Opinion

Watching where the tax dollars go

Tuesday 25 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“We must all be thankful to CITV for screening the compelling feature on Sunday evening of the Forum Leaders partners’ activities,” a smoke signaller writes. “Although initially thinking it would be a waste of time to watch, rather it was enlightening to hear the dreadful speeches – if you could even call them that – […]

Kata - September 25, 2012

Tuesday 25 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - September 24, 2012

Monday 24 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Criticism makes policeman Boaza stronger

Saturday 22 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Senior sergeant Leighton Boaza has expressed his disappointment over any suggestions he would discriminate against a non-local. His comments were made after a news article appeared in the Cook Islands News last Saturday about Dr Oxana Makhno’s burgled laptop that is believed to be in police custody. In the article Makhno said Boaza had gone […]

Kata - September 22, 2012

Saturday 22 September 2012 | Published in Kata

What about Penrhyn's airport?

Friday 21 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Is it a large typo error or an administrative oversight for Tongareva airport not to be listed as a subject of the advertised Airports Feasibility Study Project? Surely Penrhyn airfield is of such strategic importance to this country and the region, that it cannot be left out of this review. The long standing […]

Questions about CISNOC leadership

Friday 21 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have just learnt that most important person at CISNOC has moved on and I’m pretty sure he is pretty disappointed that things have not gone the way it was supposed to. A few times I have made enquiries about different issues with CISNOC and I have been passed from one person to […]

'One-man' licensing open to corruption

Friday 21 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to express my concern over the story ‘New Chinese operator linked to Luen Thai’ (CINews September 18). Perhaps it is a mere coincidence that the very public donation of $50,000 worth of computers from the charitable arm of Luen Thai Fishing Venture came just two weeks after Huanan Fisheries (Cook Islands) […]

Kata - September 21, 2012

Friday 21 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Avatiu's leftovers delight

Thursday 20 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Congratulations to Bim Tou [Ports Authority general manger] and his men for the free sand from Avatiu wharf; all we have to do is pay for the transport costs to our place. It reminds me when the Chinese workers were here to construct the government buildings – they were assigned to […]

Kata - September 20, 2012

Thursday 20 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - September 19, 2012

Wednesday 19 September 2012 | Published in Kata

'No stretcher, no medics, no ice'

Tuesday 18 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller texts to 188: “Every year the rugby semi finals are held at the BCI Stadium and every year the Cook Islands Rugby Union forget to prepare for injuries – no stretcher, no medics, no ice, and no plan. Get it together!” SS: A person who was at the game commented: “Yeah, there was an injury in the Senior B game between Tupapa Panthers and Ngatangiia Dragons. The injury was to a Ngatangiia player and it looked pretty serious as they put the player into the recovery potion and straight away an official called for a stretcher, but there wasn’t one. The player was out cold for a little while before he was roused and gingerly got back to his feet and was helped off the field. It seems that only at grand finals time – which is next week – do the right things happen and the right people appear, such as Red Cross. But during the season having a fist aid kit and a stretcher and even a medic available on the day should be the hosting club’s responsibility, enforced by the CIRU. At this stage of the competition CIRU need to lead by example by providing this important equipment, especially as our local teams play hard and ruthless rugby. But each player and club should also take responsibility for their own safety.

Import substitution is designed to protect

Tuesday 18 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor. The letter by ‘Disadvantaged’ in Monday’s (September 17) CINews is a great analogy of what has been happening with the “split invoicing by CITC and systematic rip off by CITC” according to Mr James Beer’s letter.

Outstanding police work

Tuesday 18 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On September 3 I spotted someone moving about on my veranda. I rushed out there and observed a teenage boy leaving the property. I later noticed that my inexpensive wrist watch was missing from the outside table.

Maire rehab idea proposed

Tuesday 18 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We have been following with great interest the increasing crime rate in Rarotonga by young offenders. We offer a suggestion to those government agencies who can jointly be part of a positive solution for rehabilitation.

Kata - September 18, 2012

Tuesday 18 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Disadvantaged

Monday 17 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing regarding articles in your paper of the last few weeks. To assist in getting my point across, I will mention a story about a bank’s ATM money machine which dispensed cash in error, issuing $100 notes and debiting someone else’s account by mistake, one customer realised this and went each […]

Singing undermines position of PM

Monday 17 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to congratulate the government for taking the initiative to host the Forum this year. The exposure that this event has generated especially with the visit by Hillary Clinton will have tremendous spin-off effects for the Cook Islands. The only setback I saw was when our prime minister sang at the […]

'Man in glass house throws stone'

Monday 17 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is perhaps unsurprising and to be expected that a payer of import levies might protest on finding a competitor had paid less on imported soft drinks than he had, even though the lower payments were within the law. However, I don’t think any of us expected that anyone, speaking for someone who […]