Articles by Utopia Support

LAGOON DAY

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment

Dernice Rongo for Cook Islands General Transport Correct disposal of waste. Think about the rubbish you’ve buried over the years. If that rubbish includes chemicals, poisons, car batteries, oil based products like disposable nappies, they could be leaching into the ground water. Dernice Rongo for CIGT “/> June Hosking for kia TAERIA Change to a […]

Marine Resources calls CIMRIS a success

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment

Water Works employee Daryl Rairi rakes and takes orders from Marine Resources officer Kori Raumea as both find the fun in clearing up the area in Panama a few years ago. 05020804

It's today!

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment

The two-day ‘Lagoon Day’ environmental exhibition opens today at Nukupure Park. And you don’t have to be a VIP to be at the opening which starts at 8.30am. The community is urged to take advantage of this programme to better understand how to protect our environment and especially our lagoon. After all – we are […]

Community-based approach to climate change

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment

Canadian environmental consultant George H. de Berdt Romilly is on the island to discuss community-based, grassroots approaches to managing climate change. He takes the position that climate change is an issue that affects everyone and especially in small island states, its management is a community initiative. Governments can’t always afford to repair recurring damage, and […]

Eggelton makes environment call

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment

Minister for environment Cassey Eggleton, in a speech to the Fourth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Uruguay, has called for national institutions to be allowed to function as GEF Agents. She told the conference that misunderstandings and distrust had arisen because of insufficient communication, which could be rectified by giving national bodies […]

Vaka fleet expected tomorrow

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Local

Favourable winds and great sea conditions has meant that the voyaging vaka fleet is expected to make landfall at midday tomorrow at Avana, Rarotonga. The fleet were originally expected to arrive on Rarotonga on Monday, May 31, however, 15 to 20 knot winds has meant a speedy journey to Rarotonga for the vaka crew ‘along […]

Axe hangs over Budget

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Local

There will be cuts in public funding in the next financial year, although the Finance Secretary remains tight-lipped about where the axe will fall. Kevin Carr came out of retirement in March to fill the Financial Secretary role. Since then he has been tackling one of the toughest Budgets he has ever had to take […]

Dancer of the year takes centre stage

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Features

Twenty nine Cook Islands dancers will take to the stage tonight for the 2010 Dancer of the Year competition in all divisions juniors, intermediate and seniors. The competition will start at 6pm with the 10 junior and six intermediate dancers to showcase their slow and fast beat performances. The prize giving for the junior and […]

Agreement had to be honoured

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Going back to 2006, without some sort of agreement with Government to say “we will continue to buy your fuel”, ANZ and Westpac would not lend Toa (or anyone) money to purchase the fuel farm from Mobil. Where it all went wrong, was halfway through Government changed their mind and gave the fuel […]

We are watching you

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is unconscionable that a national is happy to accept millions of dollars from his country and its people knowing full well the financial state it is in and the manner in which it came about. If Mr Porter had an ounce of compassion and smidgen of humanity he would show this country […]

Sweaty welcome not on

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We have just spent many millions of hard earned dollars on creating a wonderful new airport. And what do our visitors think? Especially if they are the second plane to arrive on a wet night? Herded like sheep into a corral. A corral made from rope and plastic traffic cones! Not much I […]

Chamber challenged on silence

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Why hasn’t the Chamber of Commerce spoken out against the 25 per cent minority led government running the nation? Steve Anderson the chamber president said, “The chamber has no political affiliation but would always speak up for accountability and transparency by government”. A 25 per cent minority government is not being accountable and […]

Porter responds to TAU chairman

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The facts upon which Toa’s assertions are based are very clear. It’s true that in 2007, TAU called for tenders for supply of its requirements for the 2008 -2010 period. No tenders were accepted and that tender process was cancelled. What the chairman fails to state in his response is that in calling […]

Atiu says thanks to health workers

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dera Editor, Re: health team visit to Atiu May 3 to 8. Through you paper I would like to thank all health workers that visited Atiu and conducted health test, check-ups and seminars through the school and the villages. I for one am grateful for the messages that you have shared with our children and […]

Willing to pay for stupidity?

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yeah, me again. I read the news re: Ngatangiia candidate and his gang “demanding” he stand again. What a joke. Yes, he is a bully, and like any bully, he can’t see the wood for the trees”. But you gotta hand it to Porter and crew. That surely must be the con-job of […]

More Toa-ing and froing

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Some comments on Porter’s explanations as reported in the CI News on May 22: 1. When it established its depot in the 1960s Mobil had a monopoly on the fuel business, thus government felt justified in introducing price control, hence the Fuel Price Template which allowed Mobil to sell its fuel on a […]

Kata - May 27, 2010

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Kata

'Govt please fund Fiji flight'

Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“After reading the paper about the Fiji flights, I hope and pray that government agrees to fund the proposed flights,” a smoke signaller writes. “Not only do we have quicker access to Fiji but also cheaper fares to the Solomons, Tonga and Samoa, to name but a few. Members of most ethnic communities will definitely […]

Couple saves environment using old bottles

Wednesday 26 May 2010 | Published in Environment

Brad Fraser and partner Ngere Puia of Brad’s Autos in Nikao have devised a way to save money and the environment – and decorate their home – using old bottles. Since 2008, the pair has been collecting old glass bottles – lids and labels included – and grinding them into sand, which is glass in […]

Students will flock to Lagoon Day

Wednesday 26 May 2010 | Published in Environment

Students from all schools around the island will have a chance over the next two days to learn how best to protect their environment and the lagoon they grew up swimming in. About 1400 pupils of all ages are expected to pay a visit. Buses will transport students from Imanuela Akatemia, Takitumu School, Te Uki […]