Smoke Signals
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 […]
House rebel and rabble
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: It was nice, if a little patronising, to hear the gentlemanly exchange in parliament between the speaker Sir Geoffrey Henry and opposition deputy leader Wilkie Rasmussen over their slanging match. Sir Geoffrey first apologised for accusing him of being part of a team of rebels, referring to Wilkies criticism of the […]
Charge across the board
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
Does government have the wrong end of the stick with the tax on interest? a smoke signaller writes. My savings at the bank is a loan to the bank. That loan earns me a whopping 3 percent. Then when I take a loan for my mortgage the bank earns 11 percent. Go ahead Government; take […]
Just a quick cash grab
Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
This new tax on interest is a mad piece of rocket science, a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterdays front page CI News article that detailed governments plans to require banks to deduct a withholding tax amounting to 15 percent of the interest earned in savings and investment accounts held in the Cook Islands. […]
Secret tutaka visits a stupid idea
Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
I was listening to the Radio Cook Islands on Monday evening and I heard Papa Charlie Ave [Public Health protection officer] talk about the tutaka property inspections. In his speech, he mentioned something about homeowners needing to ensure their dogs are tied up when his officers visit the homes. Papa Charlie also warned us that […]
Call to reveal travel benefits
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
As I understand, the Prime Minister has just globe trotted around the world, a smoke signaller writes. Will he present himself on national television, as other world leaders do, and be questioned by the media and local academics as to just what benefits this jaunt has brought to the Cook Islands people? This should also […]
Slaps on the hand
Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
The Police Commissioner says they can do only so much in regards to theft, but they can do more if they want by laying the correct charges against these crooks so they can get a good jail sentence for these thieves, a smoke signaller writes. Half the time, charges that could give a deterrent sentence […]
Not helping stranded passengers
Tuesday 28 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
What a cop out response by the local Air New Zealand manager in respect of the airfares to Rarotonga in time of serious distress by Pacific Blue customers, a smoke signaller writes. In Saturdays paper Mr Bridge said when their flights are very heavily booked, as is the case at present, all of the cheaper […]