Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694840933084.pdf (Kiribati)
QUESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT The following Oral Questions are to be asked and answered in the Maneaba ni Maungatabu on Friday 23 April 2021.

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

By Hon.

Tinian Reiher, MP (Butaritari) OQ50.

E korakora te kariaria nakon ana Motinnano te Tautaeka iaon keraken boon te takataka.

E kona te Minita ae e karineaki n taekinna nakon te Maneaba aei bwa n ningai te tai are e na waaki iai boon te takataka ae e boou ae $4.00 n te kilo?
Rairana/Translation Many people are anxiously awaiting the implementation of this Government policy “Te Motinnano” on the increase in copra price.

Could the Honourable Minister kindly inform this Maneaba the date when the new price of copra of $4.00/kg will be effective?
Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau, MP (Te Beretitenti) I kukurei n taekinna nakon te Tia Tei ae e karineaki mai Butaritari bwa ae e bon waaki naba ngkai te Tautaeka n wakinii katauraoi imwain kanakoan rakan boon te takataka ae $4.00 n te kiro.

Rairana/Translation I am happy to confirm to the MP that Government is currently undertaking its assessment and prep-analysis before imposing this increase in copra price of $4.00 per kg.

By Hon.

Pinto Katia, MP (Makin) Oral 55.


E kona te Tautaeka ni kabwarabwara bwa tera raoi ana kainibaire ibukin kabaneakia ataei man te Rurubao Primary school ni irekereke ma te iremwe ni bwakan rooia?

Rairana/Translation Can Government explain its policy in regards to the expulsion of students in connection with late payment of school fees at Rurubao Primary School?

1 Reply by Hon.
1 Reply by Hon.

Alexander Teabo, MP (Minister of Education) Te babaire iaon kabaneaia ataei ake aki itiaki rooia n te Rurubao bon te katamaroa ae e karaoaki ibukin katokan te kangaanga ae aki bwabwakan rooia ataein te moan rinan n reirei ae te Rurubao.

Rairana/Translation The decision to expel students who have outstanding fees is a policy to address and resolve the problem of continuous non-payment of fees for students of Rurubao Primary School.

By Hon.

Moannata Ientaake, MP (Marakei) OQ67.


I kan butiia te Minita are tabena ni kan ruamwiin au titiraki are I tabekii naba ikai n 23/11/20 n ana katenua n Maneaba Kiribati are kangai taekana; n na butiia te Tautaeka bwa e na kaongoa te Maneaba aei te kauoua n tai bwa e na waakina n ningai karoan te causeway are i marenan Bainuna ao Norauea iaon Marakei?
Rairana/Translation I wish to ask the Minister responsible to follow up on my previous question asked on 23/11/20 at the third Parliament meeting which was worded as follows; “when will be the construction date of the new causeway between Bainuna and Norauea in Marakei”?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake, MP (Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy) Te Tibiika, ana buriti Marakei ae tabekaki rinanon ana titiraki te Tia Tei ae e karineaki e na taubobonga raoi tamneina (design) ngkana e roko ara tia rabakau iaon te buriti ao te karao kawai are e na mwakuri ma ara Taan Rabakau.
Rairana/Translation Madam Speaker, the bridge in question raised by the Honorable Member of Parliament design will be finalized once Technical Assistants specialized in roads and bridges commence working with my team.

2 By Hon.

Banuera Berina, MP (Kuria) OQ73.


N ana kaeka te Beretitenti nakon ana titiraki te Kiribati Newsroom n ana media conference are e karaoaki ni Beberuare n te ririki aei, ao e taku bwa a kona ni karinaki aia bongi ni bung I-Kiribati ake a bungiaki itinanikun Kiribati n ana aobiti Buung Maate ao Maare iaon Bairiki n aron tein ara tua ae ngkai.

E kakoaua ngkai te Beretitenti ae e rine ae ana kaeka aio e bon rangi ni kaairua?
Rairana/Translation In his answer to a question from the Kiribati Newsroom during his media conference in February this year, HE Te Beretitenti answered that the I-Kiribati people born outside Kiribati can have their births registered in our Births Deaths and Marriage office in Bairiki under our existing laws.

Does HE Te Beretitenti now accept that such response is very much misleading?

Reply Hon.
Reply Hon.

Tarakabu Tofinga, MP (Minister of Justice) I kukurei n taekinna bwa e eti te bwai ae taekinna Te Beretitenti.

Rairana/Translation I am glad to say that what Te Beretitenti said is correct.

By Hon.

Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, MP (North Tarawa) OQ57.


Iai ana kataratara ke ana iango te Tautaeka aei ibukin katean riki teuana te JSS iaonnaba ake a bon rangi n abwabwaki ao n mwaiti aia botannaomata ao riki ake a bon rawata atimwakorona aika a bon mwaiti naba iai ataein te JSS aika a riai n nooraki aia kanganga n aron Tarawaieta ao tabeua riki aban Kiribati?
Rairana/Translation Is there a plan of this Government to build one more JSS on outer islands which are bigger and long in size, have huge population size and have many islets on which there are many JSS students to cater for them, such as North Tarawa?

Reply by Hon.

Alexander Teabo, MP (Minister of Education) Te Tia Babaire, I kukurei n kaongoa te Tia Tei ae e rine bwa katean JSS aika boou n abamwakoro aika a mwaiti aia botannaomata ao man abwabwaki bon kanoan ana Motinnano te Tautaeka aio.
3 Rairana/Translation Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Honorable MP that the establishment of new JSS on populated and elongated islands is one of the many manifestos of this Government.

By Hon.

Banuera Berina, MP (Kuria) OQ72.

E taku te Minita are tabena bwa a na aki manga taonaki kiiba man tokin ana boowi te Maneaba ni Maungatabu n December 2020.
E kakoauaki bwa a rangi ni mwaiti taonan ao kamaunaan kiiba boni man imwaain naba tokin boowiin te Maneaba ni Maungatabu n Ritemba 2020 ni karokoa ngkai.

Tera ae e riki?

Rairana/Translation The Minister concerned said there would no longer be any flight changes or flight cancellations as from the end of the meeting of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu at the end of 2020.

However, there is a continuing reoccurrence of flight changes and cancellations till this day.

What is the issue?

Reply by Hon.


Tekeeua Tarati.

MP (Minister of Information, Communication, Transpor, and Tourism Development) E kakawaki bwa e na matata are au Botaki ni Mwakuri rinanon Air Kiribati e bon rang moan bwai maurin te botannaomata ni kabonganakin ana service.

Taotaonakin kiiba e bon riki man karaoakin raoi tararuan wanikiba bwa ana kiba ao man mano.

Rairana/Translation It is critical to note that safety is paramount to my Ministry through Air Kiribati in the provision of its service.
Reoccurrence of flight cancellations is due to thorough maintenance of safety whilst providing service to the people.

By Hon.

Betero Atanibora, MP (Abaiang) OQ75.

N na bubutia te Tautaeka bwa e kona ni manga rinanoa riki ana bubuti te kaawa ae Aonibuaka ibukin mwanenakin aia maneaba are e bwaka man ana urubwai te ang?

Rairana/Translation Can I request this Government to reconsider Aonibuaka’s request on their maneaba that was destroyed by a strong wind?
4 Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau, MP (Te Beretitenti) I kukurei n kaongoa Tia Tei ae e karineaki mai Abaiang bwa e a bon tia n rinanoaki aia bubuti kaain Aonobuaka ao ae bon mwakuriaki naba ngkai.

Iai te iremwe teutana ngkai e bon abwabwaki te mwakuri ae kainanoaki ni irekereke ma tuan katean te Maneaba ae e boou iaan ana buoka ao ana kai ni baire te Disaster Fund.
Rairana/Translation I am happy to inform the MP from Abaiang that Government’s assistance to Aonibuaka has been and is still being processed.

However, there are delays in the implementation due to the long procedure required for the construction of a new Maneaba under the Disaster Fund guideline.

By Hon.

Bakaia Kiabo, MP (Kiritimati & Kanton) OQ92.

E kona te Tautaeka aio n noora riain manga karaoan te karikirake iaon unikakin te aroka ae te nii i Kiritimati?
Rairana/Translation Could this Government see the need to consider the re-planting of coconut trees in Kiritimati Island?

Reply by Hon.

Mikarite Temari, MP (Minister of Line and Phoenix Islands Development) Iai waaki ae a tia n karaoaki aika a rekereke ma unikan te nii i Kiritimati ma I kukurei n taekinna bwa iai ana kantaninga au Ministry bwa e na ikarekebai ma te MELAD ni katamaroaa riki waakinan manga unikakin te nii i Kiritimati ao ni bon aban nako Te Aono n Raina ma Rawaki.
Rairana/Translation There has been programs that involves the re-planting of coconut trees in Kiritimati Island but I am pleased to inform this House that my Ministry has longer term plans to work with MELAD to improve the replanting programs not only in Kiritimati but in the wider Line and Phoenix Islands.

5 By Hon.

Taberannang Timeon, MP (Tabiteuea Meang) OQ61.


A ngureakinna kaaro ake iai aia ataei n reirei aika a rietata i tinaniku, n aron USP bwa iai taai aika aki bwaka aia arauanti n taia ake a tataneiai iai n te aro are a rootaki ibukin boon maeuia ma aia tabo ni maeka.

E kona te Minita are tabena ni kabwarabwara bwa tera ae e riki?
Rairana/Translation The parents of students attending institutions of higher learning overseas, such as USP, are complaining that there are times payments of maintenance allowance were late which is affecting their ability to pay for food and accommodation.

Could the Minister concerned explain what is happening?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Alexander Teabo, MP (Minister of Education) Te Tia Babaire, I karautaeka n iremwen bwakan aia mwane ara ataei are e riki ni moan te ririki n kataumwane ae 2021 ao e na teimatoa au Botaki n Mwakuri n taraia bwa e na aki manga reke te iremwe.

Rairana/Translation Madame Speaker, I regret the delay in the disbursement of students’ allowances happened at the beginning of the financial year 2021 and my Ministry will continue to ensure there is no more repetition of delays in future.

By Hon.
By Hon.

Tewaaki Kobae, MP (Tabuaeran) OQ80.

E kona te Minita are tabena ni kaongoa te Maneaba bwa n ningai ae e na bwaka iai aia mwane mwauku iaon abara aika Tabuaeran ma Teraina?

Rairana/Translation Can the Minister responsible inform this Maneaba when would payment of the disabled benefits be made available in Tabuaeran and Teraina?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Martin Moreti (Minister of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs) E na kona ni bwaka aia mwane mwauku iaon Tabuaeran ma Teraina ngkana a tia n roko ao n rinanoaki aia booma n au Botaki ni Mwakuri.

6 Rairana/Translation Payments of disabled benefits for Tabuaeran and Teraina would be made available after their application forms have been received and processed by my Ministry.

By Hon.

Dr. Kautu Tenaua, MP (Abaiang) OQ94.


N na butia te Minita are tabena e na kanakoaki n ningai mwanen te ‘small grant”?

Rairana/Translation May I ask the Minister concerned when the small Grant Fund be made available?

Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau, MP (Te Beretitenti) Te Tibiika, e na kanakoaki mwanen te small grant n te tai are e tauraoi iai ao man tabwanin raoi aron barongakina.
Rairana/Translation Honourable Speaker, Funding support under Small Grant Project will be released when all required processes are completed.

By Hon.

Bakaia Kiabo, MP (Kiritimati & Kanton) OQ89.

E kona te Tautaeka n nora riain katean taabo n takakaro ibukin te bwatiketibooro ao te teneti iaon Kiritimati ni kaawana aika Tabwakea, Banana ao Poland?

Rairana/Translation Could Government see its appropriate to construct basketball and tennis courts on Kiritimati villages of Tabwakea, Banana and Poland?
Reply by Hon Mikarite Temari, MP (Minister of Line and Phoenix Islands Development) Katean taabo n takakaro n aron ae mwaneweaki n te titiraki ana kona n rinanoaki barongaakia ngkana e nang waaki karaoan nanon te Motinnano are e rekereke ma katean taabo n takakaro.

7 Rairana/Translation Construction of sport facilities as stated in the question will be considered once Government is in the process of implementing its Motinnano in relation to the construction of sport training centers.

By Hon.
By Hon.

Tekiau Aretateta, MP (Tabuaeran) OQ82.

Te kan kamatata nakon te Tautaeka bwa tera te kainibaire nakoia kaara, mwauku ao Taan aki mwakuri ake a tia ni kabuanibwai maeuia ao a tuai bwaka aia mwane?

Rairana/Translation I wish to seek clarification from the Government on its policy in respect of the elderly, people with special needs and the unemployed who have passed away and did not receive their social benefits?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Martin Moreti, MP (Minister of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs) Te kainibaire ibukia kaara, mwauku ao Taan aki mwakuri ake a tia ni kabuanibwai maeuia, e na toki reken aia mwane imwiin te tai are a kabuanibwai iai.

Rairana/Translation Under the current policies for elderlies, disabled and unemployed, payment will cease after they have passed away.

By Hon.

Bakaia Kiabo, MP (Kiritimati & Kanton) OQ90.


E kona te Tautaeka ni karaoa ana ibuobuoki ni katamaroa nakon kawai ake inanoa iaoni kaawan Kiritimati aika London, Tabwakea ao Banana ngkai a kakoauaki bwa a bon rangin aki raoiroi?

Rairana/Translation Could Government assist in upgrading the conditions of the feeder roads in Kiritimati villages viz London, Tabwakea and Banana as the current states are really in bad shape?

8 Reply Hon.
8 Reply Hon.

Mikarite Temari, MP (Minister of Line and Phoenix Islands Development) Te Tautaeka n rinanon MLPID e kona ni katamaroai kawai inanoa ni kawan nako Kiritimati.

Rairana/Translation Government through MLPID is able to carry out the maintenance of feeder roads throughout Kiritimati villages.

By Hon.

Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, MP (North Tarawa) OQ98.

Teuana mai ibuakon kanganga are e riki man bibitakin kanoan boong ao keraken iabutin taari bon kanakin mataniwin te aba.
E kona te Tautaeka n taekinna bwa iraua ngkai te katauboo ibukin mwanenakin taabo ake a rangi n rotaki man te kanakinako ao a tia naba n karaoaki te tutuo ao katauboo iaoia man te MISE iaon Kiribati ni kabane?

Rairana/Translation One of the adverse impacts of climate change and the sea-level rise is the coastal erosion which greatly affects all our islands.

Can the Government kindly inform this Maneaba of any indicative total cost of coastal erosion cases in Kiribati which have been surveyed and costed?
Reply by His Excellency Taneti Maamau, MP (Te Beretitenti) Mwaitin bubuti aika a tia n roko inanon bain au aobiti ibukin tangiran buokan aia kanganga n irekereke ma kanakin mataniwin te aba (coastal erosion) ao ana urubwai keeraken iabutin taari ao kabuanibwai aika a karina (disaster related) bon 286.

Man te mwaiti aio ao 104 a tia n tuoaki ao man kamatebwaiaki iroun te MISE ao n kataubooaki booia ae $12,319,757.50.
Rairana/Translation OB has received a total of 286 requests for assistance from the Disaster Fund Project for coastal protection and other disaster related impacts.

From this total number, 104 have been assessed and estimated to cost $12,319,757.50.

9 By Hon.

James Taom , MP (Makin) OQ105.

Tera ngkai ana waaki te Tautaeka iaon mwakuri ni katamaroa nakon raawa ni booti ake a moanna n ora iaon Makin ao Kiebu?
Rairana/Translation What are Government’s plans to improve the deteriorating conditions of boat passages in Makin and Kiebu?

Reply by Hon.

Tekeeua Tarati, MP (Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development) Iai ana kataratara au Botaki ni Mwakuri ni karaoi mwakuri ni katamaroa nakon taian rawa ni booti iaon Kiribati.
Iai te moan riboti iaon te mwakuri ni katamaroa are e tia n otinako ao iai riki te kaantaninga bwa e na kona ni mwakuriiaki kanoan aio ngkana e roko bwaai ni mwakuri ake a tau ibukin te karikirake aio.

Rairana/Translation My Ministry has formulated a plan to rehabilitate all boat passages in Kiribati.
There is a preliminary report on this and hence, it is anticipated that implementation of the rehabilitation of existing boat passages will commence once appropriate machineries and equipment are made available.

By Hon.

Teima Onorio, MP (Arorae) OQ117.

N te ririki aei ao a tia n rotaki kain Arorae n tokitokin te katine takataka ibukin onraken aia auti n takataka.
N na butia te Minitita are tabena, e kona ni ibuobuoki n taraia ma ana kambwana ae KCDL ao kambwana ni kaibuke bwa e na teimatoa ananakin te takataka are mwaiti n te aro bwa e na reitinako te katine takataka iaon au abamwakoro ae Arorae?

Rairana/Translation The people of Arorae have a couple of times this year been affected by the intermittent weighing on the island due to copra overstock.
I wish to ask the Minister responsible could he liaise with KCDL and shipping companies to ensure and substantial copra uplift so that copra weighing continues for the people of Arorae?

10 Reply by Hon.
Booti Nauan, MP (Minister of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives) I kukurei n kaongoa te Tia Tei ae e Karineaki mai Arorae bwa e teimatoa au Botaki n Mwakuri rinanon ana kambwana ae te KCDL n rereitaki ma Kambwana n Kaibuke ibukin anakin takataka mai aonnaba riki n aaban te itera maiaki aika a raroa n aron Arorae ao n katabea naba te Copra Coordinator iaon abamakoro aikai n iikotaki ma Arorae bwa e na kakaei taabo aika a na kona n kabonganaki ibukin nnen takataka, bwa e aonga n reitinako te katine.
Rairana/Translation I am pleased to inform the Honourable MP from Arorae that my Ministry through its SOE, the KCDL continues to liaise with shipping companies for the uplifting of copra particularly from Southern Islands like, Arorae and had also assigned the Copra Coordinator on the outer islands including Arorae, to provide temporary storages for copra so that copra weighing continues.

By Hon.

James Taom, MP (Makin) OQ103.


Te buriiti are bon ti ngaia buokan kainanoia kaain Makin, e a bon rangi n buakaka ao iaoni kawaina ni bwaka.

E kona te Tautaeka ni waekoa n ibuobuoki iaon te kanganga aei, taiaoka?

Rairana/Translation The only bridge in Makin serving the island had reached a very critical stage and will soon collapse.

Can the Minister responsible quickly attend to the problems please?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake, MP (Minister of Infrastructure & Sustainable Energy) Te Tibiika, e kona te Tautaeka ni ibuobuoki nakon ana kanganga Makin ae mwaneweaki n te titiraki aei.

Rairana/Translation Hon.

Speaker, Government can assist in addressing Makin’s issue mentioned in this question.

11 By Hon.

Ieremia Tabai, MP (Nonouti) OQ78.


Ni kaekaan au titiraki n te Maneaba ae e nako, bwa e na kanga reitakira ma Tiaina ni kawaekoa rokora n ana target KV20 ao e katuruturua te kabwaia ae e na reke nakoira man kakean te angabwai iaon ara iokinibwai nako Tiaina ae te ika.

I kan bubuti bwa e kona te Beretitenti ni katerea te kabwaia nakon te Maneaba aio ae a tia n reke nakon Kiribati ni karokoa ngkai imwin kakean te angabwai iaon ara iokinibwai n te ika nako Tiaina?
Rairana/Translation In his answer to my question in the last Maneaba on how the establishment of pollical relations with China will help us reach our KV20 targets fast, he emphasized the benefits of zero tariff on our fish export to China.

Can I ask the Beretitenti to advise this Maneaba, the benefits Kiribati has received so far as a result of the zero tariff on our fish export to China?

Reply by Hon.
Reply by Hon.

Ribanataake Tiwau, MP (Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development) Te Tibiika, aio kaekan ana titiraki te Tia Tei temanna ae e karineaki mai Nonouti.

N te tai are e waaki te kanako ika nako Tiaina ao tia kona n noora te kabwaia ae e na reke man akean te bakao iaon ara iokinibwai nako Tiaina.

Rairana/Translation Speaker, this is my response to the question raised by one of the honorable MM from Nonouti.
We will start to realize the benefit from zero tariff on our export fish to China, once we start to export our fish to China.

By Hon.

Teima Onorio, MP (Arorae) OQ87.

Teuana ana karikirake te Tautaeka are e a kaman kabwataki mwanena ae $70m n te Maneaba aio n ririki aika a nako bon katamaroan kawai ma marae ni wanikiba ao tabon te uaabu iaon abamwakoron nako Kiribati.
I kan butia te Tautaeka e kona ni kamatata bwa e a bwaka ia ngkai te karikirake aio ao e na roko n ningai iaon au abamwakoro ae Arorae are e kainnanoa naba te karikirake aio?

Rairana/Translation One of the Government’s projects whose funding of $70m has been approved by this Parliament involves the improvement of roads, airports and ports throughout Kiribati.

Could Government provide an update on this project and clarify when Arorae’s needs in this respect would be attended to?

12 Reply by Hon.
12 Reply by Hon.

Willie Tokataake, MP (Minister of Infrastructure & Sustainable Energy) Te karikirake ibukin te karao kawai e na waaki moa ma aaba ake kain te moan mwakoro.

Karaoan ana kawai Arorae e bon mena n te kateniua ni mwakoro.

Rairana/Translation The Outer Island Road Upgrading project will commenced with islands under phase 1.

Arorae is under phase 3 of the road upgrading programming.

13