Letters to the Editor
Local input needed on solar project
Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I am writing to respond to the article about the northern group solar project. First of all, this project has been in the pipeline for years with a lot of money wasted on consultation, mucked up tendering and government processes. Only now that the Prime Minister has based a lot of his re-election […]
Colagate report created 'false impression'
Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In recent days there has been further comment and reporting in this newspaper about the so called ‘Colagate’ affair. This matter came to the public’s attention as a result of a report prepared by Paul Allsworth, formerly of the Audit department. The central thesis of that report (and what has caused all the […]
Prime Foods opens new doors
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Food shoppers are enjoying a more spacious version of Prime Foods – just in time for Christmas. The business has recently moved into a new, larger space in a different part of the same building – allowing room for a new range of dry goods, and making space for even more chilled and frozen products. […]
MFEM 'bullies' harm pensioners' festive season
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The routine, polite letter sending exercise carried out by the revenue management division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFEM) to Grey Power members to furnish tax return forms has turned nasty all of a sudden. After eight months of pussy footing, the hammer has come down with the ‘final reminder’ […]
Colagate complaint 'ignored' by Audit
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I would like to accuse the Minister of Finance Mark Brown of political expediency and putting his own reputation ahead of the interests of the country. I would also like to call for the resignation of the director of audit on the grounds of dereliction of duty. Fourteen months ago I lodged with […]
'Stoddart has to go'
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Minister Mark Brown must terminate Geoff Stoddart’s membership from not only PERC (Public Expenditure Review Committee) but also FSC (Financial Services Commission). There is no need for a review by the minister; it has to be instant dismissal. PERC and FSC are important oversight organisations responsible for government’s internal and external audit and banking regulations, […]
Call for inquiry into Colagate
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Currently we hear and read about the damages that Geoff Stoddard has done to this country by the “Colagate” scandal and recently Tata Crocombe’s tax assessment. However, the issues here that I am concerned about are the irresponsible action (according to reports) that he did years back in approving the Colagate scandal, which […]
'No trust' in Stoddardt following Crocombe case
Tuesday 26 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, It is clear that Geoff Stoddart, former head of the Revenue Management Division (RMD) and comptroller of Customs has a close personal relationship with Trevor Clarke. It has been confirmed that Stoddart used Clarke as his legal advisor during his time in these positions. In doing so, he has shown a complete lack […]
Porn access aided by tech advancements
Tuesday 26 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
As we approach a 3G (Third Generation) network here in the Cook Islands and the advance of high speed internet with O3b hopefully early next year, we will be opening the Cook Islands up to the super information highway available to so many around the world. Information will be fast and accessible to handheld devices, […]
'Get these people out into the community'
Tuesday 26 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Recently, I visited Rarotonga from November 18-23 to support a staff member and two of our residents from Auckland. We visited the Creative Centre in Tupapa and were welcomed by Roger, staff and the adults with special abilities. Meitaki maata to you all for having us over the past few days. Moana (staff), […]
Disappointment in demo party leader
Tuesday 26 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In order to remove all doubts, I now disclose that I was the one who wrote the letter of acclaim for what I thought was Wilkie Rasmussen’s greatest initiative thus far – that is, admitting Norman George in the Democratic Party caucus. Such was my excitement and delight that I wrote the letter […]
JP enforces the 'no drop' policy
Monday 25 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
In compliance with the police ‘no drop policy’, a request by a wife to withdraw an assault charge against her husband has been stalled in court. Kaimalaro Aumatanga appeared in court to ask that a charge of assault on a female placed against her husband, Tupuna Kita, is cleared. She said she had made the […]
Manslaughter accused granted leave to train
Monday 25 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
The High Court on November 21 was presided over by Justice of the Peace Bernice Manarangi, who made the following judgements: James Estall, 22, was granted an application for variation on his bail conditions to travel to New Zealand and attend training with the New Zealand Fire Service in Rotorua. Crown prosecutor Martha Henry told […]
Government travel 'wastes our taxes'
Monday 25 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
“If this country’s money is spent on travelling by our politicians, why the heck are they trying to increase the VAT from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent?” a smoke signaller asks. “This is a clear sign of bankruptcy in the country. I reckon that businesses should team up and boycott paying taxes for […]
Take it or leave it
Monday 25 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Firstly I thank God for Bishop Pere for standing up for our people of the Cook Islands and the beliefs we have. Some points on the issue: 1. Talking about love and tolerance? The Cook Islands people are full of both, that is why we live in peace. 2. In the case of […]
Crocombe case a worry for all businesses
Monday 25 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The judgement in the Crocombe case is not only revealing but has the potential for considerable alarm for the reason that practically all businesses on this island, some large but mostly small, would in some way regard Clarke and/or CITC as their competitor. The cosy arrangement that has existed between the Ministry of […]
'It is about respecting the religious ideas of others'
Saturday 23 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I read with interest all the letters to the editor in relation to the Diwali celebrations that were hosted by the Indo Fijians (and some PR holders) who have now called Cook Islands their home. Most of what I want to say has been said by the many writers in the past week […]
Diwali a 'foot in the door'
Saturday 23 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Les Priest, your personal attack on our daughter Sophie and her faith in the Lord is missing the point of her letter of associating the photo of her and her husband Gus to the “Diwali Festival”. I was shocked when I saw their picture thinking they were at the Diwali Festival. I was […]
Septic tank on vacant property
Saturday 23 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Can the appropriate government authorities confirm whether the septic tank recently installed by Raro Plumbers on the vacant property where the Ngatangiia packing shed once stood in Avana received funding through the WATSAN project? The guidelines of the WATSAN project are very clear in that properties which do not have an existing home […]
Not in the same league
Saturday 23 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, What is your smoke signaller complaining about and why are they comparing league to this beauty pageant? The President for Cook Islands Rugby League Charles Carlson and the international commissioner for CIRL Kevin Iro was at the Punanga Nui market every Saturday for about a year and a half (not a week or […]
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