Michael Tavioni BEM: Calling on the government and MPs to be accountable for travel expenses

In the latest edition of the Cook Islands News, the Government published its travel expenditure for the last financial year and I was very grateful for the opportunity to look at the specific details, writes Michael Tavioni BEM.

We, humans, always assume things and as a result we always imagine the worst, so thanks to those who were responsible for publishing this document.

One of the responsibilities of the government is to prepare the national budget for the new financial year. There is always a provision in the national budget for travel of government personnel. Each department must consider its own travel needs, including travel sponsored by other countries or overseas organizations, and the budget proposed by each department for its own overseas travel needs is included in the national budget.

Last year’s travel expenses were $659,000. By comparison, our total proposed state budget for this fiscal year is $328 million.

The government travel budget should cover all expenses incurred by government personnel travelling on official business. This includes the Prime Minister’s travel and related expenses, as well as the travel and related expenses of Cabinet Ministers and ordinary MPs (including the Leader of the Opposition and other opposition MPs).

Ordinary civil servants also need to travel to attend conferences, seminars and receive further training in their professional work, which also incurs travel expenses.

I have been a civil servant, so I have had my share of travel abroad as a government employee. Government personnel travel abroad for a variety of reasons, and throughout our years of self-government, many of those involved have questioned the necessity or benefit of these trips.

Is it really necessary to go abroad? Is there any contribution to the country, the workplace or department of the government staff? Many people are wondering whether some of the Prime Minister’s overseas visits are really necessary or just a waste of time.

In fact, it is not easy to know whether a trip is worthwhile. Whether it is a domestic trip or a foreign trip. But we hope that those who make these trips can gain something valuable for the country and the people.

I personally have nothing against government personnel traveling abroad. In fact, when public servants need to travel abroad, they travel because they have to. Every trip has its merits, purpose, and supposed benefit to the country, and many of these trips abroad have benefited our country and our people.

But sometimes the goals that were supposed to be achieved are never utilized or for the benefit of the country. Many people travel abroad just to utilize, so it becomes a vacation.

After each trip, the travellers must submit a report and a record of their expenditures to their superiors. I can also say that writing such reports can be done honestly, but it can also be fabricated. Regardless, the life of the government goes on. But the people will always question whether any government can serve the people with integrity.

Again, as a former civil servant, I want to say that many (not all) overseas trips by our Prime Minister, his ministers, members of the Opposition and our civil servants are justified and good for this country.

I am outspoken about national issues that bother me, and therefore I know some people will think that I am anti-government. But this is not entirely true, because I do appreciate the great things that the government does or tries to do.

There are people in the civil service who work not just for the money but for the opportunity to serve the people. Unfortunately, in my experience, some people work for the government because they get paid and it doesn’t really matter to them how well they do their job.

I am also proud to say that I have a good friend in our government. His name is the Honourable Prime Minister Mark Brown. We had coffee the other day, as we have so many times before. He wanted to talk about New Caledonia, its indigenous peoples and their sovereignty. It reminded me of a statement by a Pacific leader to the effect that: “We Pacific nations are the custodians of this vast ocean and our indigenous sovereignty is not negotiable.” As a friend, I want to say to the Prime Minister: “You are doing well, but walk the talk.”

Secondly, Mark told me that his government, our government, had decided to ask our best former police officers to help him look at the state of the police department. He wanted people with expertise to help the government upgrade the police department so that it could do its job effectively. This was one of the best moves my friend has ever made, and this time Mark gave me a reason to be happy with him. I hope he will do the same with all other departments.

This is a good way to govern – a wise government should consult those who have been through the grind as they know more than the young people who are currently in government (public service). Our former civil servants have more practical experience and knowledge in their respective careers and using them can bring the government closer to the people – closer to the boss. As a reminder, those who work for the government are called civil servants because they are the servants of the people.

So next time I’ll treat you to coffee, but I’ll still refuse to pay double for water in the valley where I’m a part landowner.

• Mitaera Ngatae Teatuakaro Michael Tavioni BEM is a Cook Islands artist and writer. The views expressed in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper.