Opinion
Church leaders losing plot as well as keys
Wednesday 20 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Two articles in last week’s Cook Islands News caught this reader’s eyes.
Seaweed can be good for your garden
Wednesday 20 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, With all the talk about the negative impacts of the seaweed in Muri, it was good to read the letter in Saturday’s CI News about a possible use of the seaweed. Unfortunately, while some Caulerpa species, such as our sea grapes or rimu, are edible, it is unlikely that this Caulerpa species, or the other problem seaweed, Boodlea sp, can be eaten.
Thanks for exhibition coverage
Tuesday 19 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The National Museum – Runanga Pakau would like to congratulate Cook Island News for the excellent coverage of our Rakei Traditional Wearable Arts exhibition and its opening.
Communication costs too high
Tuesday 19 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Re Bluesky Communications.
Grubby grey knight wants to ride to the rescue
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Kia Orana to all your readers.
Lagoon's problems demand immediate action
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, A recent article on the problems associated with Muri Lagoon in the Cook Islands News by Rashneel Kumar last week should provoke a community demand for immediate action.
Muri pollution must be taken seriously
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The increasing pollution of Muri Lagoon has been obvious over the last 20 years – not only to locals but also to regular visitors like me.
Virtues alive and well in paradise
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Virtues in Paradise
This is part two of last week’s column on three virtues that will create real happiness in the New Year, based on a Jewish scripture from the Tanach, or Old Testament.
PM news drives CI reader to poetry
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
News that prime minister Henry Puna has gone overseas yet again, this time to Abu Dhabi, prompted one CI News letter to pen this poem:
Time for women to really step up
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In Mata Atua McNair letter calling for a fresh look at politicians she forgot to put forward the secret weapon that is women.
Unsightly weed might be useful
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Of late Cook Islands’ public forums have been littered with news on the growth of algae at Muri beach and it is probably regarded as a menace by many readers of your newspaper.
Fuel prices, labelling under scrutiny
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I refer to a letter to your column on prices in the Cook Islands and welcome the opportunity to discuss the two issues raised - the impact of global fuel prices on local prices and price labelling obligations by stores. Both points are valid and I accept accountability to respond to as Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I am happy to say that much effort has been placed in both areas. Since 2010, fuel prices in the Cook Islands have been significantly distorted arising from a substantial profit guarantee to one of the companies supplying fuel. In that time, we have seen this negatively impacting local prices of both petrol and diesel, resulting in companies moving away from bulk supply arrangements, the most efficient supply of fuel to Rarotonga, to inefficient ISO tanktainer supply, raising the cost per litre of fuel. After a review begun in early 2015, the Price Tribunal has put in place new pricing arrangements in July 2015 to ensure that our price setting arrangements forces those companies to look for competitive prices to the consumer, which is more likely to be achieved by adopting bulk supply arrangements over ISO tanktainer supply. Both of the two major fuel importers have undertaken efforts in 2015 to ensure they are now importing in bulk supply. Since the introduction of the new arrangements, prices for fuel and diesel have fallen by up to 20 per cent for petrol and 27 per cent for diesel compared with prices a year ago (when based on the highest maximum retail prices available at the time), and even further by 27 per cent for petrol and 34 per cent for diesel compared with two years ago. The new pricing arrangements also now benchmark local price movements against global price movements. Global price movements assists us in ensuring that there is an independent check to verify the reasonability of changes in the landed cost of petrol and diesel to the Cook Islands. The landed cost, however, represents only 40 per cent of the total price that is charged at the pump. The other costs allowed in that price are levies payable on fuel, an operating allowance and margin for importers as well as a margin for retailers. So changes in global prices affecting landed costs will not be directly passed on to consumers. The Price Tribunal also looks closely at the onshore costs by requiring all fuel importers to supply their audited annual accounts and these are closely scrutinised and questioned if there is anything unusual. The Price Tribunal will be undertaking a further review of the current arrangements in February and will be speaking with fuel importers, retailers and other stakeholders for the primary purpose of ensuring that the best possible price is passed on to consumers. On the second issue regarding price labelling, I can confirm that we have one officer (in a division of two staff) who carries out spot checks each week on Rarotonga when fuel prices are monitored which basically means most shops are covered. Most of those store owners do a reasonable job, however, coverage by one officer means that 100 per cent price inspections at all times are feasibly impossible. We are very appreciative of members of the public reporting such instances to us directly as this enables us to directly target those store non-compliant store owners. Bredina Drollet Secretary, Ministry of Internal Affairs
'Park' looks in pretty bad nick
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Smoke Signals
“What is happening with the Constitution Park? It’s starting to look like a real eyesore,” a smoke signaller says. Does the government have a plan for this empty space in town? Or is this yet again another example of government splashing mega dollars for a two-day event? Hey Mr Puna, how about thinking about the youth of the nation, and turning it into a skate park or recreational area for all to enjoy? At least when you’re voted out, we can have one positive thing to remember you by.
Modern cellphones become a pseudo-drug
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Perhaps already victims of consumer society, we are seeing the prediction of the future in which we would be hooked to a cellphone that invades our privacy, as does the TV, making it a pseudo-drug, hitching us through life.
Some questions about the prices we pay
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Through your good newspaper I would like to pose a few questions to Government about matters which have a profound impact on the daily lives of people in this country.
World leaders in 'conversation'
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor I want to report a mistake in your paper.
Impartiality could be the problem
Thursday 14 January 2016 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The point about local talent being overlooked is well taken. However, that does not apply to the ousted MP for Penryn.” A smoke signaller says. “Quite why a former leader of a major political party think he would be acceptable to his opponents (the CIP government) as head of Crown Law? A Solicitor General is required to provide impartial legal advice to the executive and a former politician who led post electoral court challenges and appeals against the CIP is hardly likely to be free of bias. So, Wilkie, please stop the self-promotion and give it a rest.”
Time to preserve memories
Thursday 14 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, It was great to see today’s Tuesday’s front page photo of David Bowie posing with local females.
Fishing deals fail our people
Thursday 14 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor The general purpose of any governance is to preserve, protect and promote the general interests of its charges.
Infrastructure Cook Islands Secretary Ngametua Pokino replies:
Thursday 14 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
The letter-writer is absolutely right. We apologise to all those vehicle owners driving on these poor roads and ask them to please take care at all times. We have a work plan in place to improve these roads before the end of this financial year, either through pothole repair or chip sealing when resources are available.
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