Opinion

Why do we pay a suspended HOM?

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Can someone in government please tell the public why the former Secretary for Justice continues to receive his full pay months after he has been suspended? Surely there is a limit or cut off period when a suspended HOM or any public servant for that matter stops receiving a salary. And what happens […]

Enough is enough

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a frequent globetrotter himself, I find it rather amusing that the Public Service Commissioner is now working furiously to put into place a mechanism so as to prevent HOMs from taking further advantage of their positions to abuse overseas travel. But good on Navy Epati for having the guts to stand his […]

New bloodsucker arrives

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

After being told theres a new bloodsucker on the island one smoke signaller wondered who it might be and whether they were of the political or bureaucratic variety. Turns out its neither, its way, way smaller and it really likes sucking the blood of our canine friends. The Brown Dog Tick was discovered on a […]

Dont be fooled

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Every Cook Islander and Pacific Islander should click and see these videos. Purse seine fishing is going to destroy the fish stocks in our territories. No matter what the government says or theyre research seems to claim, this irresponsible act of allowing purse seine fishing will be disastrous for our ocean ecology and […]

Kata - April 29, 2011

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Disbelief at size of ships

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with disbelief the concept that a cruise ship of 150m will be able to just drive in and back out of your exposed harbour. I then took it upon myself to do some research on the size of cruise ships that visit Rarotonga and am amazed that the port itself must […]

Audit responds to conflict of interest claim

Friday 29 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This will be my last public statement in the media about this particular subject matter. I refer to the letter to the editor by Mr Lance Patterson, retired auditor. Mr Patterson makes some fair points (and he can be assured I take no offence at his letter) but he, like the general public, […]

Auditor disagrees with finding

Wednesday 27 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest the editor of April 21 titled, Its a clear conflict of interest. The response from your Audit Director I found quite vague and misleading and the allegations by Mr Ka from the little I have read spot on. Any qualified auditor knows to determine whether a conflict of interest […]

Port will handle 200m cruise ships

Wednesday 27 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There have been some strange announcements from the Ports Authority CEO Bim Tou lately, but the one in last Wednesdays CINews takes a bit of believing. Does he really believe that cruise ships close to 200m long will come into the harbour and berth when the turning circle is only 135m? What are […]

Growing taro is hard work

Wednesday 27 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would invite the Smoke Signaller who complained about the high cost for taros to come and see how taro is prepared, planted, cared for and taken out when it is ready. I am a woman, I have planted taro for the first time and now will never complain about the high costs […]

Kata - April 27, 2011

Wednesday 27 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Never had ariki

Tuesday 26 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Mr John Uri, by his letter on 23 April, appeared to have, with respect, misunderstood mine on 14 March. I only alluded to the long-time suppressed academic question of the constitutional legitimacy of our government, judiciary, parliament, and laws today since our native Cook Islanders sovereignty was usurped by the Colony of New […]

Real genealogy changed

Tuesday 26 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To you Rahui, the truth has been hidden for so long that not many people knew the truth about this Makea family genealogy until my sister Stella and I did an extensive research guided by our God and ancestors from August 2007 to June 2008. We found documents in the courts twinked out, […]

Cooks licence in $2m drug arrest

Tuesday 26 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

How is a $10 Cook Islands drivers licence linked to a $2 million cocaine drug case in Argentina? The licence is one of three that New Zealander Sharon Armstrong had in her possession when she was arrested about a fortnight ago in Argentina while trying to board a plane with 5kg of cocaine allegedly hidden […]

Our country denied its constitutional legitimacy

Saturday 23 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I note with interest the inspired input from previous writers to your editorial column regarding the role of the Ui Ariki (Marie Pa Ariki, 16/3) and questions over the origin and legality of the countrys constitution (Joseph Ka, 14/3). The diversity of views over the Ui Ariki and whether they have a role […]

Its a clear conflict of interest

Thursday 21 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reference to Paul Allsworths audit report on the conflict of interest faced by Minister Teariki Heather, I find it improperly inconclusive. The Audit report found 1. MOIP hired T&M as the main contractors for various roading and beautification projects well before Heather was appointed to public office. 2. T&M is MOIPs preferred […]

Rorting of the public goes on

Thursday 21 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The shareholder of the Cook Islands biggest monopoly is at it again. Yep, Telecom Cook Islands 60% shareholder, Telecom New Zealand, have just been fined $12 million, the highest ever imposed under New Zealands Commerce Act, for anti-competitive behaviour. Justice Hansen said in a decision released on Tuesday that Telecoms conduct was injurious […]

Good on you, Sam

Thursday 21 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to the smoke signaller who criticised Sam Crocombe for his speech at the economic summit and to yesterdays letter on the subject. I want to ask: are you really this shallow? What has a proud Cook Islander like Sam Crocombes political career got to do with the way […]

When competition protects buyers

Thursday 21 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Its good to see that Terry Hagan and the Price Tribunal have some balance to how prices can be determined without over regulation, a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterdays page 8 article Price tribunal reviews itself. A free market economy with lots of competition permits for such tribunals to be made redundant. But […]

Wharf sheds to be cleared

Wednesday 20 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I listened to the parliament debate on Monday afternoon and am very disappointed if the message relayed to the house by one MP is to be implemented. The MP stated that after speaking to the owner of the national shipping company in Rarotonga, Taio Shipping, he learned the company has been warned/advised that […]