National
Watch out for the bus and be safe
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in National
Buses will be running as usual this school term, and riders and road users alike should make sure to exercise care on and around the school bus. Kevin Cook of Cook’s Passenger Transport reminds students not to cross the road in front of the bus. He asks parents to cooperate by waiting for their children […]
New principals appointed around the country
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in National
The 2010 school year is set to get off to a smooth start with newly appointed teachers and principals ready to start work on Monday. There has been some reshuffling of teachers and positions within Cook Islands schools. Students at the country’s national college, Tereora College, have already know what to expect from their principal […]
Teachers union aims to grow
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in National
School teachers are currently holding a four-day workshop to discuss how to strengthen their union. Around 20 members of the Cook Islands Teachers’ Institute (CITI) were based this week at the teachers’ building behind Telecom Stadium Arena. Leading the workshop were Council of Pacific Education (COPE) secretary-general Govind Singh and former secretary general Krsihna Datt. […]
MPs to see reform proposal next week
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in National
Prime minister Jim Marurai’s plan for MPs to see the new 12-point political reform proposal is now likely to take place early next week. Marurai had hoped to have the two political parties briefed on the proposal this week after cabinet gave it a thumbs up. He is calling for all MPs to support the […]
19 by-elections?
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in National
Dear Editor, The Gang of 19 led by CIP’s Henry Puna is calling for elections. Why do they bother the prime minister and cabinet with this matter when they can have their elections if they want? It’s simple, Henry. All 19 MPs can resign from parliament immediately thereby forcing 19 by-elections. Of course, the remaining […]
Blame shifting criticised
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in Local
The Democratic Party executive say that prime minister Jim Marurai is good at shifting blame, especially when he claims to know nothing of matters that passed under his nose and got his approval. The Demos, through a media release, say that Marurai claims that the former DPM appointed mediation consultant, Queen’s Counsel Kit Toogood. “It […]
Wigmore defends seabed job ad
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in National
Dear Editor, With regard to the position of Commissioner of the Seabed Minerals Authority, I believe that we have to walk before we run. The Cook Islands have no mining activity and there won’t be any for several years. However, opportunities can exist for interested companies to apply for an Exploration Licence once the required […]
DPM defends ad
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in Local
Deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore has responded to criticism over the recent advertising of the position of seabed minerals commissioner, which was authorised by his office. As minister responsible for minerals and natural resources, Wigmore says, through a letter to the editor, that opportunities exist for interested companies to apply for an exploration licence once […]
Mou Piri asks for wide access to 1998 report
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in National
The group for political reform, Mou Piri, is calling on government to provide better public access to the 1998 Commission of Political Review report. Mou Piri believes the government-commissioned report is an excellent document that provides detailed results from public meetings on all islands, submissions from a broad spectrum of society as well as professionals […]
PM won't quit
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in Local
Prime minister Jim Marurai says he refuses to resign despite the calls from the Democratic Party for him to step down now. Marurai says he is not considering a move to resign as a way to resolve the current political turmoil. “Why should I resign? What have I done wrong?” he asks. Late last week […]
MP appalled PM never saw Toogood report
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in National
Prime minister Jim Marurai’s receipt of the ‘Toogood’ report a month after it was released to government is appalling, says Opposition MP Teina Bishop. The December 22 report details government’s $1.75 million out of court settlement with the country’s two fuel distribution companies over the controversial fuel farm scheme. “The PM should resign – it’s […]
No money crisis: Rasmussen
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in Local
Minister of finance and attorney-general Wilkie Rasmussen is hitting back at claims the country is in a political crisis and that government has problems of money supply. Rasmussen issued a statement yesterday in response to a recent slew of allegations by the Cook Islands Party. “The Cook Islands is not in a political crisis and […]
Tourism calls for innovation
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in Local
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe says government is looking for a much bigger role for the industry going forward with new aviation opportunities and public infrastructure being set up to support tourism. Crocombe said these new initiatives should see increased growth in the industry and a resultant positive impact on the economy over the coming […]
PM asks MPs to support reform
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in Local
Prime minister Jim Marurai is calling on all members of parliament to support a new proposal for political reform. Yesterday he announced that cabinet has responded positively to the proposed 12 point ‘political reform’ package that was outlined at its weekly meeting. The proposal has been put together by reform advocates Tata Crocombe and Iaveta […]
CIP prepare for election
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in National
The Cook Islands Party wants an early election so that the country’s political situation can return to normal. But there will have to be a few things put in place before that should happen. “Since December 24th, we have not had a proper government in place – it is not a good situation for the […]
Ivaiti suspension pending
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in National
After raising the issue with cabinet last week, new finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen said he was still considering the suspension of financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti. Rasmussen said that the matter is still subject to ‘various advice’. While Ivaiti’s role in the $2 million-plus ‘Toagate’ fuel farm scandal is being investigated by the audit office, Rasmussen […]
Hospital needs better reporting
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in National
Improving the care of hospital patients through better incident reporting is the aim of a recent workshop undertaken by the ministry of health. General quality manager Elizabeth Iro says that poor and incomplete reporting of incidents in the clinical areas of health, results in missed opportunities for quality improvement — an observation she has put […]
No retirement plans says tourism boss
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in National
Cook Islands Tourism chief executive John Dean refutes claims that he’s resigned from the corporation to retire. On Monday, tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe said Dean had cited his wish to go into retirement as the reason he was leaving two years into his three year contract. “I want to make it perfectly clear that […]
PM sees Toogood report for first time
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in National
Prime minister Jim Marurai only received a copy of the Toogood report on last month’s controversial fuel farm settlement on Monday. The report has been kept under wraps by those in government who had received a copy of the December 22 document. Yesterday Marurai said the new minister of finance Wilkie Rasmussen had provided him […]
Sailing vaka returning to Aitutaki
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in National
As soon as the winds are favourable, vaka Te Au O Tonga will set sail for Aitutaki. Cook Islands Voyaging Society president Ian Karika is keen to sail the double hulled vaka to Aitutaki where building materials for renovating the canoe await its arrival. Karika says that they were meant to sail to Aitutaki last […]
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