Articles by Utopia Support

Leave the 'traitors' out

Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If Jim Marurai and his four ‘rebel’ Cabinet ministers Wigmore, Rasmussen, Heather and Piho are intending to stand at the next general elections, surely they do not expect to ride on the Demo Party campaign wagon? In the betrayal of the Demo Party last year, these five politicians have made the party and […]

Stand alone

Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Can someone tell me why it’s necessary for the five members of cabinet to ‘form a new political party’ just because the two tired, old parties don’t want them. Why not run as independents? We expect to see more than a few independents run successfully in September even without the addition of the […]

'Fantastic experience'

Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I personally would like to thank the Cook Island Police, our neighbours and friends surrounding the Seventh Day Adventist School in Titikaveka for their fantastic response on Saturday morning during the Tsunami warning and evacuation. Unlike ‘High Hopes’ in Wednesday’s newspaper, we had a completely fantastic experience. We too were the ‘house at […]

Why govt should take over

Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to ’Get Real’ in last Saturday’s Cook Island News, may I suggest he or she GET REAL and look at what is happening to world economies, our economy, our country and our people as we reel in a recession not of our making. The saddest thing for me as a Cook […]

Yes Minister!

Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

When it comes to e-mails, it doesn’t get much better than this exchange. Outgoing FinSec Sholan Ivaiti sends a bulk farewell message (with the Einstein quote as reported this week in CINews) to heads of ministries and cc’s Wilkie Rasmussen, Prime Minister Jim Marurai etc. A few days later back comes a reply to Sholan […]

Water tank fund dry

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Local

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning is no longer accepting applications for water tank subsidies. The project ran out of money a few weeks ago and the applications that had been neither approved nor denied were put on hold until MOIP could secure additional funding. The ministry received 142 applications and approved 82, but is […]

New party likely

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Local

Cabinet of 5 may be forced to form new political party Prime minister Jim Marurai and his cabinet ministers may be forced to form a new political party if the Democratic Party rift remains. Cabinet is also being rocked by news that others are now being named as the Demo candidates for their seats for […]

TCI defends itself

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to William Framhein’s latest outburst claiming Telecom had no right to disclose details of the savings on his use of telecommunications, because he says, the information was personal. William claimed in CI News on February 25 that his January account did not reflect pricing changes announced by Telecom in […]

What insolence!

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s wonderful Mr Ivaiti can so eloquently quote Einstein as he fades off into the sunset after being a major player in Toagate with “ no regrets” and “ leaving, a much more experienced and knowledgeable Cook Islander.” What insolence! Personally I sincerely hope that Audit can wipe the smugness from his face. […]

Still the carnage continues

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your correspondent Brian Coker is under the misapprehension that a compulsory helmet law is being touted as a “magical solution” to the carnage on our roads. There is no “magical solution”, although it would be rather magical if we could eliminate speeding, drink driving and all the “acts of complete insanity that one […]

Your news is wonderful

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Once a week I read about the Rarotonga news online. Things over there seem to have improved with the schools and the government, but the drink driving people don’t seem to care about safety and it sad that family has to suffer. I know because some of my family have died from drink-driving. […]

One death is one too many

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If I had a magical solution to our horrific death rate here or anywhere else in the world I would have used it by now. But I haven’t! Helmets are not a magical cure to our deathly problem but they are one component in a whole mix of measures that need to be […]

Take note and check Tap's conclusions

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My congratulations to Tap Pryor for his letter about tsunami warnings. Since the Samoa tsunami, I have been telling a number of people the same thing but Tap’s use of the English language is vastly superior to mine. I do hope that those in authority take note and check up on Tap’s conclusions. […]

Why stress over tsunamis?

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To avoid unnecessary anxiety, time, widespread panic and effort being spent by officials and concerned people trying to work out appropriate areas where people can possibly flee to in the event of an approaching tsunami, perhaps we first need to ascertain whether Rarotonga and her sister islands are in fact vulnerable to tsunamis. […]

Kata - March 4, 2010

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Kata

Busy year of netball

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Netball

The newly elected Cook Islands Netball Association has a full calendar of events for 2010 starting with a re-jigged domestic season. The domestic season is scheduled to begin in April with pre-season fundraising events to kick start the netball year. CINA is also working on a proposal for a revamped club netball format which centres […]

Sardines and overnight scientists

Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

If 1500 people were gathered on Hospital Hill and cars were crammed up the road like sardines, in a medical emergency how is the ambulance or someone hurrying up to the hospital on their vehicle going to get safe and fast access, asks a reader? “EMCI’s William Tuivaga helps to calm the public’s rattled nerves […]

Sick feeling over Tepuka land

Wednesday 3 March 2010 | Published in Church Talk

Dear Editor, I read with a sick feeling on what’s going on in Tepuka, this is why I’m replying to the letter ‘Te Puka land belongs to the Lord’. The Lord DID NOT give the land to these people, Makea Takau did. Makea DO NOT own this land. The goverment (Albert Hen-ry) hid the truth […]

Baby's drowning draws warning

Wednesday 3 March 2010 | Published in Local

In a tragic accident on Sunday night, 33-month-old Ezra Jim drowned in the swimming pool at his home in Matavera. He was transported to hospital by ambulance at 7.35 pm and doctors pronounced him dead two hours later. Senior sergeant Nga Pouao offers condolences to Jim’s family on behalf of police and encourages parents with […]

A break in warnings

Wednesday 3 March 2010 | Published in Local

Last weekend was full of weather warnings, but for now the Cook Islands can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. Cyclone Sarah fizzled out by Monday and caused no real damage, but did rile up the seas and send heavy showers to the Cook Islands. Met services cancelled a strong wind warning for the […]