Opinion
What's the rush?
Tuesday 2 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Over the past month, there’s been so much publicity about political reform. But since Marurai and his cabinet have been in power, it’s all been ballyhoo about political reform to cover the real truth. The fact is Marurai and his cohorts have been brainwashed to reform in order to clear the political road […]
Getting out of this political mess
Tuesday 2 February 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
On the hot topic of political reform, a smoke signaller writes: “Why not pick a suitable number of seats and make them all national seats? Everyone has equal votes, the two parties can run their slate of candidates, and independents have an equal opportunity. We are no longer limited in choice. Even the political parties […]
Police assurance a huge relief
Tuesday 2 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, It is comforting to know that the police commissioner will stand firm to the principles of good law and that he will protect the interests of the public from those in executive power who may choose to break the law and vice versa. That’s a huge relief and sends a very strong reassuring […]
Where is our leader?
Tuesday 2 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! That’s all I read in the paper these days and hear from the Prime Minister, the Demo party, including the CIP. No PROACTIVE responses, just reactive, pathetic, negative, finger pointing, passing the blame excuses. I have followed the reports on the Toagate Scandal and found it unbelievably amazing that the […]
Reform should include ministries and civil servants
Tuesday 2 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The current talk about electoral reform focuses on MPs and voting systems, mostly variants of the US and British system. It may be that with the Pacific culture, a more consensus-seeking system would suit the Cook Islands better. Transparency International, an NGO focusing on governance issues, reported that together with NZ and Sweden, […]
Les Priest's god is the moral law giver
Tuesday 2 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I’m replying to a letter by Les Priest “Is God too busy?” Les comes across as an atheist but confusingly he also comes across as an agnostic by his “if” and “I imagine” remarks about God and evilness. Les’s personal belief “that there is no God” is inconsistent with known knowledge and human […]
Tap Pryor comes 'out of closet'
Monday 1 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, You know better than anyone how many anonymous letters I have written to Cook Islands News in support of the Marurai Government of Five. Now I want to come out of the closet to say that the Five are about to kill the nodule opportunity. While boasting of a commitment to transparency, they […]
Avoid messing round with a run-off for pm
Monday 1 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
A smoke signaller writes: “Two of the proposed political reforms are about the election of the prime minister. One is that the PM should be voted for directly, the other that person coming top in the national MP election should be PM if he/she gets 50 percent of the vote. If not there’s a run-off. […]
Matariki FM wants better cyclone info
Monday 1 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Matariki FM agrees with your smoke signaller’s comment in the Cook Islands News of Friday January 29 that “we need standards and protocols for anyone on air at a time like this”, referring to the recent cyclone warnings. However, we suggest the signaller is unaware that at times of cyclone warnings or tsunami […]
Warning bells
Monday 1 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I have been following the political turmoil of our fair island of late. The team in right now, excellent choice! But beware PM of who you surround yourself with. I’m no angel but these guys make me look like a choir boy. Surrounding yourself with the rich and successful won’t mean they will […]
Let's have a vote
Monday 1 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The time has come for Prime Minister Marurai to give the real people the opportunity to show their support for his decisive action in removing former DPM Maoate – who is an arrogant man. I am a voter in his electorate and do not wish to be included as ‘one of my people’ […]
A call for some political action
Monday 1 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Through all the political squabbling we see continual reference to the 1998 Commission of Political Review. That report showed clearly what the Cook Islands people wanted in detail, however the government of the time and subsequent governments ignored virtually all of its findings. So please explain, CIP and Demo executives, why can’t you […]
Papa Arapati would make it happen
Monday 1 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In the early 1970s, it came on the radio that the Premier would be making an important announcement in two days’ time. I remember that at 7:00 on the night, my parents and aunties and us kids all gathered around the radio to hear what it was about. He came on and said […]
Hoteliers told to pay
Monday 1 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In regards to this new tourism marketing group formed by Tata Crocombe and Greg Stanaway, both break the law in so many ways and we’re still listening to them. They’re both are not paying Saturday or Sunday penal rates and clearly they both expect their employees to work for minimum wage yet we’re […]
Reform won't propel us forward
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I would like to express my views on political reform. Rather than substantial radical reforms where we are unsure of the exact outcome, I support reform where we are guaranteed to know that the change will benefit the long term interest of the country. I also support a reduction in the number of […]
True colours showing
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Even after one month, Marurai’s illegitimate and minority cabinet has shown its true colours backed up by advisors Short and Crocombe. Their actions are leading towards anti-parliament by refusing to recall parliament; anti-government by acting out of parliamentary processes; anti-outer islands by proposing to reduce outer islands seats based on emotion rather than […]
Recycle or face disaster
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I find it amazing that government wastes so much on advertising for the public to recycle without taking some decisive action on maximising recycling and maximising the lifespan of our solid waste dump. The simple facts are: The Rarotonga site is filling up much faster than originally planned. This means in less than […]
A secret ballot is the only way
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, For Taraota Tom or anyone else for that matter to claim that the petition on Sunday flights presented a year ago represents the majority of the people on Aitutaki is at best a falsehood and at worse a lie. The names on the petition were never validated by anyone to see if they […]
Be responsible on air
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Yesterday an irate smoke signaller writes: “Listening to 88FM this morning and even Matariki FM, it’s easy to tell that these people haven’t been in ‘service’ during cyclones yet. Nick Henry’s flapping was irresponsible, and caused one Arorangi accommodation operator to evacuate guests at dawn yesterday. These radio people need a lesson in responsible conduct […]
Te penitini e te inu oko mama
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor
E Tama, Eaa tikai te tumu i tiria iai te arataki o te Democratic Party, Sir Terepai Maoate KBE, e te parai minita Marurai mei roto i te cabinet? Te tumu okotai, kua akara a Marurai ki te ikianga maata e tu mai nei. Te umuumu nei ite taoonga prime minister no te mea kare […]
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