Smoke Signals
Get results then celebrate
Saturday 22 February 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Most people celebrate achievements once the results are shown,” writes a smoke signaller.
Why sell a country's cash cow?
Thursday 20 February 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Why would our government consider selling its share in Telecom Cook Islands when it returns a healthy dividend of $2 million yearly?” a smoke signaller asks.
'Keep your hands off our assets'
Tuesday 18 February 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Well done to the Business Trade Investment Board chairman George Pitt for standing up to Telecommunications minister Mark Brown on its dealings with selling Telecom Cook Islands to Digicel,” a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s front page CI News article ‘BTIB takes hard line on Digicel’.
Short term gain, long term pain
Saturday 15 February 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“It was indeed a sad day for all Cook Islanders when the Minister of Finance decided to tax our local pensioners,” a smoke signaller writes.
'Be proud, and locally owned!'
Friday 14 February 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I am very concerned that the government might be considering selling Telecom Cook Islands,” a smoke signaller texts to 188.
How to keep food on local fishers' dinner plates
Thursday 13 February 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Is there a Nobel Prize for economic genius?” asks a smoke signaller.
Dog defender quits after attacks
Saturday 8 February 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“As a regular contributor to Trip Advisor I will often find myself in arguments with people over the question of dogs,” a smoke signaller writes.
'Ship out' those old tyres
Monday 3 February 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Public health officials need to focus on getting a good result in the case of the 500 tyres in the backyard property of the manager of a car and bike hire business,” a smoke signaller writes.
Control our EEZ, not high seas
Wednesday 29 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The Ministry of Marine Resources should concentrate on putting better controls on foreign fishing licenses within our exclusive economic zone which is under our control,” a smoke signaller writes in response to MMR secretary Ben Ponia’s plea in an article on the front page of Saturday’s CINews.
Stop Te Mato Vai water project 'nonsense' now
Friday 24 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I believe the Te Mato Vai water project is an overinflated project that needs serious due diligence,” a smoke signaller texts to 188.
Where is the due process?
Tuesday 21 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “In the week before Christmas 2013, the local watering hole patrons were graced with the presence of the best of the government’s Three Opportunists, Terry Rangi, Peter Tierney and Ben Ponia.
Norm's not 'our economy's saviour'
Monday 20 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Our highly respected Papa Tom Davis must be turning in his grave after Norman George’s release in the Cook Island News last Friday,” a smoke signaller writes in response to the Teenui Mapumai MP’s column titled ‘What is missing from our economy?’ “In 1986 Norman was the very person who campaigned against Papa Tom for the Demo leadership so he, Norman himself, could become prime minister.
Travelling the world, yet again
Friday 17 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “Regarding the Grey Power television advert about our travelling Prime Minister, please keep on running that advert every night.
Tell us 'where's the sand?'
Wednesday 15 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller asks: “If the public and common sense cannot stop the ministerial lemmings from plunging over the Chinese cliff and into the sea of debt with this absurd water project, can the brightest of the genius promoters tell us where the sand for backfilling the pipe trenches is going to come from? First tell us how much sand will be required.
Comparing the rates of airlines
Saturday 11 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller who receives email updates of specials writes: “Interesting to see how the email compares with the advert in Monday’s paper for sale fares between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.
Only kitchen taps need treating
Thursday 9 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to the planned multi million dollar project to install treatment plants at each water intake on Rarotonga a smoke signaller asks: “Guys, would you spend millions of dollars to treat water to flush down your toilet and water the garden? Come on! Just put good filters on the mains, then households can have ultraviolet treatment for their kitchen taps only.
Who wants to drink pool water?
Tuesday 7 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Chlorinating drinking water is a dinosaur technology,” a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s lead article ‘Chlorine water treatment recommended’.
Party buses 'don't blast us'
Monday 6 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: “It is the Xmas and New Year festive season, so have a good time by all means.
'Stand up to Puna and say enough is enough'
Friday 3 January 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Teina Bishop is the only one in the Henry Puna Cabinet that has the guts and fortitude to stand up to Puna and say enough is enough,” a smoke signaller writes.
Exposing the jetty 'boondoggle'
Saturday 28 December 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Well, Don Dorrell’s at it once again, setting the record straight as to the Arorangi jetty being one more boondoggle that had all the experts, aid donors and politicians cutting the ribbon and patting each other on the back,” writes a smoke signaller in response to his last Saturday letter to the editor ‘Arorangi jetty danger ‘obvious from the beginning’.