“Kia orana, you are spot on sir!!” writes a smoke signaler in response to Thursday’s opinion piece ‘Copouts’ and destruction of police services’ penned by lawyer and former politician Norman George.

“There was absolutely no reason why the PM/Minister of Police should fly to Azerbaijan, or anywhere else for that matter. His priorities SHOULD be here in the Cook Islands, not least of all sorting out the policing issues which are affecting us all.  The Minister has already failed to address the severe staff shortage within the police ranks, merely applying a band-aid by arranging for police trainers to come from New Zealand to upskill the existing depleted force.

“However the reality is that he does not get to  earn any AirPoints for staying at home and doing the job he was elected to do, nor can he relax in 5-star luxury, well above (literally) any pressing matters that he can delegate to his staff via his phone.  To say nothing about the massive travel per diems that he gets paid on top of everything else,” the Smoke Signaller writes. 

“Perhaps the PM is competing with his predecessor as to who can accumulate the most AirPoints and useless travel itineraries during their respective terms of office. As for any results coming out of that COP (Conference of the Parties) meeting, that’s what all those bureaucrats are for, to attend such meetings, and subsequently give their professional advice to Government. Although why so many had to go along begs a few questions as well.

‘STAY HOME’ ALLOWANCE

The Smoke Signaller writes: “Perhaps we should consider paying Government MPs and officials  a STAY at Home Allowance, and cancel ALL travel allowances. It might be interesting to see the results.”

COME ON, SMOKE IT! TEXT 80-999

If you feel there are wrongs that need righting, something that’s escaped public attention and needs airing, or just an interesting observation, send us a Smokie by email to editor@cookislandsnews.com, or Messenger messages via Facebook to Cook Islands News. And we now have a cool new mobile number that you can text Smoke Signals and news leads to: 80-999.  C’mon, Smoke it!