Opinion

Government naivety knows no bounds

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller asks: “Does marine resources minister Teina Bishop think we all came down in the last shower? He cannot be serious when he denies what 99% of the population would undoubtedly see as the clear conflict of interest that ensues from him appointing a foreign fishing company’s CEO, whom his ministry is negotiating […]

Daughter defends dad from attack

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to the coward who posted a hand written letter to Cook’s Islands Passenger Bus Service addressed to my father, Kevin Cook. Albeit the letter was written in very bad English with terrible grammar, I could tell from the handwriting that it was from a man. That’s right. We’ve all […]

When is a Kuki not a Kuki?

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I see in Wednesday’s News that Minister Bishop has some strange ideas about what people are and is starting to sound more like a second hand fish dealer every day. He states that his Chinese friend Mr Chou is officially a US citizen, he has a US passport and he grew up in […]

Kata - September 29, 2012

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Slap on the face

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would acknowledge it if this letter finds its way to the Letters to the Editor column on your newspaper. This letter seeks to express the general feeling of disapproval from local Solomon Islanders after an edition of the famous Cook Islands KATA cartoon showed up on Facebook. Since showing up on the […]

Don't gloat

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Imagine if the Duke and Dutchess came to Rarotonga and someone from the Solomons were able to outwit us and have them wear Solomon Islands dress and shirt whilst attending our functions? The furore will be deafening and Tavs and other seamstressers will be on the warpath. It will cause a South Pacific […]

Singing and drumming defended

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing because I believe it is time the management for the Sails Restaurant received a wake up call for their misguided attempt to shut down a private function where a group of islanders were hosting a farewell function on Captain Tama’s premises in the late afternoon. On Friday last week at […]

Does MMR have a handle on it?

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Earlier this year I wrote to you to explain the policies and efforts of the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) with respect to our offshore fishery. I welcome the media interest in fisheries issues but noting the criticisms, mainly anonymous, and misreporting that has taken place, I guess the question on some people’s […]

What tripe!

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wonder if Minister Teina Bishop and Ben Ponia truly believe the tripe we are being force fed. These two are happy to prostitute our most valuable asset for 50 pieces of silver. Shame on the both of you. You are being paid by the people of the Cook Islands to protect their […]

Solomons mama cartoon inappropriate

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Rutaki School at the recent Forum exercise adopted the Solomon Islands delegation. My 10-year-old proudly told us at home all that he had learned about his Oceanic cousins. His mother and I hope we have instilled in our son a disdain for racism. How then to explain to him Kata’s cartoon on Thursday […]

'Free ride' not on

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To the person who wrote and mailed the letter to Cook’s Bus Passenger Transport Ltd and called himself “Real Cookie.” For your information, Kevin Cook has been a permanent resident since 1972, worked and paid taxes, and has employed Cook Islanders all those years even to this day. That gives him the same […]

Kindness or camaraderie, both very different

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you for covering the interview with Minister Teina Bishop. Thank you also, Teina, for supporting transparency within your community by accepting the interview. It’s not easy to be interviewed by a journalist, but it’s extremely important and appreciated. While I empathise with Teina that he views the computers as a gift, it […]

Who are you kidding, minister?

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in response to Wednesday’s front page interview with Teina Bishop, the minister of marine resources: “Minister Bishop sees no conflict of interest in the appointment of his honorary fisheries advisor also being the chief operating officer of Luen Thai Fishing Ventures Ltd, who is also involved in the foreign and local […]

Kata - September 28, 2012

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Bus operator offers to sell out

Thursday 27 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you for printing the article regarding the unlicensed taxi taking tourists on Tuesday 25th September. The comments made by Mr Lazaro open my eyes to the fact that this member of parliament is a complete liar and he can take me to court if he wants regarding this. I can prove that […]

Kata - September 26, 2012

Wednesday 26 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Balancing

Wednesday 26 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Just like to express my sincere appreciation to you and your paper for balancing out my letter with comments from the new top man at CISNOC. It’s not about pointing fingers only and leaving it there, rather it’s about constructive criticism so our small nation can succeed. Hugh, I know you and therefore […]

'A man who sticks to his word'

Wednesday 26 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Titikaveka Growers Association (TGA) would like to congratulate the New Zealand High Commisssioner, Mr John Carter, on his completion of the 2012 Round Rarotonga Road Race and a big meitaki maata for fundraising towards supplementing the agriculture programme initiated for the troubled youth of our nation. We recognise that the “troubled youth” […]

Story sad beyond measure

Wednesday 26 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The lead article in Monday’s paper, concerning the solo mother of eight who was killed in a motor bike accident, was saddening beyond measure. I suspect the focus may be on the police announcement that “alcohol was involved” (on whose part?) and/or on the fact that the deceased had a large number of […]

Bishopgate 100 x bigger than Toagate

Wednesday 26 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was watching the documentary on Nauru on CITV on Monday night. I remember 15 years ago they had one of the highest incomes per capita in the world from their huge phosphate resource. Now, they are bankrupt, they have lost everything as a result of incompetent management of this resource by their […]