Smoke Signals
Sitting on the back benches
Monday 6 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“The supporters of Norman George, Kiriau Turepu and John Henry must be gutted when their MPs didn’t get ministerial posts,” a smoke signaller writes. “George, arguably the most qualified and experienced politician in the nation, appears to be back-benched for good. Henry and Turepu were touted as ministers during the election campaign. Turepu even told […]
Not another minister!
Thursday 2 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Another Cook Islands win!
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Amazing, the pageant titles just keep on coming for another of our beautiful, intelligent Cook Islands women – maybe there’s something special in the air here? A big congrats and welcome back home to the newly-crowned Miss South Pacific, Joyana Meyer, for her win over the weekend in the Papua New Guinea capital Port Moresby. […]
Same same, not different
Friday 26 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Well, if we had any thoughts that the Cook Islands Party might be different from the Demos, we can now set those aside,” a smoke signaller writes. “Took them what – six days – to get a leadership crisis?” Our photo (right) shows a Hot Mix demonstration given by the man himself – Chris Vaile […]
Coffee from the islands
Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to the article ‘Cooks’ coffee fix sorted’ in Saturday’s paper, a smoke signaller writes: “The sale of Atiu coffee from a mobile espresso outlet is great. Can Juergen Manske-Eimke, the owner of Atiu Coffee, please assure us that he no longer imports coffee beans that I believe have in past comprised up to […]
Accept the blame
Monday 22 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
In response to a front page article last week ‘Demos dug own grave’, a smoke signaller writes to TXT188: “Come on Sir Terepai Maoate, accept you are the instigator of the Democratic Party split because of your greed for power and that you created the Toa problem – stop trying to deny it. We all […]
Maggie for prime minister!
Friday 19 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writing to TXT188 reckons the election night results as ranked by popular vote should determine how the official appointments are allocated: “George Maggie, number of votes 386, prime minister; Mark Brown, 304 votes, deputy prime minister; Kiriau Turepu, 294 votes, senior cabinet minister; and so forth…” SmokeSignals: Now that’s a novel way […]
Wow Jim, nice speech
Thursday 18 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Sometimes when a person says some really dumb things, others automatically assume it’s the result of a few too many drinks. But in outgoing PM Jim Marurai’s case when interviewed on Radio Australia before the start of the election, maybe it was just he wanted to give his honest opinion, without considering the damage it […]
Laptop risks for men
Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
After reading an overseas news article ‘Is your laptop cooking your testicles?’ a smoke signaller writes: “As someone who has been robbed, I hope this article is true and that thieves and receivers of stolen laptops on Rarotonga become infertile for their sins!” The article says that sitting with a laptop computer on your lap […]
Looking for the Manifesto
Tuesday 16 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A Cook Islands Party smoke signaller says the Democratic Party’s manifesto can’t be downloaded from the Internet. “It’s either too thick or perhaps the Demos don’t want anyone to see it, so it was locked up just like they managed to lock up the Parliament House even though the other 18 MPs wanted it to […]
Looks like a 'chilly bin'
Monday 15 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller said he supports the writer of the letter to the editor last week who criticized the design of the Ministry of Education’s new admin building to be built at Nikao. “This is a perfect example of leaders not going back to the people and asking for their opinions: just look at the […]
Sitting, stalling
Saturday 13 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“I read with interest the people of Murienua’s comments (‘We’re tired of your talk’, Wednesday’s CI News) about the efficiency of government and how tired they are,” a smoke signaller writes. “I can but sympathise with their tiredness – it’s enough to want to give up and leave. Rather than assist any new developments or […]
Give and take
Thursday 11 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
On the subject of Telecom Cook Islands’ $500,000 sponsorship in cash and kind of the Mini Games and World Youth Netball Championships last year, a smoke signaller writes: “The Income Tax (Sponsorship Deductions) Amendment Act 2009 provided for a deduction at the rate of 200% of the sponsorship sum. Therefore Telecom’s sponsorship of $500,000 was […]
New Tutaka dates
Wednesday 10 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The change of Tutaka date is NOT another case of ‘You guys got it wrong’, as someone at Public Health tried to say to us on Monday. That was their first response when we asked why the latest date for the Tutaka is a week later than the date given to us by Dr Fariu. […]
Assessing the wiggly road
Tuesday 9 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“Robert Wigmore is correct in not responding to those mischievous calls for comment on the Sheraton loop road approved by Cabinet,” a smoke signaller writes. “The mischief makers know what we all know, it would be totally inappropriate for a Member of Parliament, a member of Cabinet and indeed the Deputy Prime Minister to comment […]
Action against pollutants
Monday 8 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A project team is working to get rid of dangerous chemicals in the Cook Islands. The chemicals are present in lots of everyday items and can cause serious health problems as they fatten tissue in the body. The group of chemicals is known as Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs. They can cause cancers as well […]
Around the bend
Monday 8 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes on the Vaimaanga ring road: “Mr Wigmore has been strangely quiet on this issue, which is surprising as it could very well make the difference between him winning or losing his seat. And while you are thinking about this perhaps you could explain to the voters of Titikaveka your motivation in […]
Independent thought
Saturday 6 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
“A certain United States Congressman – a staunch environmentalist – was asked why he accepted political contributions from developers, loggers, miners and other despoilers of the environment,” writes a smoke signaller. “He replied that he took their money and then inevitably voted against their special interest legislation. He was happy to take the money but […]
Sponsorship like tax
Friday 5 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
Responding to yesterday’s front page article on Telecom Cook Islands’ second annual report to the public, a smoke signaller writes: “Everyone needs to remember the $500,000 given to sports plus the millions given in dividends to government is coming out of the community. Just like a tax. Ever wonder why you don’t have any money […]
'X' is best, tick accepted
Thursday 4 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals
The Electoral Office urges voters to follow the Electoral Act and mark their ballot paper with a cross [X], but will count those votes with a clear tick or other clear mark. In response to a question of whether a tick [a] would be counted as a valid or invalid vote, the chief electoral officer […]