Vano’s comments follow the recent high-level delegation visit by Prime Minister Mark Brown, US Ambassador to the Cook Islands Jared Novelly and New Zealand High Commissioner Catherine Graham this week.

The visit marked the launch of the feasibility and planning phase of the NZ$101.5 million Omoka Wharf project, announced by PM Brown, NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on the margins of the recent Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau earlier this month.

Vano who welcomed the delegation to Penrhyn said the Prime Minister made it clear to the people, “that there are speculations that there will be a military base. That is wrong. That is false information. There won’t be any military base here.”

Vano claims the speculation began with a regional media organisation’s publication last week during an interview with US Ambassador to the Cook Islands, Novelly.

He said Novelly has also clarified this to the people of Penrhyn.

Novelly in an interview with William Terite on Pacific Mornings (PMN) made it clear, he had made no acknowledgement of a military base on Tongareva in a recent media headline.

“I want to be clear that I have not acknowledged that whatsoever. That was a headline that was… that was a quote that was taken out of context. The headline writer … they called it a military base. That is an inappropriate use of the term.”

He said that if the Cook Island people asked (US) then it would be discussed, “but that’s not the motivation for this.”

Novelly said, “The security deals that we talk about are around illegal fisheries and narco terrorism.”

“We briefly discussed that on our on our trip as well. But in no way are we talking about a military base here? He told Pacific Mornings.

Novelly said the port would help the (Penrhyn) economy in their own fisheries that are nearby, as well as the ability to supply and get their goods to other areas of the Cook Islands and really internationally if needed.

“The port will also help the economy there in their own fisheries that are nearby, as well as the ability to supply and get their goods to other areas of the Cook Islands and really internationally if needed.”

Meanwhile, island executive officer Vano said the US Ambassador clarified during hisvisit that current partnerships with New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands are focused on maritime security, particularly efforts to combat the transshipment of narcotics through the region.

He said the US Coast Guard has been assisting with patrols, and establishing refuelling and resupply capacity in Penrhyn is seen as a practical measure to support these operations.

Meanwhile, Vano added that the island resident were eager to learn more about the project’s future during the visit.

“The people of Tongareva were so excited, so overwhelmed to get a visit from the Prime Minister and also the US Ambassador and the New Zealand High Commissioner in regard to this project.”

He said the timeline for the project was not revealed but they were informed it would start “very soon”.

Vano said they were assured that the design work would begin soon, with a clear intention to move forward as quickly as possible.

“Two years is too long, but their target goal is to get everything moving and achieve the proper design, and then take it from there.”

Vano has also acknowledged the New Zealand Defence Force – Tropic Twilight ongoing work on the island

“We, the leaders of the island, are so happy with the performance of the New Zealand Defence team. The work is progressing very well, and we are happy that these things are happening.”