More Top Stories
Top cop position advertised
7 December 2024
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Opinion
Church Talk: The 2024 festive season and what it truly means
The festive season is a time of celebration, family gatherings, and joy. For many in the Cook Islands, this period is about reconnecting with loved ones, sharing meals, and participating in cultural and spiritual traditions, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa from the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Pet Talk: Keeping your pets cool and comfortable this summer Christmas
The holiday season is a time of joy, family, and festivity, but for pet owners, it can bring unique challenges, writes Dr Rose Hasegawa, medical director Te Are Manu Vet Clinic.
Why government fears parliament
Members of Parliament in the Cook Islands are being called lazy and worthless. People write to newspaper or phone radio talkback shows to complain about MPs not even working a full day. Why is this happening, and what can be done about it? I believe it is not the fault of elected MPs. Instead, the blame rests on the prime minister, Henry Puna. Our system places the sole responsibility on him to call parliament. He, and he alone, is therefore accountable to the people of this country and responsible for the progress of democracy in our sunny isles. Why blame and demean MPs when they have nothing to do with the planning and the scheduling of when and how often parliament sits? In the last three years, parliament has sat for only a handful of days. Yep, I could count them on my fingers and it is embarrassing when visitors ask about it. In 2015 it was, I believe, less than 10 days and last year, even less than that. But why is the PM doing this? The answer is simple: he could get voted out of office. We know very well that government does not have a strong majority to govern and therefore the PM’s thinking is to minimise the risk and have few days of parliament actually sitting. This is bizarre, isn’t it? The greater wheel of democracy is being held to ransom by one man, simply so he can stay in power. It’s political siege by Henry Puna. We could also say that it is a social and economic siege. It is also a siege on our integrity as a country that boasts to practice good democratic principles. Unfortunately, our political system can easily be manipulated as in such instance. After Henry Puna and his team won office in 2014, albeit by a small majority, an enduring promise from the 2010 elections was that there would be an increase in the number of days when Parliament sits. But that was not to be. Instead, the PM regressed into fewer and fewer days of Parliament. That was a major promise broken. That broken promise also overlapped with one of parliament sitting at least 100 days in one year. Of course that was never achieved. Should the PM be held up as a liar in this instance? Should the reasons why parliament doesn’t sit more often be accepted by the public as legitimate, even though they have never been clearly explained? I’m talking about the prospect of being voted out, even in these days of anti-vaka hopping. We have now seen the prospect of a vote of no confidence against the PM and his Cabinet several times and of course it’s the reason the government guillotines the budget debates so the MPs can close up shop and go home. We have clashes about constitutional clauses, disputes over the clarification of relevant provisions of no confidence motions and votes, and each time the PM has survived. That’s the key really, isn’t it? Regardless of how brutal it will be, Henry Puna must allow the proper process of democracy to take place and of course fight to defend his team and himself. What he does instead is an improper use of the power and authority of the executive arm of government. What is more alarming is the fact that MPs in the government side appear to me to be gutless and too scared to speak up about it. To them it is the natural thing just pack up their folders and go home after a hearty lunch and without even questioning the reason they are in parliament. Most of them go to parliament and ride along with the PM in a tunnel of persuasion, manipulating the system to their advantage. It is so shocking that people can actually think of excuses such as being unable to this month, for example, because they may not have the numbers to pass the budget. The Opposition also has the responsibility of passing the budget for the running of the country and so the public service can be paid. The PM is likely to leave it right until the last few days until the country is near strangulation, before actually introducing a budget. And this despite the fact that there is always full co-operation by those MPs who mean well to pass the budget without the PM’s fears coming to fruition. Things need to change. People need to be a lot smarter. Politics as a game of overpowering one another should not be the rule or the norm, but the exception. In the past, votes of confidence involving a change of government have taken place as the result of one-off situations. They were the result of democracy at work and the voting facility of parliament being used. Today, one person frequently blocks democracy for reasons, I believe, of his own self-preservation. If it is for the preservation of his political party in office, then the obvious thing is that when the situation is fragile, it’s time to return to the polls. That would be more acceptable than holding on to office under some dubious belief that you still hold the mandate of the voting public.
Coalition must review arrangement
There must come a time when the Democratic Party and One Cook Islands will have to earnestly review their coalition arrangement.
The need for forgiveness
Forgiveness is essential to our souls. If we allow this virtue to atrophy from disuse, it becomes a thorn in our hearts, slowly but surely leaking life energy, eroding love, denying joy, avoiding faith and resisting wealth of every kind.
Govt stance on health 'appalling'
Dr George Ngaei’s public criticism of the health budget in CI News in February this year drew no response from the ministers of Health, Finance or even the prime minister. Government’s inability and or unwillingness to address the issue of adequately funding the Health ministry is appalling.
The value we place on our true treasure
Sitting in the Land Court these past few days and representing the interests of the Kopu a Kaena over the past two weeks has been a wonderfully humbling and unifying experience.
Leadership and the power of words
It was interesting - and hilarious in some ways to read some very strong and emotive comments from letter writers and smoke signallers in the daily newspaper last week, with contributors predicting the worst for Nicholas and government in the RAPPA by-election.
Defining the role of our MPs
There is no doubt in my mind that the re-election of Albert Nicholas as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Avatiu/Ruatonga/Parlmeston coveys to the public a clear but much more sinister meaning of what it takes to be an MP in the Cook Islands.
Understanding God's role in forgiveness
This week, my Scripture Class focused on the virtue of Forgiveness.
There's never an excuse for violence
The Devil is sitting by the side of the road, his cloven hoofed hands, pressed against his cheeks as he weeps tears, sobbing like a baby.
Demos fight on despite RAPPA result
The Democratic Party wishes to congratulate Albert Nicholas for holding his seat in the recent Avatiu/Ruatonga/Palmerston (RAPPA) by-election.
Unity the driver of progress
It is often said that a champion team will always beat a team of champions.
Educated returnees a boon for us
In the past, medical doctors used to dominate the political scene of the Cook Islands.
Virtues make difference for local business
While browsing through a Rarotonga shop, I ran into a friend who was working there, wearing a huge smile.
The rich tapestry of relationships
Have you ever wondered about the many layers of relationships we move in and out of each and every day?
Leadership and relationships
In 1965 when our fledgling democracy was thrown into the international arena, we neither had the need nor the wherewithal to meet any international obligations.
Strutting the international stage
Surely this must not go unchallenged.
How to plan a sustainable life
The last of the four principles in A Pace of Grace is “Plan a Sustainable Life”.
A matter of rights and responsibilities
In a time when a person’s rights seem to be the overriding narrative, there has been a case in New Zealand where a person in jail for murder has petitioned the government for his right to donate sperm and to donate his organs.
Practicing the presence
One of the most powerful ways to invite a pace of grace is what I call “practicing the Presence” -connecting each day with the holy.
New breed of leaders steps forward
Io Totoro is my grandfather going back 11 generations and he would take a wife, Paparoaroa Taraarei – Itiao Ruatuitui Ruanaki and it is from his granddaughter that would derive the Ngati Kaena name, Kaena district and Kaena Mataiapo Tutara title.
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