Opinion

Thursday 20: FAIR TAXI FARE?

Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I had a great meal in town the other day with a friend from overseas,” one of our readers writes. “We decided we did not want to wait for the next bus, an hour away, so asked the waitress to organise a taxi. ‘Could you tell me roughly how much it would be to go […]

Smoke Signals

Thursday 20: DPM must prioritise funds for prison

Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is an awareness among the general public of the need to upgrade the Arorangi Prison. Many people are asking when this can be achieved. Some people are interested from a moral point of view and others because of the threat it poses during an escape such as the wild rumour of the […]

Letters to the Editor

Thursday 20: ADOPTION COSTS

Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

Great idea and very successful says one of our readers of the adopt-a-country programme for the netball champs. “Indeed the school visits were seen as highlight experiences for just about all the visiting teams. Just one downer in all of this…while a very limited number of t-shirts were sponsored, all the school children had to […]

Smoke Signals

Thursday 20: OCH AYE

Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

On the subject of the netballers, judging by the close-up shots in the filler snippets played on CITV, the Scottish lasses sure know how to swing their bums in time to the local drums!

Smoke Signals

Thursday 20: Copycat crime story

Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller wonders whether two Polish prisoners who broke out of a German jail might have heard about our prison breakout on the coconut wireless. They escaped by tying their bed sheets together to abseil down a 15 metre wall. “The wall is pretty high,” a spokesperson for the prison in the southern city […]

Smoke Signals

Wednesday 26: RAINMAN FOR HIRE

Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A weather watcher remarked yesterday that we should loan the Cook Islands’ weatherman Arona Ngari to countries like Australia where they need someone to break the drought. “Every time Arona predicts a weather pattern, or pronounces such and such, we usually get the opposite weather pattern. Like the other day when he said we were […]

Smoke Signals

Wednesday 26: BEST PRICES

Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

Since critics are always quick to slam CITC, someone ought to note how the Main Store’s prices for sports gear are among the best anywhere, a smoke signaller says. “Nike apparel, for example, is cheaper here for the same latest range as in NZ and Australia. Evidence of that was seen on Saturday when visiting […]

Smoke Signals

Tuesday 18: Prosecute for Tepuka sewage problem

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Regarding your recent report head ‘Still no sewage permit for complex’, the sewage treatment system of Tepuka/Tereora has been a problem right from the beginning and everybody knows that. But nobody wanted to take responsibility for it for a long time and the buck was passed from one government entity to another, this […]

Letters to the Editor

Friday 14: Finsec defends bonus

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to your article of Thursday August 13 headed ‘Finsec wants performance bonus’, I wish to respond. Firstly, since taking up this role, the PSC Commissioner Mr Navy Epati has never done a formal performance appraisal for me. Given this was not done for the last two years, I took the initiative […]

Letters to the Editor

Thursday 13: WANTING TICKETS

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A reader reports a “perplexing experience” at the opening of the World Youth Netball champs while trying to buy tickets for matches for subsequent days, but was told none would be on sale till at least Wednesday. “How bizarre when those wanting tickets are right there and the MC kept promoting other matches all afternoon.”

Smoke Signals

Tuesday 18: Public deserves public service shake-up

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The letter by ‘Fed up’ in yesterday’s paper is a most intriguing piece of dysfunctional public mud slinging on me, while he tenderly avoids offending ‘cabinet ministers (and) the Demo Party Caucus…’ (his words). The ‘HOD wannabe’ called Fed up has totally missed every point of my explanation and I’m beginning to think […]

Letters to the Editor

Friday 14: Buck stops with the PSC

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The letter of complaint received by the Audit Office from the Cook Islands Workers Association (CIWA) in relation to the recent HOM appointments by cabinet speaks volumes of what appears to be a gross failure of the Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati to ensure that the HOM selection process and criteria is fair […]

Letters to the Editor

Thursday 13: SING OUT LOUD!

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

Poor old New Zealand, our cousins and closest friends, seemed to draw a dud welcome at the airport when they turned up for WYNC. Observers noted that ‘Waltzing Matilda’ directed at the Australian players also coming off the plane drowned out other greetings at the time of their arrival, but the humble Kiwis just kept […]

Smoke Signals

Monday 17: Dry as a desert

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We are a public facility at Takamoa – by that, it means we provide services to the public, therefore it stands to reason we have to provide toilets for said people. However, for three days we have been without water, which we believe is a result of the work being carried out by […]

Letters to the Editor

Thursday 13: DPM defends his sons

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Of the recent public comments that have been made recently by a former Cabinet minister and others, what disappoints me most is the insinuation that one of my sons is wrongly benefiting from my health portfolio. Please allow me to clarify this matter once and for all. My eldest son Terepai Jnr is […]

Letters to the Editor

Thursday 13: TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller reckons both the PM and the DPM are embarrassing for the Cook Islands. “One because he never says anything, and the other because he says too much. The Constitution Day speech was nothing but a boring political mishmash and personal pat on the back….at least the PM, had he been here, would […]

Smoke Signals

Monday 17: Dreadful advice

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Minister Ngamau Munokoa’s speech at the under 21 netball opening ceremony was awful. Her grammar and tenses were so badly arranged that one could barely understand what she was saying. Worst of all she turned on Cook Islanders who were sharing a proud moment of realising the dream of hosting the netball games. […]

Letters to the Editor

Thursday 13: Dear Editor,

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Cook Islands citizens choose and elect officials during local and central government elections, which is our democratic right. It is hoped that the best person gets elected to govern with good governance, accountability, responsibility and total transparency in decision making in any and all fiscal expenditures. Sometimes we get it right, and the elected official […]

Letters to the Editor

Thursday 13: REALITY BITES

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I had to laugh when reading the DPM’s speech at the time the budget was presented to parliament, noting the Cook Islands has been affected by the economic downturn,” a reader said. “So much for the recession free Oasis gimmick!”

Smoke Signals

Monday 17: It's a fib, I didn't resign

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Either there is an error in information which I doubt or the office of the Deputy Prime Minister is telling fibs. In a press statement from the DPM’s office it said I have resigned from the Pacific Mini Games Board. I have not and nor have I been asked to. But Minister Ngamau […]

Letters to the Editor

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