National
Ship too costly
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Wednesday 19: Government is on the search for a charter vessel to bring northern group tere parties to Maeva Nui next month after its first option was deemed too expensive. Deputy prime minister and finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate was to travel to French Polynesia last week to finalise chartering of the government-owned ship Tahiti […]
Sine die adjournment causes a stir
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Friday 14: Parliament adjourned sine die yesterday after sitting for just three hours. Some MPs were disappointed that they had been called to the sitting for the re-introduction of the Seabed Minerals Bill and it was pulled from the agenda at the last minute. Then after just an hour of sitting, acting justice minister Tangata […]
Audits find no anomalies
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 17: The audit office has just completed two audit reports which will be tabled and made public at the next sitting of parliament. The first is the review into the unaccounted payments of $32,465 made by the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) during the financial year ending December 31 2008. The […]
3 earthquakes
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Wednesday 19: Three earthquakes have struck south of Fiji this week but no repercussions are expected for the Cook Islands. According to the US Geographical Survey Centre, the first quake had a magnitude of 4.4 and occurred on Sundayat 1.38pm (CI time). It had a focal depth of 551.3 kilometres and was 70 kilometres south […]
Second Tahiti Nui charter planned
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Friday 14: Deputy prime minister and finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate will travel to French Polynesia tomorrow to finalise the charter of the government-owned ship Tahiti Nui to transport northern group islanders to the Maeva Nui celebrations next month. He made the announcement of his mission in parliament yesterday after Rakahanga MP Piho Rua said […]
Nepotism claim just laughed off
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 17: Did cabinet appoint all the new heads of ministries (HOMs) based on favouritism, nepotism and political attitudes? This is the stinging question opposition MP Nandi Glassie asked prime minister Jim Marurai in parliament last Thursday. But he didn’t get the official answer – and he won’t until the next sitting. Still seated, both […]
Police investigate 14 new burglaries
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 18: Money, cigarettes and mobile phones were amongst items taken in some of the 14 burglaries reported to police in the week to August 16. Inspector Arama Tera says that the public should take extra care in locking up their houses and accommodation units, as well as keeping valuables out of sight or in […]
Constitutional amendment passed
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Friday 14: A constitutional amendment was passed yesterday to amend the set up of the Cook Islands Court of Appeal, its membership and how its judges are appointed. One of the main changes is that the high court will now be able to be held outside of the Cook Islands in special circumstances such as […]
Govt waives Aitutaki fuel levy
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 17: Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop says Christmas has come early for his island following a recent decision by government to scrap the levy Aitutaki pays on petrol and diesel. Government has now waived the import levy for all islands except Rarotonga effective from August 1. The new order waives the 22 cent per litre […]
Internet problem
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 18: Telecom Cook Islands’ residential broadband users may have noticed slower internet speed yesterday. This is due to one of the two internet circuits being out of service due to an equipment fault. The faulty circuit accounts for 30 percent of total internet capacity. Telecom identified the fault early yesterday morning. TCI says there […]
Mental health a low priority
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 13: The low priority given to mental health in the Pacific means that specialised mental health care is sorely inadequate in the region, says a mental health adviser. Margaret Eastgate, regional youth and mental health project coordinator at the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International, made this statement when she addressed […]
Prison reform stirs debate
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 17: Hot debate has begun over calls for penal reform in Rarotonga. This follows last week’s opening of the prison gates for an inspection of conditions after two escaped prisoners claimed they broke out of jail to protest at sub-standard conditions. Prisoners Daniel Mare and Roger Tauarea handed themselves in to authorities last Wednesday, […]
Prison system irresponsible – Glassie
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 18: Opposition MP Nandi Glassie says the minister of justice must be made responsible for action on penal reform. Glassie describes the current prison system as ‘loose and irresponsible’. He is among a growing number of local people fed up with the management of the prison and the penal system’s failures. Glassie says the […]
Ex-principal ready for new role
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 13: New secretary of education Sharyn Paio has been on the job for just five days and is optimistic about what she can achieve during her three-year term for the future of education. Paio says the ministry must now widen its horizons and have a strategic approach to implementing the new education master plan. […]
Witness says he was acting on defendant's instructions
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Wednesday 19: A key witness in the Operation Slush case was again accused of lying after facing heavy scrutiny during questioning. Junior Areai-Enoka retuned to the stand on Monday as lawyer Norman George continued his cross-examination. George along with Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui are facing numerous conspiracy and corruption charges in the final week […]
CITC supports PFL
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 15: The Pacific Forum Line service has received support from the country’s biggest importer. CITC general manager Gaye Whitta says the group is pleased that PFL has a substitute vessel for the damaged Forum Avarua. “We had 10 containers on Forum Avarua, so we were going to suffer shortages along with other importers if […]
It's all been said before!
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Monday 17: The Arorangi Prison was completed in August 1954 and the first inmates entered the facility on September 14, 1954. Apart from the more recent addition of the female quarters, little or no renovations have taken place since. The main prison is in many areas falling to bits. It is long past time that […]
Parliament resumes for 2 bills
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 13: Parliament is due to sit again from today, primarily for the reintroduction of the Seabed Minerals Bill which has been under select committee review for the past few months. The bill is seen as one of the most important in terms of new law this year as once it comes into force as […]
Credibility of key witness questioned
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Wednesday 19: Norman George began his cross-examination last week on the man whose testimony accuses him of joint conspiracy and corruption. Junior Areai-Enoka was questioned by George who alongside Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui is facing numerous dishonesty charges in the Operation Slush trial. On Thursday before questioning, George stood up and addressed the court […]
Drug dog nabs man
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 15: A police drug dog has led to an arrest of man entering the country carrying cannabis. On Wednesday, the 34-year-old passenger caught the attention of the drug dog after arriving at the airport from Auckland. He was stopped and searched, and police discovered he was carrying drugs. He appeared in the Cook Islands […]
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