Opinion

Kata - March 31, 2010

Wednesday 31 March 2010 | Published in Kata

What is government doing about the mess?

Wednesday 31 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was very concerned to read about this islander who will never return due to departure taxes being doubled in price. Why should people be paying $50 when there is nothing at all to do on our beautiful island? Before it was guests arguing about the departure tax, and now it’s our very […]

Sour grapes over netball selections

Wednesday 31 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last Friday evening I went to watch the netball trials for the Pacific Series held by CINA. Out of the seven players selected and announced in Tuesday’s newspaper, only two players I think deserved to get in the team but the rest I have reservations about. My question to the selectors – what […]

Justice for all

Tuesday 30 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “While reading the newspaper court report, one matter that came to my attention was a male adult pleading guilty to careless driving and who to my understanding had been drinking and was only fined a total of $70. One Sunday afternoon my friend was stopped by police and fined a total […]

Kata - March 30, 2010

Tuesday 30 March 2010 | Published in Kata

Departure tax puts off returning islander

Tuesday 30 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What’s up with this $55 Cook Islands departure tax? I am writing to strongly voice my concern and disappointment about the increase in the Cook Islands departure tax. I have just recently returned from the Cook Islands after a fantastic week and the half holiday on Rarotonga with 30 of my extended family […]

Women suffer while govt idle

Tuesday 30 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Right now women who work for government receive six weeks of pay for maternity leave when they have their baby. The same can’t be said for women who work in the private sector. They have absolutely no maternity protection under the law. Women in the private sector are being treated like second class […]

A shambles

Tuesday 30 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Tourism is in a shambles! The question I ask is, why can’t the Minister of Tourism Robert Wigmore see that Tata Crocombe and those board members with hotel/motel ownership, similar to Tata, have huge conflicts of interest. The tourism community and public Joe Bloggs can easily see it, but somehow it’s inv- isible […]

Don't lose sight of your best asset

Monday 29 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor As a bit player in Cook Islands tourism, I have been dismayed at the turmoil and turnover within the local tourism board. It is apparent that the views of a few are taking precedence over the best interests of the tourism industry and the islands in general. While I understand that a catchy […]

Solving the Toagate saga

Monday 29 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Well Triad’s boss Chris was my hero for taking on Toa and the uncle and nephew tag team, but then the latest revelations hit the press,” writes a smoke signaller. “If Chris had not made the challenge then we the people would now own a fuel farm with a just about to expire lease and […]

Kata - March 29, 2010

Monday 29 March 2010 | Published in Kata

Think about dry vegetable matter for energy

Monday 29 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Seeing you are not averse to publishing some of my letters, I feel moved to throw this quite topical one in. During my 30 years of aviation contributing more than my fair share of carbon to the atmosphere I also learned some basic science that helps me to see related issues clearly. Out […]

Lack of experience again

Monday 29 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The announcement by the head of the Business Trade Investment Board that he can’t manage a staff of 10 and therefore is making some redundant but adding three sub managers to his structure is another example of an inexperienced local placed into a position he does not have the commercial, legal nor management […]

Think and dream big

Monday 29 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reply to ‘Hopes and Dreams’ in Saturday’s Cook islands News, I would like to agree 100% with all your statements. I know many others who feel the same way. You should say who you are. Third world mentality, my God don’t we as a nation have more pride and passion! It’s got […]

League deserves better

Saturday 27 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am not the least bit surprised that the Arorangi Rugby League Club has tabled a vote of no confidence in both the president of Cook Islands rugby league association, Charles Carlson, and his vice president, Navy Epati, for what they see as poor administration and management of the code by the two. […]

Third world psyche spoils hopes, dreams

Saturday 27 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is an insidious political culture in the Cook Islands that frustrates our social and economic progress. At the core of this culture is a national psyche that could be characterised as a lack of self belief, self confidence and ultimately self esteem. This national psyche manifests itself in the small minded politics […]

Kata - March 27, 2010

Saturday 27 March 2010 | Published in Kata

Plea for small operators

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recent resignations at Cook Islands Tourism Corporation are not a good thing. Both Glenda Tuaine and Chris Ingram were very competent in their respective roles, delivering the outputs expected by both Cook Islands Tourism and the tourism industry as a whole. As dedicated tourist ambassadors for this country, it is widely known […]

Jobs for 'boys'

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, With the appointment of Cassey Eggleton as a Minister, the coconut wireless has been running hot with talk of inducements and lolly offers from on high. All for the purpose of inducing some MPs to swap sides in order to further bolster their numbers. Watch this space for the creation of new posts […]

TV quality a turn-off

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Could the management of CITV please advise when the quality of the TV reception received around the island of Rarotonga will be improved? For the past few weeks the quality of CITV’s reception at my home in Turangi has been poor to say the least. In fact, it is getting worse by the […]