Opinion

Kata - August 30, 2011

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in Kata

For the parliamentary record

Monday 29 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Opposition members of parliament voiced their objection to the withholding tax amendment bill being read a third time in parliament on Thursday, but lost to the majority vote in favour. No opposition to the bill was voiced by any MPs during its reading of principals and merits, nor during any other time of voting at […]

Malicious and cowardly

Monday 29 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Editor, I am responding to your Friday report of Norman Georges speech in Parliament. How dare this scoundrel make cowardly and untrue attacks on my wife, my staff, advisers and myself from his pulpit in Parliament, where he is protected by absolute privilege. I totally reject his outrageous assertions and the way in which […]

Kata - August 29, 2011

Monday 29 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Fishing comparison: our $73 vs their $5000

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Fishing minister Teina Bishop has returned from China with a reported three-year deal of $800,000 in licence revenue for the Cook Islands. A smoke signaller writes. Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) have recently set down guidelines for fishing in their waters at a minimum of $5000 A DAY for EACH fishing vessel, with some […]

Kata - August 27, 2011

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Are you kidding?

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, No disrespect to Papa Louis but for anyone to hold this man up as a safe driver is laughable. Travelling at speeds of around 25km in a 50km speed zone causes drivers who are usually quite patient to take risks by having to pass. Look for the large queues and then look for […]

Easy again

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Further to this relatively easy to implement tax on interest idea of Minister Brown. Would his financial secretary please publish another fact sheet advising how the many account holders at the banks who are charities like the Red Cross, non profit bodies and public authorities get coded as exempt as they are entitled […]

Satellite competition healthy

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Can we be so assured of the communications links to the Cook Islands, following the TCI chief executives comments on the feasibility of the Cooks linking into the Pacific Fibre, as reported on August 22? With the laying and introduction of a second and competing fibre-optic cable through the South Pacific, what is […]

Akamatakite kite au Atu Enua

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

E tama, Te uiui nei au ma te manakonako, eaa tikai te tumu e kapiki viviki ia nei te atu enua o te Atiu lands Incorporation, ki tetai uipaanga i Atiu e pera ki Rarotonga nei. Te ui katoa nei au e,me kua ki te te atu enua e te vai nei tetai tuanga moni […]

Kata - August 26, 2011

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Most people are still honest

Thursday 25 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

On Sunday, August 14, I inadvertently left my backpack containing a lot of personal gear (passport etc) outside a hut at the Punanga Nui market. This was subsequently found, searched for cash and left with my passport, wallet etc spread out over the ground. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the family […]

Kata - August 25, 2011

Thursday 25 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata - August 24, 2011

Wednesday 24 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Meat makes round-trip flight

Wednesday 24 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

I am hot about this topic! exclaims a smoke signaller. The following is a piece of advice from a recent traveller to the Cook Islands and posted on Trip Advisor they are referring to vacuum-packed meat products: Do ensure your vac packs are labelled with a country of origin as trying to return to New […]

Parents should be with their children

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yes, it is a blessing to see these police recruits taking on a very challenging career especially dealing with juvenile criminal activities which we are facing at the moment. Parents need to discipline their children and be with them on the weekends instead of spending their time boozing. I also notice some of […]

Rosie responds to critics

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in response to the nameless few that have smoke-signalled and had nom-de-plumed letters in your paper. My voluntary services to sports span over 48 years, as club captain, president, manager to world and international events, and chef de mission to 3 Olympic Games. I could go on and on, but my […]

It wont be easy

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Fact Information Sheet advertising taken out by the Office of the Financial Secretary and the under siege Minister Brown just goes to show the lack of knowledge evident by the planners and the sheer inappropriateness of a withholding tax. Minister Mark Brown is on public record as saying the new tax will […]

Kata - August 23, 2011

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Getaway vehicle a yacht?

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Aitutakis mayor John Baxter said police were investigating whether the thieves who got away with an amount rumoured to be anywhere between $20,000 and $200,000, could have moored a yacht at Aitutaki, carried out the heist at the Bank of the Cook Islands branch there, and then sailed away. I know the police are checking […]