Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Oct 02/02) - The Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) has dismissed the entire board of directors for the Sakku Investment Corp.

KIA president Tongola Sandy, along with KIA executive members Donat Milortok, Marianne Tattuinee, David Tukturdjuk and Simon Okpatauyak have taken over the Sakku board.

The KIA's director of finance, John Marion, has been named as special assistant to the board in charge of Sakku operations.

The KIA recognizes the need for Sakku to have a board that is responsive to current challenges," said Sandy.

"We feel the new board will be better equipped to deal with the negotiations with the government of Nunavut over the Kivalliq regional health facility."

Nunavut Finance Minister Kelvin Ng said as far as any direct involvement in the future construction of the health facility, the KIA's decision to dismiss the Sakku board was a case of too little, too late.

"If this had been done 30 days ago there would have been a chance of us working through some issues and moving on, but it's too late for that now," said Ng. Marion said the first priority for the new board will be a thorough review of the health-facility project.

He said the failed negotiations were not the only reason for the previous board's dismissal.

"There were several factors behind this decision, with the failed negotiations concerning the health-care facility being the primary one," said Marion.

"But I'm not at liberty to discuss specifically what the others are."

Marion said the new board will provide whatever assistance it can to get the health facility built in Rankin.

"There's always problems with any process but, with the commitment from the new board, we're going to work through those problems as helpfully as we can. Everyone wants the health centre and we'll do whatever we can to make it happen."

In addition to the health centre, the KIA will be conducting a complete review of all Sakku operations.

"It's going to take us awhile to go over, and understand, the entire operation at Sakku.

"Once that's completed, we'll be making recommendations to the board on any changes to take place."