Smoke Signals
Which way Thursday?
Monday 18 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Is the Hon. Norman George really that smart?“ a smoke signaller asks. ”If he really thinks that he can continue to outsmart the highest authority of this country and avoid the confidence vote in the budget every Parliament sitting, then we dare him to cast his five votes in the right place in the upcoming […]
Will purse seiners fish here?
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to a Tuesday CINews item: ”Regarding that article ‘Extra 20 fishing licences questioned’, how come other countries forbid purse seining and cancel renewing licences because they realised how bad it was for their own resources, and here in the Cook Islands we’re giving away our ocean to pillagers?“ SS: […]
Roadside rubbish vegetation piles irk
Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Congratulations to the ‘beautification’ gurus who are using a front end loader to push overgrown weeds, general rubbish and tons of topsoil on sections along the main road into piles a few metres off the road,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”One can almost hear the South Pacific Forum leaders as they pass by in their […]
Harpooner questions FAD ban
Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”I’ve got a question for the Ministry of Marine Resources,“ a smoke signaller writes to TXT188. ”Something I don’t understand is why harpooners are banned from the fish aggregation devices (FADs) any time, and spear fishing is allowed when there is no one around FADs? Harpooners are doing the same thing as spear fishermen – […]
Speeding through downtown Avarua
Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”In Thursday morning’s court report,“ a smoke signaller writes, ”there are the names of nine people who have been caught and fined for failing to stop at a stop sign. While there is nothing right about the action, one wonders how many fines are issued to all the people who overtake in a dangerous manner […]
Police patrol going too slow?
Wednesday 6 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: ”Maybe the reason the police vehicle hit the parked car early Saturday morning was that they were going sooooo sloooow that they went to sleep at the wheel! Why stand down the other officers in the vehicle when only one was driving?“ (See yesterday’s front page article ‘Police vehicle in crash’). […]
Must HOMs speak Maori?
Tuesday 5 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A reader phoned the newsroom complaining that the recent heads of department advert stipulated that applicants MUST be fluent in Maori. The caller was worried that this would isolate good people like Richard Neves. Public Service Commissioner Russell Thomas responded that it was not a condition of application for the positions and he said fluent […]
'Major disaster' if Avatiu silt kills coral
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Silt from the Avatiu Port dredging operation has flowed out to sea, covering the ocean floor from Avatiu to Tupapa,“ a smoke signaller warns. ”You can’t even see the ocean floor, and the coral will die as a result. The marine sector, dive tours and glass bottom tours stand to lose. What did the environmental […]
Island jewels to steal for
Wednesday 30 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Hats off to Immigration Cook Islands director Kave Ringi and his team for a job well done in apprehending and deporting a visitor to the Cooks who was connected to an organised Indonesian crime network using stolen credit cards to purchase airline tickets. Their work was obviously a result of drawn out investigations and excellent […]
Can big ships stay when planes land?
Tuesday 29 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”On the Avatiu wharf, could the investment of $28 million be wasted?“ a smoke signaller asks. ”Yep, in my opinion someone has botched up – no one checked on the height restriction for aircraft movements. A shipping company has bought a bigger ship to service the Cooks; the height of the ship is 50 metres […]
Flying high while supplies run low
Saturday 26 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
One of our readers phoned in this smoke signal: ”After reading about the pharmacy shortages in the newspaper (CINews, Thursday, May 24, ‘Commercial pharmacies under pressure’) and the government saying there was no shortage, I thought I’d share my experiences. Three weeks ago I took a 94-year-old to the hospital because he couldn’t hear and […]
Why repeat the immigration fee?
Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”It seems the Immigration Dept has found another way to make more money,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”When permanent residents go to Immigration to get their passport stamped to prove their status, understandably the first time you do this you expect to pay around $20 for their work in checking your certificate and documents are […]
Give harpooners FADs
Monday 21 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: ”The ‘Harpooned!’ feature story by Rachel Reeves on Saturday was excellent. Here is the solution – why don’t the harpooners put down their own FADs [fishing aggregate devices]. One can be done for $5000. Give them some of this money MMR [Ministry of Marine Resources] is dishing out for fishers, and […]
Tell Toa to 'find another spot'
Saturday 19 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s page 7 CINews article ‘Toa scheme faces 5 objections: Company claims none form a legal basis for challenge’. ”Mr Porter’s assuring words aside that placing yet another fuel depot on the foreshore is going to be all hunky dory and we the public should leave it all […]
Needing ticket departure tax answers
Friday 18 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: ”As a regular traveller it would be a help to know if I have to pay $65 for departure tax in the future or $75 if the finance minister can clear it up, or are they going to hide it in the purchasing of tickets? Surely we Cook Islands people are […]
Pa Ariki's nu in schools idea 'a winner'
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
”Pa Ariki is to be congratulated for her continuing education on local foods,“ a smoke signaller writes in response to her recent CI News articles. ”The idea that every school child would have a drink of nu [young coconut] every day has to be one of the best ‘go local’ concepts ever. One would hope […]
Super penalties
Tuesday 15 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
After receiving an emailed letter yesterday from the Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund in respect of penalty fees to late payments, a smoke signaller quipped: ”These people are more efficient than MFEM!“ The letter advised all employers that as of May21 any overdue contribution payments may incur penalty fees, as provided in the CINSF Act […]
We all need a chuckle even if it hits a nerve
Monday 14 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to last week’s Smoke Signal Govt has to ‘go up’, a smoke signaller writes: ”Kata has a satirical role rather than to critique. In the process this may come across as a criticism and satire usually exaggerates a story or event. Politicians are not immune to this and generally set themselves up rather well. […]
Where are stakeholders in HOM choices?
Friday 11 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writing about the selection panel for heads of ministry positions asks: ”If the economy is being driven by the private sector, why does the selection have all ex public servants on it? Where is the Chamber of Commerce? Where are the stakeholders? Or is this just the continuation of the downward spiral […]
Practise what you preach?
Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals
A choked signaller writes: “I couldn’t believe my eyes – after the plumes of diesel smoke cleared – that the smoking bus was carrying an environment message! Ok, I know it says recycling, but it’s an environmental message none the less which includes air pollution. At one point when the bus was increasing in speed […]