Smoke Signals
No one will be held accountable
Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
No one is ever punished for incompetence in the Cook Islands, even if it costs the country, an irate smoke signaller writes. Nothing has changed. Quit trying to pull the wool over our eyes. CISNOC officials knew of the pending financial shortfall and were counting on Government to bail them out. To date they have […]
Do not bail out CISNOC
Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Dear Sir, How is it that the president of CISNOC pleads ignorance to its financial problems? According to CISNOC the problem is that the government budget didnt allocate them enough cash. That budget was passed six weeks ago, and the president of CISNOC was sitting in the house of parliament as the budget was passed. […]
CISNOC crisis: who really knew?
Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Its hard to believe Sir Geoffrey, as the hands-on president of CISNOC, is not familiarised with the financial affairs of his organisation, as reported in Wednesdays Cook Islands News, a smoke signaller writes. Its also hard to believe the Cook Islands Party hierarchy did not know about the mess at CISNOC until they were informed […]
Will we keep our people here?
Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
It was exciting to see our hospitality students being glorified of their achievements at the recent Nestle Toque dOr Junior Chefs competition in New Zealand, a smoke signaller writes. But it is disappointing to hear that one the contestants applied for a job in one of our boutique hotels and guess how much the person […]
Govt travel eating tax
Monday 8 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Robin Hood was well-known for taking from the rich and giving to the poor, a smoke signaller writes. Its a shame that all we have is a robbing hood who takes from the poor pensioners and gives to the rich Toa and Air New Zealand. The prime ministers journey to San Francisco has nothing to […]
Constitution Day car blaze
Saturday 6 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller who sent in the photo taken on Thursday, August 4, of a car on fire writes: The person on the back road in Matavera must think our Constitution Day gives them the independence to burn cars and ruin our environment! A smoke signaller sends a warning to all scooter riders: It seems […]
Forever grateful
Friday 5 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Dear Editor, Wed like to extend our sincere appreciation to all the wonderful people who provided such quick assistance to the Canadian family who unwittingly got themselves into very serious trouble on the beach at Titikaveka, while we were kayaking too close to the reef. We are especially grateful to Don Beer of Whitesands Beach […]
Guess whos missing in photos?
Wednesday 3 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: For the past week and this week Ive bought a newspaper every day so I can send them to my family back at home to show whats happening here during the Constitution and to check out the fantastic photos from these events. So far since Saturday, I am disappointed that there […]
Sirens, lights: show time!
Tuesday 2 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
It also was a nice, peaceful Sunday afternoon until an entourage sped by, a smoke signaller complains. On Sunday afternoon around 12.45pm, two police motorbikes with lights flashing and sirens wailing, and officers waving vehicles off the road, followed by the Queens Representatives flash black car all smoking its way to the National Auditorium, I […]
Float day speeches
Saturday 30 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
After waiting for the return of the float parade to the Cook Islands cultural festivities, punters yesterday were left waiting a little longer. As the midday start-time breezed past, one man wondered why they were left waiting. The answer: our politicians, he said. The float parade is finally back after years, but as usual the […]
Preparation key to sounding good
Thursday 28 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: The quality of sound controlled by Robert Ioaba and his team during the Rarotonga Gospel Day programme on Monday at the National Auditorium was just appalling! There was screeching feedback from start to finish. If they cant even ensure quality sound for three hours of one day, how on earth are […]
Close-knit sports body
Wednesday 27 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller thinks the countrys sports and national Olympic committee is by and large, a close-knit inner core of people who make a living out of administration, carried out poorly or otherwise. My feeling is that CISNOC exhibits little appearance of people dedicated to sport and more a sense of people achieving income for […]
No support for another Delhi
Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
It appears from a newspaper report that the Cook Islands and the other 11 Commonwealth countries in Oceania have based their decision not to support the bid by Sri Lanka to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, on the performance of neighbouring Indias hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Weve been to Delhi and we really […]
Its a banking blunder
Saturday 23 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: The review in this weeks CI News showing that New Zealand exempts from withholding tax the interest earned by foreign investors, should have been known to our minister of finance before he unwisely decided to tax all interest in the Cook Islands. To attract foreign money and assist liquidity in the […]
20-foot eyesores
Thursday 21 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: Were trying to attract tourists to the island, but they dont want to see great containers on residential land. There seems to be no regulation regarding where they can be placed. Containers are not rubbish but they are certainly unsightly and should not be placed on main roads. Tourists come to […]
Lend Super funds here
Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Clearly the minister of finance is out of his depth, having come up with that dumb withholding tax concept, and needs some guidance when it comes to raising money, a smoke signaller writes. Lets start with this suggestion: the Super Fund purportedly has well over $33 million in its kitty. Ok, Ok, I know, never […]
Budget balancing on a knife edge
Saturday 16 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Even if the new tax on savings generates the fantasy one million dollars, that must be less than one percent of the government budget, a smoke signaller writes. If I ran my business on the basis that a one percent change in income or expense would be a matter of life or death, then all […]
Fiji flight subsidy better
Thursday 14 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: Fiji, despite being ostracised by Australia and New Zealand politically, is enjoying tourism numbers that Rarotonga would enjoy a part of. Fiji has for the first time ever, recorded over 50,000 visitor arrivals in the month of April, 2011. This was revealed yesterday by the Minister for Tourism, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at […]
Show us the thieves!
Wednesday 13 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
One thing the police are likely not aware of is that thieves dont read the Cook Islands News, a smoke signaller writes. They just go gaily on, not realising that they are being sought after until they are eventually caught. It is a known fact internationally that robbers and thieves are generally illiterate and their […]
Moving savings not disloyal
Tuesday 12 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Finance minister Mark Brown should be ashamed of himself for questioning the loyalty of people who have savings in Cook Islands banks and might have to move them elsewhere, a smoke signaller writes. They have worked here and paid their taxes. On retirement they get $400 a month government pension. Thats $92.30 a week. I […]