Opinion

JPs, get tough!

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“There appears to be some inconsistencies with the way that driving with excess breath/blood alcohol is being treated by the courts (CI news May 9 front page),” a smoke signaller writes. “If the Police, as they claim, say that they are serious in stopping this, then the courts have to start backing them up. Just […]

Kata - June 11, 2010

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Laughing stock

Thursday 10 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read the Cook Islands news weekly online and after reading all about Cook Islands politics I would like to advise the politicians that they are becoming the laughing stock of the Pacific. Monkeys in a zoo can do a better job. It’s getting to the stage that I am glad I live […]

Solutions offered to Demos

Thursday 10 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Even after the recent party conference of the Democratic Party, the party split still exists and still widening. The former leader and minister, Sir Terepai Maoate tried to make a deal with the PM and it was rejected, as unreasonable. A news brief item in the recent Cook Islands Times by Iaveta Short, […]

Lessened by Ingram loss

Thursday 10 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor On behalf of my wife and the extended Kelly family here, I would be most grateful if we may convey, through you, our deepest sympathy to Jenny and all the family of the late Vincent Ingram, our cousin, uncle, great-uncle, in-law and dear friend. May I also add a wholly personal tribute to […]

Avoiding the big issue

Thursday 10 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “The iti tangata of the Cook Islands could be forgiven for wondering whether they live under a democratic, representative system of government. Not one comment of party leader Robert Wigmore in his rejection of Sir Terepai’s demands, actually refers to the needs, will, demands or future well being of the citizens […]

Kata - June 10, 2010

Thursday 10 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Licence renewal idea

Wednesday 9 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, An idea: In order to cut down on the long lines and waiting times to get a Cook Islands driver’s licence, how about having the capability for those of us with prior Cook Islands licences to renew them over the internet and have a new one mailed to our home address? We could […]

Canoes pay for airport

Wednesday 9 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“If the Cook Islands’ vaka leaves Avatiu wharf and goes to Samoa, will they be taxed $55 per crew member departure in tax?” a reader asks. “The Fijian vaka crew was billed $990 departure tax as I guess was the crew of the other departing vaka. Why was I under the impression that this tax […]

How green are eco-bikes?

Wednesday 9 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Think about this statement I read last week in the esteemed but often maligned CI News “The electric bike is faster and less physically demanding than a pushbike, but cheaper to run and creates less pollution than a motorbike. It’s a happy medium.” I sat there thinking Rarotonga must have secretly been working […]

Kata - June 9, 2010

Wednesday 9 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Happy, happy

Wednesday 9 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia Orana te Iti tangata. Joy, joy, joy, happy, happy, happy, what a surprise! In fact, more surprised there were any votes against the change, should’ve been 48-nil. Just goes to show. In spite of all the dumb stuff that happened, there are still idiots out there who will vote for them. The […]

Harnessing the country's energy

Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Why is government leading us down a path where our people and businesses are spending so much time, energy and money arguing about ‘Toagate’ and the ‘Demo fight’ when the nation should be using the same energy, time and money to turn our economy around in time of crisis?” a smoke signaller asks.”In other parliamentary […]

Kata - June 4, 2010

Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Unavailable

Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I noticed with surprise that my name was printed in the Cook Islands News dated 3 June 2010 as the Assistant Treasurer for the Democratic Party. As I advised the conference organisers prior to the conference, I was not available to attend the conference and take up any post as I am obligated […]

Govt should ignore court decision

Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor What’s going on in paradise? Not another court fiasco? The effect of the Toa saga should have been uppermost in the court’s mind and the people are already squirming at the thought of giving away millions of dollars over the next 10 years for nothing. The next government of the Cook Islands should […]

How high do I jump, sir?

Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor In response to the letter from ‘Sickening’ in your newspaper on June 3: Sickening, the moon is green. Yes! Minister Wilkie, Yes! PM, Yes! QR, the moon is green Sickening, the sun is purple. Yes! Minister Wilkie, Yes! PM, Yes! QR, the sun is purple. Sickening, we command you to follow our instructions. […]

Jibba jabba

Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Now is a good time to think seriously about harvesting those precious nodules sitting on the seabed now the Cook Islands people are in big debt. I don’t think that I will be coming back to my home country sooner with all this saga and jibba jabba going on. Concerned citizen (Name and […]

Lost the plot

Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor It is clear now that my Democratic Party does not care much for loyalty and dedication. Its decision to elect Wilkie Rasmussen as Deputy Leader over Aunty Mau bears this out. A simple comparison of the history of the two names over the recent past will show what I mean. Aunty Mau has […]

Kata - June 3, 2010

Thursday 3 June 2010 | Published in Kata