaki.

E a kaan ngkai teniua te ririki man te tai are e tiainaaki iai te boraraoi ibukin karaoan te stadium ao bon akea te bwai ae e a tia n riki ni karokoa te bong aio.

I kan titiraki bwa tera ae e bure, ae e karika te iremwe ae e abwabwaki aio, ao n ningai ae e na manga moanaki iai te mwakuri?
10 Rairana/Translation The story of the stadium is a sad one.

It is now close to three years since the agreement was signed for the construction of the stadium and nothing has happened until now.

I want to ask what went wrong, causing such a long delay and when is the project going to start again?

Reply Hon.
Reply Hon.

Martin Moreti (Minister of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs) Te bwai ae e karika te iremwe nakon te stadium aio bon man aki karokoan baika a kainnanoaki ibukin kabwatakin te kateitei ma iroun te Kambwana ae Audie Pacific Engineer ni karokoa te tai aio.

E katautauaki bwa e na manga karaoaki te stadium aio imwiin katokan te boraraoi ma te Kambwana aei.
Rairana/Translation The long delay is caused by Audie Pacific Engineer Pte Ltd for not providing Government with the required detailed drawings until to date.

The project will start again after terminating Audie’s contract.

By Hon.

Vincent Tong, MP (Maiana) OQ31.

Ni moan waakin ngkoa te Maneaba aio ao I bubuti katamaroaan te tareboon ao intanete n ikotaki ma kakeaan taian Blackspots iaon Maiana.

E kona te Tautaeka ni kakoaua bwa e a tia ni kaekaaki te bubuti anne?
Rairana/Translation During the initial stages of this Maneaba I requested improvement to telephone and internet services in addition to the eradication of blackspots on Maiana.

Could Government confirm that such request has been addressed?

Reply Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development) E a tia n waaki mwakurian ana bubuti te Tia Tei are e tabekia n moan waakin boowin te Maneaba aio.
Rairana/Translation Improvement works have commenced to address the issues raised by the MP in the initial stages of this Maneaba meeting.

11 By Hon.

Tibanga Taratai, MP (Banaba) OQ49.

Inanon boowin te Maneaba ae e nako ao e bubuti Banaba bwa e tuai boo te kabowi ibukin akean ana Court Clerk.

Ana kaeka te Minita n te MOJ ao e taku bwa e na roko ana Court Kiraaka Banaba inanon banen te ririki ae 2020.

Ai Eberi 2021 ao e na roko nakon n ningai ana Court Clerk Banaba?
Rairana/Translation In the last Parliament, Banaba had requested the need for court proceeding but this has never happened due to the absence of Court Clerk.

Minister for MOJ responded at the time that a Clerk would arrive by the end of the year 2020.

It is now April 2021 and the Clerk has still not arrived on the island.

When will Banaba Court Clerk arrive?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Tarakabu Tofinga (Minister of Justice) I karautaeka n aron te mwarara ma te Court Clerk e a tauraoi n okira Banaba n reken te moan bao.

Rairana/Translation I regret about the delay but the Court Clerk is ready to return on the first available transport to Banaba.

12