Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698142442885.pdf (Kiribati)
QUESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT The following Oral Questions are to be asked and answered in the Maneaba ni Maungatabu on Monday 23 November 2020.

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

By Hon.

Betero Atanibora, MP (Abaiang) OQ1.

E kona te Tautaeka ni bonoa tabon te marae ni wanikiba are i Tuarabu ngkai e korakora te kanakinako iai ao ngkai e a manga karikaki tabon te marae ni wanikiba bwa ai te kawai ngkai e a kanakinakoaki te kawai ni kawai.
Translation/Rairana Could the Government build a sea wall at the edge of Tuarabu’s airstrip which is affected from coastal erosion and is currently used by the public as an extension road since the previous road is also affected by erosion?

Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau (Te Beretitenti) I kukurei n kaongoa te Tia Tei bwa e tauraoi te Tautaeka n ibuobuoki nakon te itera aei imwin nooran mwiin taian kukune man te kamatebwai are e na karaoaki moa nakon tabon te marae anne.
Translation/Rairana I am happy to inform the MP from Abaiang that the Government is ready to assist with this request based on findings from a coastal study which needs to be conducted first at this reported site.

By Hon.

Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, MP (North Tarawa) OQ6.


Ngkai e a korakora mwaitia kaara ao bon koraki ake e rereke irouia te mwane n aki makuri ma n kaawa aika mai Kainaba nako Buota ke atimakoro ake a bon rangi n tionako ao raroanako ma aobitin te Kauntira i Abaokoro, ao tera ana ibuobuoki te Tautaeka ibukin buokan kakabwakaan aia mwane riki ngkai e a bon rangi n kanganga aron kakaean Abaokoro irouia?
Translation/Rairana Now that the number of recipients/beneficiaries for both the elderly and unemployment benefits increases on villages from Kainaba to Buota, known as North Tarawa islets, it may be difficult for them to keep collecting their allowances at the Council office in Abaokoro from their villages.

What can the Government do to address this problem?

1 Reply by Hon.
1 Reply by Hon.

Martin Moreti (Minister of Women, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs) E tauraoi te Tautaeka ni ibuobuoki nakon te tabeka aio, ma n aron teina ae ngkai ao e bon mena aron te kabwakamwane aikai inanon bain te Kauntira ao ti kaongoaki bwa ngkana e waaki te bwakamwane ao e bon moanaki moa man te Kauntira ao nikiran boong, e buti inanon kaawa n reitaki ma atimwakoro.

Translation/Rairana Government is ready to assist with the issue rasied.
But at the moment, the payment of unemployment benefits is handled by the Island Council.

My Ministry has been advised that the payment started at the Council, and in the remaining days, continued to other villages, including islets.

By Hon.

Dr. Kautu Tenaua, MP (Abaiang) OQ8.

Ko taekinna Te Beretitenti n am kaembein bwa ngkana ko reke nakon te nakoa ni Beretitenti ao ko na karikirakea aia mwane kaara nakon $100 ni katoa uoua te wiiki ni moa man Tianiuare 2020.
Tera bukina ngkai ti $100 e kabwakaaki man Tianuare nakon Aokati ao $200 e bwaka ibukin namakaina ake imwiina?

Translation/Rairana During the last presidential campaign Mr President you declared should you be elected as a President you vowed an increase in the elderly fund to $100 per fortnight starting from January this year, 2020.

Could you kindly explain why $100 was paid for January to August, while $200 per month was paid for the following months?
Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau (Te Beretitenti) E teretere n ana Motinnano te Tautaeka bwa “Aia mwane kaara man te ririki 60 ni waerake n te mwaiti ae $100 n uoua te wiiki, e na okirikaaki te bwaka mwane (back pay) kanoan te kataumwane are $100 n te namakaina man 1 n Tianuare 2020”.

Translation/Rairana Government’s manifesto clearly stated that “senior citizens’ allowance from age 60 and above is $100 a fortnight, the back-pay as per approved budget is $100 a month from January 2020.

2 By Hon.
2 By Hon.

Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, MP (North Tarawa) OQ7.

Taian tangke n mooi ake kanoan te karikirake are buokakin karekean te ran n mooi are n te kaawa ae Buota iaon Tarawaieta, e bon Kaman tare ao n aki tau kanoaia imwin aki bwabwakan te karau inanon namakaina aika a nako.

Aio e rangi n roota aron maiuia koraki ake a maeka i tabon Buota.

Tera ana aanga te Tautaeka aei n tobwa te kanganga aei n te tai ae e waekoa?
Translation/Rairana The water tanks at Buota village on North Tarawa which are part of the project to assist communities in Buota with their drinking water are already empty or do not have enough water inside them as a result of the declined rainfall experienced in the past few months.

This is a serious problem which really affects people’s wellbeing especially those who are residing at the coastal areas toward Abatao.

What can the Government do to address this problem immediately?

Reply By Hon.
Reply By Hon.

Willie Tokataake (Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy) Te Tibiika, e tauraoi au Botaki ni Mwakuri rinanon PUB ni kamatebwaia moa anga ibukin tobwaan te kanganga aio.

Translation/Rairana Madam Speaker, my Office through PUB will assess first possible solutions to resolve the issue at hand.

By Hon.

Dr. Kautu Tenaua, MP (Abaiang) OQ9.

I kan titirakina te Minita are tabena bwa tera bukina e iremwe onean mwiin aia rebwerebwe neeti iaon Abaiang?
Translation/Rairana May I ask the Minister concerned what may have been the reason for the persistent delays in the replacement of the Public Health Nurse’s motorbike in Abaiang?

Reply Hon.

Dr. Tinte Itinteang (Minister of Health and Medical Services) E rabwa Te Tia Tei ae e rine n ana titiraki ao te kabwarabure n te iremwe n rokon onean mwiin aia rebwerebwe neeti iaon aonnaba ma I kukurei n 3 taekinna bwa iai 2 rebwerebwe aika boou aika a tia n kanakoaki nako Abaiang ibukia ake a rangin kainanoia moa.
Translation/Rairana I thank the Honorable MP for his question and I do apologise for the delay from our side, but I am happy to say that two new motorbikes have been sent to Abaiang for clinics that are in dire need of transport.

By Hon.

Teima Onorio, MP(Arorae) OQ10.


N na butia te Minita are tabena bwa e kona ni kamatata bwa tera te babaire ae e wakinaki ngkai iroun Air Kiribati ibukin babairean mwaitia ana bwatintia ma ana kaako n te kiba are e katoa wiiki mai Tarawa nako aonnaba n reitaki ma au abamakoro ae Arorae?
Translation/Rairana May I ask the Minister responsible to kindly clarify the current policy by Air Kiribati regarding allocation of passengers and cargo per weekly flight to each of the outer islands it serves, including my island Arorae?

Reply by Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development) N te tai moa aio ao e a tia ni karaoa te bitaki Air Kiribati n ana kainibaire ibukin aki taun ana wanikiba.
Ni kaineti ma te kainibaire ae e boou ao ai bon ti teuana ngkai kiban abamwakoro ni kabane ao e moan bwaiaki moa tokan te bwatintia nakon te kaako.

Bairean mwaitin te bwatintia ma te kaako e kaineti nakon ana rawawata te wanikiba are e kariaiakaki bwa e na kona ni uotia.

Translation/Rairana There are changes at this time with Air Kiribati schedules and policies which are strategically done in alignment to the single aircraft being operational.
In line with the new changes AKL is currently offering a limited service i.e.

only one guaranteed flight per island per week and passengers are given preference over cargoes.

The allocation of number of passengers and cargoes per island depends on the regulated weight the aircraft can carry.

By Hon.

Betero Atanibora, MP (Abaiang) OQ11.

N na titirakina te Minita n te MISE bwa e a bwaka ia ana bubuti te Kauntira n Abaiang ibukin karekean te inverter are bwain te auti ni kamaitoro ngkoa are i Tabontebike?
4 Translation/Rairana I will ask the Minister for MISE on the status of Abaiang Island Council’s request for the purchase of an inverter for the Fish Center (Ice Plant) at Tabontebike?

Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake (Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy) Ana inverter te Kauntira n Abaiang e a tia n kaboaki ao e kantaningaki rokona i Tarawa ni banen te namakaina aei Novembwa ke n moan te namakaina ae e na roko Ritembwa n te ririki aio.
Translation/Rairana Abaiang Council inverter has been procured and it is expected to arrive by the end of this month (November) or early next month (December).

By Hon.

Koraubati Remuera, MP(Maiana) OQ32.

I kona ni butia te Minita are tabena noran riain manga mwakurian te rawa n rororake irouia booti n akawa are karaoaki ngkoa i tanraken Tebangetua i Maiana?

Translation/Rairana Can the Minister responsible consider rehabilitating the sea passage at Tebangetua, Maiana for fishermen?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development) E na karinaki ibuakon te list ibukin katamaroa nakon raawa te rawa aei ibukin manga mwakurian te rawa n rororake irouia booti n akawa are karaoaki ngkoa i tanraken Tebangetua i Maiana.

Translation/Rairana Consideration of the sea passage at Tebangetua, Maiana for fishermen will be considered and to be added among an existing list of sea passages that needs to be improved.

5 By Hon.
5 By Hon.

Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, MP (North Tarawa) OQ22.

I kan butia te Minita are tabena taraan mwaitia Kauntira n ward bwa e na noora mwaitin ana Kautira te kaawa ae Buota iaon Tarawaieta bwa e bon tau ae uoman ke e nang riai n raka?

Translation/Rairana Can I ask the Minister responsible for local ward to review the current number of Councilors on Buota North Tarawa and to determine whether the current number of 2 is enough or should increase?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Tarakabu Tofinga (Minister of Justice) Te Tibiika, I kukurei n taekinna bwa e tauraoi au Tabo n Mwakuri n rinanoa te bubuti aio.

Translation/Rairana Madam Speaker, I am pleased to say that my Ministry is ready to consider this request.

By Hon.

Tinian Reiher, MP (Butaritari) OQ42.

Iai te bubuti ibukin katamaroan ao karababaan te rawa n booti/waa n te kaawa ae Tanimainiku ma e tiku n tataninga rokon bwaai n mwakuri.
Ngkai a mena bwaai n mwakuri i Butaritari n tataninga wakinan karaoan te kawai e kona te Minita ae karineaki n nora angaraoina moa, n te tai aio, karaoan te rawa n booti aio imwain are e a waaki te mwakuri iaon te kawai?

Translation/Rairana Approval has been given for improving and widening the boat passage at Tanimainiku village but work has to await the availability of suitable heavy equipment.

As these heavy equipment are now in Butaritari for the road project could the Hon.
Minister, in the meantime, see it possible to carry out work on the boat passage before the commencement of the road upgrading?

Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake (Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy) Te Tibiika, e na rinanon moa te bubuti aio au Botaki ni Mwakuri ni kaineti ma aron babairean te mwakuri ibukin te karao kawai i Butaritari.

6 Translation/Rairana Madam Speaker, my Ministry will review this request in line with road construction arrangement for Butaritari.

By Hon.
By Hon.

Betero Atanibora, MP(Abaiang) OQ2.

N na bubutia te Minita n te Communication ibukin nooran riain karekean te antena ibukin te tareboon ibukia kaawa aika mai maiaki n aron Tanimaiaki, Taniau ao Tabontebike n ikotaki ma atimwakoro n aron Nuotaea ao Ribono ngkai e rangi ni buakaka te tareboon man taabo akanne?
Translation/Rairana I request the Minister for Communication to see the need to install telecommunication antennas for Southern Villages such as Tanimaiaki, Taniau and Tabontebike including Islets of Nuotaea and Ribono which believe to experience blackspot?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development) E tauraoi au Tabo ni Mwakuri n reitaki ma te operator ae Vodafone n kakaea te kabanea n angaraoi ni ibuobuoki nakon te kangaanga ae tabekia Te Tia Tei ae e rine.

Translation/Rairana My Ministry will work with the operator in Abaiang which is Vodafone to see through that the best solutions are implemented to resolve the issue raised by the Hon.

MP.

By Hon.

Taoaba Kaiea, MP (South Tarawa) OQ36.


E kona te Tautaeka ni karaoi raoi kawain Temaiku are e rinnako mai Korokota ni karokoa n te Clinic nakon te reirei are Sunrise Primary School n ikotaki ma kawain Tamoa ao Bakarurunao?

Translation/Rairana Could the Government establish a standard road rehabilitation that runs through Korokota to the Clinic and extended to Sunrise Primary School plus Tamoa and Bakarurunao?

7 Reply by Hon.
7 Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake (Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy) Te Tibiika, taabo ake a mwaneweaki n te titiraki aio ana bon bane ni karaoaki kawaia iaan te karikirake are karaoan nikiran kawai ake aki karaoaki n te moan karao kawai.

Te timanti ae e na kabonganaki ibukin te karao kawai aio ke te Geo Cell.
Translation/Rairana Madam Speaker, areas mentioned through this oral question will be covered under the road upgrading project covering road networks not covered under the first road project.

Geo Cell is the road methodology that will be adopted for this road upgrading project.

By Hon.

Tessie Eria Lambourne, MP(Abemama) OQ45.

E kona te Minita are tabena ni kabwarabwara bwa bukin tera ngkai e a rikirake riki ni buakaka te waaki ni kibakiba inanoa ao n ningai ae e nang tamaroa iai?
Translation/Rairana Can the responsible Minister explain why domestic air service has worsened and when will it improve?

Reply by Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport, and Tourism Development) I moanna ma te bwana ni karautaeka ae e abwabwaki ibukin te mwarara n te kibakiba inanoa.
N te tai moa aio ao bon ti te waana ana wanikiba Air Kiribati ae kibakiba ma e teimatoa ni kabanea ana kona te Tautaeka rinanon au Botaki ni Mwakuri ni kakaea taobaran te kangaanga ibukin te kibakiba inanoa.

Ma I kukurei ni kaongoa Te Tia Tei ae e rine bwa e na rikirake tamaroan te kibakiba inanoa ni moa man te namwakaina ae November.
Translation/Rairana Firstly, it is with sincerest regret that Air Kiribati domestic services have been greatly impacted due to the unavailability of its aircraft and that only one is operational.

However, the Government through my Ministry is working tirelessly in resolving the issue.

Therefore, I am delighted to inform the Honorable MP, that the domestic services should gradually improve with effect from this month – November.

8 By Hon.

Taoaba Kaiea, MP (South Tarawa) OQ37.


E kona te Tautaeka ni karekei speed humps ni kawain te kaawa ae Bikenibeu Mainiku Maeao ae te Feeder road are e moa mai iaan te Ionatia n otinako n te Mackenzie bwa e na kauarerekea te kabuanibwai?

Translation/Rairana Could the Government provide speed humps to the feeder road that runs from Te Ionatia to the Mackenzie point at Bikenibeu East/West to prevent road accidents?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake (Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy) E tauraoi au Botaki ni Mwakuri n rinanon te bubuti aio rinanon te Botaki ni Mwakuri ibukin Aaba Inanoa ke te MIA are tabena moa butimwaean ao rinanoan bubuti mai irouia Kauntira.

Translation/Rairana My Ministry is willing to assist with the request through the Ministry of Internal Affairs or MIA who is responsible to receive and review first request from Island Councils.

By Hon.

Betero Atanibora, MP(Abaiang) OQ3.


E kona te Minita are tabena nora riain karekeaia Special Constables man kaawa aika Ubwanteman, Borotiam, Tebero, Evena ao Tuarabu bwa akea special iai?

Translation/Rairana Could the Minister responsible see the need in providing Special Constables for Ubwanteman, Borotiam, Tebero, Evena and Tuarabu Villages there are none allocated at the moment?
Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau (Te Beretitenti) Te Tia Babaire, ae ko rine, e tauraoi au Botaki ni Mwakuri n rinanoa te bubuti ni kaineti ma te kaini baire ibukin kateirakeaia special constables.

9 Translation/Rairana Honorable Speaker, my Office is ready to review the request according to policy guidelines already in place for the appointment of new special constables.

By Hon.

Taiaki Irata, MP (Onotoa) OQ29.


Ana babaire ana etekuata te KOIL iaon Betio ibukin katokan nikirakin aia turam ni bwaa ma karatiin Bitineti iaon Onotoa e karika ngkai aia kanganga ibukin karaian aia ota man mwangan te KOIL iaon Buraitan nakon aia kaawa.

E kona te Minita ni kaoka taben te KOIL iaon Onotoa n nikiri aia ota Bitineti n aron are a bon tataneiai n ana tieweti te KOIL iaon Onotoa mai imwaina?
Translation/Rairana The ceasing of drum delivery to private businesses on Onotoa by KOIL’s headquarter is now an issue to the locals in transferring their order from KOIL’s branch on Buraitan to their Villages.

Could the Minister restore the usual role and service of KOIL on Onotoa and deliver these orders?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake (Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy) I karautaeka nakon te Tia Tei ae e karineaki bwa akea ana babaire KOIL ibukin katokakin nikiran turam ni bwaa nakoia bitiniti iaon Onotoa.

Oin te kanganga bon aki tauraoin baao ni mwamwananga ake ana tangoaki iroun KOIL ibukin nikiran turam ni bwaa.

Translation/Rairana I regret to inform the Honorable Member of Parliament that there is no decision by KOIL to cease the delivery of fuel drums to private businesses.
The main issue was caused by the unavailability of trucks on the island for KOIL to hire for such service delivery.

By Hon.

England Iuta, MP(Beru) OQ15.

Te kanganga ngkai iaon Beru bwa a rawa kaibuke n anai takataka man te rawa n roro are i Taboiaki.

E kona te Tautaeka ni kakaea buokan te kanganga aei?

10 Translation/Rairana Vessels calling in Beru are refusing to pick up copra from Taboiaki passage.

Can Government assist in finding solutions to the problem?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development) E tauraoi te Tautaeka ni kakaea buokan te kangaanga ae tabekia te Tia Tei ae e rine.

Translation/Rairana Government stands ready to remedy the issue raised by the Honorable MP.

By Hon.

Betero Atanibora, MP (Abaiang) OQ5.


I kan bubutia te Minita are tabena n nora riain riki karakaan mwaitia Kauntira man kaawa aikai Nuotaea, Tebunginako, Koinawa, Taburao ao Taniau ngkai ti kakoaua bwa iai keraken aia botanaomata ao n aki tau temanna te kauntira iai ao n nora riain karakana nakon uoman?
Translation/Rairana I wish to ask the Minister responsible if he can see the need to increase the number of Councilors for Nuotaea, Tebunginako, Koinawa, Taburao and Taniau in which there is an increase in population of these villages and one Councilor is not enough?

Reply by Hon.

Tarakabu Tofinga (Minister for Justice) I kukurei n taekinna bwa e tauraoi au Botaki n Mwakuri n rinanoa te bubuti aei ni kaineti ma te kainibaire ibukin mwaitiia Kauntira.
Translation/Rairana My Ministry is ready to consider the request according to the set criteria for the number of Councilors.

By Hon.

England Iuta, MP (Beru) OQ21.

E rawata karikirake iaon te ran (Kiriwatsan 2) n ikotaki ma katean kain nako taari kamkamka aika tuai man tia iaon Beru.

Aikai ake e bon anga naba ana taeka iai te Tautaeka ae e nako bwa a na katiaki.

Tera ngkai kabanea ni babaire ibukin katian karikirake aikai?
11 Translation/Rairana There are few projects on Beru that remain incomplete that include remnants of Kiriwatsan 2 and compost toilets.

The last administration pledged that these projects would be completed.

What is the latest now on that undertaking?

Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake (Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy) E katautauaki bwa te bobwai e na waaki inanon te namakaina aio imwiin rokon te mwane n au Aobiti ibukin moa tii bwain te ran.
Translation/Rairana The procurement of the remaining materials for water system only is planned to commence this month following receipt of funds.

By Hon.

Tinian Reiher, MP(Butaritari) OQ43.

E kona te Minita ae e karineaki n kakaea angan tobwakin te kanganga ngkai ae e rereke nakoia Taan kabongana te Ocean Link i Butaritari are kabooa aia data plan ao e aki manena raoi bwa e a uruaki naba te intanete?
Translation/Rairana Could the Honourable Minister find ways to address the problem experienced by users of Ocean Link in Butaritari who purchased their data plan and did not fully utilise because of the sudden breakdown of the internet system?

Reply by Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development) E tauraoi au Botaki ni Mwakuri n reitaki ma te kambana ae OceanLink n tobwa te kanganga are e tabekaki iroun te Tia Tei ae e karineaki.
Translation/Rairana My Ministry is prepared to work with Oceanlink to address the issue raised by the Honourable MP.

12