Six-year-old facility built and funded by Chinese government
By Rachel Reeves RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, June 16, 2010) - The Chinese-built and funded courthouse in Avarua is falling apart, and the Ministry of Justice lacks the funds it needs to fix it up.
"It’s only six years old and starting to fall apart," Secretary of Justice Mark Short said.
"I’m trying to look at putting a proposal together to the Chinese to come and fix the problems we’ve inherited."
This week, workers are replacing the overhangs, which have been a hazard since last year when one snapped off and narrowly missed a passerby.
The building was constructed in 2004 by Chinese workers, who used their own designs and materials.
Short said that the courthouse was not built to suit a tropical climate when it rains, the front steps are dangerously slippery, parts of the office flood, and the building quickly shows rust.
[PIR editor’s note: Father Tony...