It’s a small cost
Sirens?
‘Incompetence’ claim answered
Learn the lesson
Good time, bad memories
Credit for the gas guys
Telecom prices ‘theft by statute’
Hiccups not with buses
EMCI evasion is incredible
Call for a national appeal
Sirens badly needed
Did I miss something?
Amazing coverage
Age is no barrier
Well done, Kuki!
PM, how will you protect my children?
Text and email tsunami warnings
John Tini has done miracles
Ceremonies underwhelming
Te Maruaiai Night Market is a great idea
Fair play for John Tini
Remarkable
Extremely lucky
It’s a small cost
Thu
1 Oct
Dear Editor,
I read the article about the NZ Cook Islands sports code delegates complaining how bad the organisation of the Games was and how they had to contribute $7000. Wow, $7000!
There are about 70,000 Cookies in NZ, so that works out at 10 cents each – that is really very, very generous of them. After all, we are a poor country, not like these people from NZ, who are very rich.
So how much have we contributed for the Games? Well, government has put in about $14 million for the physical buildings and renovations and another $9 million in operating costs. That is $23 million and is money we and our children have to pay back. It is about $1500 each person even without adding interest.
In addition there are many, many of us who have worked for weeks and some of us for months, as volunteers, so you can add another $500-$1000. And there are many businesses who have donated their services worth more than $1 million as well.
So if you look at how much we have donated for these Games, it probably comes to more than $2000 each person. If the NZ Cook Islanders had donated as much as us, their cheque would be for more than $140 million!
Sure there are problems with the organisation of the Games, but we are not rich like you and we don’t have lots of money to throw around. I think the NZers got more than their 10 cents worth.
Serpico
(Name and address supplied)
Sirens?
Thu
1 Oct
Dear Editor,
After reading and seeing first hand the potentials for real disaster from natural occurrences whether they be cyclone, Tsunami or any others, I would simply suggest installing sirens at private residences spaced out along the main and back roads and other residential areas that would enable families to hear and be warned to evacuate their homes.
These could be tied together and automatically triggered by local Police or Disaster Management through existing power and telephone lines during times of emergency and tested once per month.
Frank Sabatano
Kavera
‘Incompetence’ claim answered
Fri
2 Oct
Dear Editor,
Enough is enough. The Director of Emergency Management has once again shown his absolute incompetence in discharging the responsibilities [for which he is well paid] which include keeping us the public of the Cook Islands informed.
Forget about the expensive TV adverts no doubt paid for from Aid funds, forget about the fancy embroidered shirts and such like. Forget about being ‘unavailable’ and choosing to attend a sports match while the island is in panic mode.
The time has come to make this junket position redundant and place responsibility where it belongs with the Commissioner of Police. Come on, Mr Carlson, show some b---s and resign now.
Neptune
EMCI director Charles Carlson responds
Kia Orana Editor,
If Neptune read yesterday’s CINews front page article ‘Tsunami alert a wake up call’ that would have answered some of his/her/its queries.
It is the responsibility of each leading agency to deal with any hazard that may strike the Cook Islands, not EMCI.
In this case of tsunami and cyclones, the police is the leading agency to deal with the situation, not EMCI.
The responsibility to formally disseminate the information lies with the police commissioner, not EMCI.
So if you are not happy with the way things were handled, I suggest you take it up with the commissioner, not me.
In no way will EMCI interfere with any of the leading agencies’ responsibilities, however EMCI will be there to assist if required.
In the case of a plane crash, the Airport Authority is the leading agency to deal with it. With a pandemic outbreak, the Ministry of Health is the leading agency. If the problem or the hazard can be contained or controlled by the leading agencies themselves, then it does not require the service of other agencies including EMCI.
However, if the situation gets to a stage where it exceeds the ability of the leading agency to cope with the situation, then EMCI will assist in consultation with the leading agency,
the police commissioner and other key stakeholders to activate the process of declaring a State of Emergency or a State of Disaster through the Prime Minster if required.
The challenge is for all leading agencies to ensure that they have their plan in place and know what to do in case of an emergency or a disaster. EMCI’s role is to ensure these agencies do have their plans in place.
Learn the lesson
Fri
2 Oct
Dear Editor,
As an Australian/Cook Islander living in Brisbane, my immediate concern when I heard of the earthquake in the Samoas was family and friends in the Cooks.
Although I am saddened to learn of the continually rising death toll in Samoa and American Samoa and Tonga, the Cook Islands should treat their misfortune as a warning.
If this earthquake was to be of similar strength closer to the Cooks, considerable damage could occur in a very short amount of time.
The Cook Islands, especially Rarotonga, needs to have an early warning siren system in place that is unmistakable and should be installed as a matter of priority.
Take lessons from what the Samoas have just experienced. Don’t chance the safety of the Cook Islands in a gamble with Mother Nature.
L. Napa
Brisbane, Queensland
Good time, bad memories
Fri
2 Oct
Dear Editor,
My husband, two friends and I arrived back in New Zealand on Thursday September 24 after spending aweek in your lovely island paradise.
We helped your economy out by buying your lovely island products and participating in the great outdoor attractions both on land and sea, we also dined out every night at yourfabulous restaurants.
Our holiday went smoothly until on the very last night while we were attending the fantastic island night at the Edgewater Resort, our locked accommodation at the Kavera beach haven on the south western side of the island was broken into by thieves who stole four cell phones,a Canon Powershot S51Sdigital camera, a backpack, perfume (bought in Rarotonga), clothing, alcohol, credit and debit cards plus some cash.
We found the people of Rarotongato be very friendly and helpful and it is a shame that because of a few rat bags we have been left with some bad memories of our time there plus we have lost allthe photos we took to remind us of our holiday.
If anyone can help us out by finding these low life thieves please contact the police or the editor will have our contact details.
S. Wright
New Zealand
Credit for the gas guys
Fri
2 Oct
Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my disappointment at the article in the Wednesday September 3 paper where it has been claimed that Origin Energy provided the burner, piping, and regular checks for the cauldron at the BCI stadium.
After 35 years in business in the Cook Islands, it is satisfying to see Origin Energy provide sponsorship towards the PMG 2009.
However, I feel there needs to be some clarification with regards to who did what.
Origin Energy supplied the gas tank and the gas for the duration of the games, as part of their sponsorship. The actual burner design, providing the gas pipes and fittings, testing and assembling the gas equipment at the BCI Stadium was carried out by the guys at “Gas Cook Islands”.
Many Gas Cook Islands customers have witnessed these guys designing, building and testing this burner for months before the PMG started.
On the opening night of the games, Gas Cook Islands was in control of the safe ignition of the flame and burner. Not forgetting ensuring the flame remained alight and under control. During the duration of the games, Gas Cook Islands continues to monitor the flame day and night (rain or shine) and make adjustments if needed. Origin Energy is notified by Gas Cook Islands when the gas tanks require filling.
Gas Cook Islands Ltd has provided to PMG 2009 its expertise, labour and equipment at no cost and has asked for nothing in return.
It is only right to pat these guys on the back for their hard work and give some of that limelight to those who deserve it, THE GUYS at Gas Cook Islands Ltd.
Addrienne Hosking-Tinirau
Telecom prices ‘theft by statute’
Fri
2 Oct
Dear Editor,
Once again I find the arguments put forward by Telecom Cook Islands (TCI) to deny any competition or improvement in services to be specious, if not deliberately misleading.
The veracity of the statement TCI makes that “provision of unprofitable services to the outer islandsis one of the prices it (TCI) pays for the privilege of being a statutory monopoly” requires the paying public to accept it without one shred of proof.
This is because of Telecom’s steadfast refusal to provide any financial information on costs and services to a public who by rights of ownership ARE 40% PARTNERS of TCI.
We are informed year after year of massive profits by TCI, so the assumption can easily be made that the “burden” of the outer islands is not a significant one.Just last year it was over $4 million earned by the “social service” giant TCI, and a few years ago TCI declared an $8 million dollar profit from a total local population of 12,000 people.
Since at least 26% of those are under the age of 15 (see www.stats.gov.ck) and likely not paying the TCI bill, and at least half the remaining people are sharing a home, we can see the crushing burden of the outer islands is not really the issue, now is it?
As for the statement that TCI has an “objective of delivering top quality services to customers at a price they consider value for money”, the Cook Islands continue to have one of the worst broadband internet services in the world by cost and speed (http://www.speedtest.net/).
According to Speedtest.net, the Cook Islands rank 211th in the world for download average and 204th for upload. That is worse than the Sudan, North Korea, and well frankly just about every other country on the planet.
This poor performance occurs while being consistently one of the most expensive connections in the world. Yes, we realise it is satellite delivered, and we are a small place, but is that really why we pay such incredible prices?
The 512kpbs (10GB data transfer cap) Business plan at NZD$950 per month in Rarotonga goes for FJD$199 in Fiji, and is available from a VSAT company (http://www.pacificteleports.com) for around USD$600 with no data transfer maximum.
So in reality that isn’t competitive pricing, it’s theft by statute.
If TCI wants to prove otherwise, then perhaps some concrete reasons and numbers would be helpful, because I don’t think “trust us” is an acceptable answer.
No one is saying TCI should operate as a non-profit organisation, nor should they give away their product for less than its true value. Clearly the 40% ownership is counted by the Government as a major revenue stream.
But how much does it really cost to provide service to the outer islands? Are some islands profitable, such as Atiu or Aitutaki? Are some extremely unprofitable?What is the cost of the community phone in Palmerston? If the outer islands were divorced from TCI, would they reduce the usurious rates the public now suffers from?
Perhaps, Government should implement a telecom tax on all communications companies evenly and assume the “burden” of providing outer island services.
Under such a scheme the public would at least be aware of the costs of the service and have some say, however minor, in how it worked.
Maybe then we wouldn’t have to take TCI’s word for it, and maybe they’d feel better not lying to us all the time.
Lied to again by TCI
(Name and address supplied)
Hiccups not with buses
Sat
3 Oct
Dear Editor,
Reading the article on page 3, Cook Islands News, Thursday October 1, in which the PGC president comments on the Pacific Mini Games, in one part he says there were some hiccups in catering and in the transport area.
Mr Lakhan should be precise in what he is referring to, was it the PMG vehicle fleet operating from the PMG transport office, or was it the bus transportation?
The only hiccups that we experienced were with being fed the wrong information at the start of the event, that was ironed out and as far as we are concerned there were no problems with the way that transport was handled.
I take my hat off to our staff who worked tirelessly throughout the whole event and spent time away from their families, this was to make sure that the bus transport side went off without any hitches.
Our drivers worked long hours to make sure this all happened, they do not need to read about negativity that is in that article, nor does any other supplier and their staff, that have worked tirelessly to make sure these games happen.
We never heard of any complaints regarding bus transport at any time.
Myself and Frances wish to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff, drivers, mechanic, office staff and our three young Tereora boys who worked very long hours to make sure that our fleet was clean and tidy after each transfer, ready for the next.
Kevin Cook
Cook’s Passenger
Transport Ltd
EMCI evasion is incredible
Sat
3 Oct
Dear Editor,
I find it incredible that the director of EMCI continues to evade his responsibility on the recent tsunami threat to the Cook Islands.
As it stands today there are 150 dead and hundreds missing in Samoa and Tonga. Charles, both you and the Police Commissioner need to sort this out because if the tsunami had struck the Cook Islands, hundreds if not thousands would now be dead. That includes everyone standing at Avarua and Avatiu wharf and the entire town centre area.
Regardless of who the lead agency is, your office is funded on a day to day basis to deal with these sorts of matters so it’s “bread and butter” stuff for you.
Why on a day when it mattered were you watching sports instead of taking the lead? Excuses are not good enough.
Where was the planning and warning when people were walking around clueless as to what was happening?
Beg, steal or borrow if you have to in order to get the money to install the appropriate sirens.
Have the passion to do what it takes to get the job done because saying “I can’t make people move” is a poor excuse for your shortcomings. If you don’t have the passion or the ability to do the job, get out of the way and let someone else do it.
Next time we will not be so lucky.
Tama Iti
Ruatonga
Call for a national appeal
Sat
3 Oct
Dear Editor,
Although we fully appreciate that both the government and people of this country have spent a large amount of effort, time and resources hosting the PMG over the past two weeks, it is our belief that a national appeal should be organised very soon whereby both the government and people of this country can reach into their pockets and give to those very unfortunate people in both the two Samoas and Kingdom of Tonga who have suffered tremendously.
The people of this country are well-known to be very generous when it comes to donating and giving to those who are less fortunate. The tragic deaths and terrible destruction that occurred as a result of the recent tsunami should be no different.
We therefore hope that the Marurai-led government will urgently initiate a national appeal for the victims of the tsunami.
Our family will not hesitate to donate to such an appeal.
Perhaps this is our little way of not only helping those in great need but showing gratitude in that our country was spared the lethal forces that tsunamis can wreak.
C&P
(Name and address supplied)
Sirens badly needed
Mon
5 Oct
Dear Editor,
Over the past few days the idea of establishing a system of sirens on Rarotonga has been put forward. It is crucial that this is done before another threat to the island eventuates.
It was only five years between the Boxing Day Tsunami and the one in Samoa last week. I find it very frustrating that I am told by those responsible for disaster management to repeatedly ‘Be Prepared’ when they (Commissioner included) did not warn me of the impending danger before it came. How can I be prepared if I don’t know that my life is in danger?
I was standing on the boat ramp, at the Avarua Harbour, when the first wave came at approximately 9.50am. I had guessed correctly what I was watching and had another spectator confirm that I was indeed witnessing a tsunami wave.
From there I had to pick up my daughter at day care in Kavera and head to higher ground. If that were a wave the size of those that hit Samoa, I’d be dead right now. I had no idea a tsunami wave was on its way to Rarotonga, yet the Met Service was informed almost two hours earlier at around 8am.
How about this for a better response to a tsunami warning? NOAA informs Met Service who tells Commissioner who sounds Sirens (yet to exist) in a timely fashion so that everybody within earshot stop what there doing to turn on their radio and TVs to find out just exactly what type of threat is coming and its severity. Even if the threat is considered to be small those houses right on shore might want to evacuate to higher ground.
It should not be the choice of the commissioner to decide how people should react at that moment in time if he believes it’s ‘only a one-metre wave’. Some of us will be very cautious while others will head for the harbour for some entertainment. We should get to choose our own response at that time. It is a question of trust.
I don’t think that those with the information and authority trusted people to do the right thing. I believe they worried about people panicking, traffic jams and hysteria. If they could only trust that their own people were intelligent enough to decide how they might best react to a one-metre tsunami wave and gave the signal earlier so that we could indeed ‘Be Prepared’ then some of these errors could have been avoided and more people would have been out of harms way.
It was not until I watched Wednesday night’s One News programme did I realise just how lucky I was to be alive.
I hope any politicians reading this realise that, one day, it could just as easily be Rarotongan babies in the morgue instead of Samoan babies.
This is a request to all the MPs of the Cook Islands to loosen your purse strings, form the committees and ensure a system of sirens is established to warn people of impending danger.
People are a country’s greatest asset. Show that the ambition you have to build stadiums is matched by your aspirations to protect your people.
If you agree that sirens and changes need to be made, write in your opinion, no matter how brief, to the Cook Islands news or your local MP because if enough letters are written, action will follow.
All of us can make a difference if we make sure we are heard.
Otherwise, these sentiments fade as any other significant event whether it is the Boxing Day tsunami or Cyclone Meena and the systems which should be in place to save lives will remain inadequate and Cook Islanders young and old will die tragically.
David Milanovic
Did I miss something?
Mon
5 Oct
Dear Editor,
I recently read the results for Te Maeva Nui comp and I thought, did I miss something? I’m pretty sure I know how to count!
How can Atiu come 3rd when Overall results showed they only got one 3rd placing and one 2nd placing yet Arorangi got one 2nd placing and three 3rd placings.
Is there another system the judges use to come to the conclusion for the overall results?
Correct me if I am indeed wrong, but when you publish results like this and people like myself read it, it sure doesn’t sound right?
My son is a member of the Arorangi team and when I rang him to see how they went he did say something wasn’t right with the results and after reading the CI Herald I also would have to agree with him, so did I miss something?
Teresa
Auckland NZ
(Name and address supplied)
Editor: The writer is correct that Atiu ended up with 1591 points compared with Arorangi’s total of 1583.
Amazing coverage
Mon
5 Oct
Dear Editor,
Thanks to all the team at the newspaper for the amazing coverage you have offered those of us not fortunate enough to be in the Cooks for the Games over the last couple of weeks.
The stories on your website are fantastic and have kept us up with the play on who is doing what, and how well!
Well done, Cook Island News, and well done to all of the sports-
people who worked so hard to provide such entertainment enabling us to be so proud.
Debi Futter-Puati
and Samantha Puati
Auckland NZ
Age is no barrier
Mon
5 Oct
Dear Editor,
In trying to remain in a positive frame of mind for the love and passion of netball, and in reply to several criticisms from so-called netball fans with regard to comments associating our team as ‘oldies’, I would like to compare factual stats from the last South Pacific Games of 2007, and list as follows:
Game vs PNG – Team 2007 lost by 20+; Team 2009 lost by 4
Game vs Fiji – Team 2007 lost by 20+; Team 2009 lost by 2
Team 2007 was placed 4th; Team 2009 improved placing to 3rd hence becoming bronze medalists.
The Team of 2009 was made up of a balanced group of the best and dedicated players from the Cook Islands selected throughout 3 trials held in October 2008, February and July 2009 – consisting of experienced, middle, & developing players. The Team of 2007 consisted of what would be considered middle and developing players.
To netball fan/supporters, the above results reflect that age is certainly no barrier. In fact, not very long ago, in another sporting code, a 59-year-old male runner won the recent Westpac Round Rarotonga Road Race. Think about it.
It really is disheartening to see the worst come out of some members of the public. I know that all members (of all ages) of the Cook Islands Netball Team were shattered by their loss to Fiji. They tried their best and unfortunately could not pull it off in our favour.
Not everyone can be winners and a bronze medal is an achievement. I would hate to think what would have happened if the Cook Islands Netball Team did not get a medal at all.
Finally, to the Team of 2009, kia toa, hold your head up high girls and keep smiling. Winning a bronze medal is a great achievement. Don’t give up and continue to strive for gold.
Diya Moana Jonassen
No. 1 Netball Fan for Players of
All Ages
Well done, Kuki!
Mon
5 Oct
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Kuki the ambassador and sports minister Ngamau (Aunty Mau) Monokoa welcome the sailing team back from Aitutaki on Friday.
09100204
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Dear Editor,
I would just like to comment on the absolutely fabulous job Kuki the Kukupa bird did at the Games.
What a wonderful mascot! Whoever this person was – whether it was the same person the entire games or not – he/she was so popular and did such a marvellous job with everybody.
Wherever Kuki was, he/she was happy and jovial and so funny with everyone!
A perfect example of the Cook Islands people and their attitudes toward visitors to our island!
Kuki was so entertaining, a joy to watch and brought pride to the Cook Islands! Well done Kuki!!!
Jennie George
Rarotonga
PM, how will you protect my children?
Tue
6 Oct
Dear Editor,
My husband and I are looking forward to moving to Rarotonga next year with our two very young girls. We want our children to learn their beautiful language and experience their rich culture, but they should not have to pay for this privilege with their lives.
Prime Minister, can you please tell me how you will protect my children if a wave hits Rarotonga. Can you ensure our children will have enough time to run? Can you ensure our children are not swept out to sea? If they are at school, at home, at the shops, can you protect us to the best of your ability? If a Tsunami wave hit us today, are you satisfied that you have done everything in your power to protect my children and the children of the Cook Islands?
Please do not turn this into a political target. We need you, our Prime Minister, to look beyond the political games and to put your foot down.
Do not accept any excuses from any departments. Keep pushing those departments with all of your might. We do not want to hear blame, we want to see action. We want to know that you and your departments are taking this very seriously by implementing immediate plans for a siren system as well as reviewing the existing disaster management processes and departments.
We must be able to trust you with our lives and the lives of our children.
To my people, speak up now, for the sake of our children, speak up now. Do not take the devastation in Samoa lightly, it could have easily been us searching for our loved ones in debris, so speak up now and force the decision makers to do everything they can to protect us. This is their duty!
Proud Mum of two beautiful Takitumu girls
Auckland NZ
(Name and address supplied)
Text and email tsunami warnings
Tue
6 Oct
Dear Editor,
Condolences to the people of Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa for the tragedy last week which happened on Tuesday and also the braveness of the athletes who continued to stay on and represent their country to the best of their sporting ability. You sure did hold your heads up high and we felt sorry for you people.
Tsunamis cannot be predicted as they are caused by an earthquake at sea. No matter how qualified you are, working at a metrological service in any part of the world, no one is sure if a tsunami is arriving and what time it is expected to hit. But if there is an earthquake especially in the Pacific, just run for the hills.
Another way to find out if a tsunami is arriving is to look for your pets like cats and dogs, if they are not around where they should be, then that is another sign that a tsunami may be coming as the Boxing Day tsunami in Indonesia when the people ran for the hills they were greeted by cats dogs and even elephants.
The prime minister is blaming the disaster management director Charles Carlson for the delay in informing the public, but does not realise that government should be prepared and have meetings with government owned Telecom to send messages of tsunami warnings and forward it to all people with computers and warnings via answering machines to all households with telephones and especially mobiles with text messages.
It will not be hard for a telecom company to do this because they only need to write one message and forward it to all emails and hotspots.
In Samoa especially at the resorts, staff were telling their guests that the warning of a tsunami had passed but unfortunately because of a 20-minute delay of the tsunami arriving after the earthquake, a lot of people lost their lives. But no one is to blame because unlike a tidal wave a tsunami cannot be detected, only warnings can be given to the Mets then to the public. It is a natural disaster that comes from tectonic plates that are rubbed together forming an earthquake which starts a volcano.
Police commissioner Maara Tetava says that he was to be responsible for the diversion of traffic and the safety of our people if the tsunami was to hit, but not everyone wants to run for the hills for their safety because nobody knows if the tsunami will hit.
Looking at the announcement of a tsunami warning, I reckon that we were well prepared as everyone went to the hospital hill for safety and if a tsunami did arrive on our shores, we would already be in safe hands as all the businesses around town closed down for the warning.
Even Wigmores superstore had closed their doors in fear the tsunami might arrive, so at least we will be prepared for the next warning and the message should be taken seriously as Samoa is very near to the cook islands.
Lastly condolences to the Indonesian community who had lost loved ones in the earthquake 8am Wednesday morning 24 hours after the Samoan earthquake and tsunami.
We pray that God look after you through this time of mourning as we too are sharing the moment.
Grant Young
Titikaveka
John Tini has done miracles
Tue
6 Oct
Dear Editor,
I write to express my support to John Tini for setting a high standard benchmark for all young Cook Islanders to achieve and set as a goal.
He has done miracles to complete the projects he has been assigned to do with little or no resources. He has gone near and far, high and low to search for these resources. He certainly has people skills otherwise how would he have attained the resources required?
He is a fine specimen of a natural born leader and we should give him support for the things that he has done for our country and for those he has helped individually. I once asked him, “What is your drive?” and his reply was, “It is my passion.”
I am a student studying overseas and have looked at Mr Tini’s achievements with awe and hope that someday, I would return to the Cook Islands and do something as great and magnificent as Mr Tini.
I look up to him as a mentor and he freely gives sound advice and with no reservation on business ventures I had in mind.
A local man with his obvious skills and qualification, who could have chosen to work overseas at a far higher salary rate, chose to return home and sacrifice those opportunities, so that he could serve his country.
He has set an example for Cook Islands students studying overseas to come home and take on the leash of our country and lead.
Tini Supporter
(Name and address supplied)
Ceremonies underwhelming
Tue
6 Oct
Dear Editor,
What a fantastic two weeks we have had! We can stand proud in the knowledge that the people of the Cook Islands stood up to the task and delivered a memorable 8th Pacific Mini-Games.
A record medal haul for our country, and every participating country leaving our shores with their share of well deserved medals along with warm and lasting feelings of the hospitality generously and naturally given by our people.
However, there is one area where I feel we could have done better. We are a people with so much talent in performance, in telling our unique Cook Islands stories, so why were our opening and closing ceremonies so underwhelming!
This was our opportunity to showcase our culture, our talents, to the rest of the pacific. Why didn’t we utilise our top producing and choreography talent to deliver something spectacular, something that showed the viewing audience the essence of who we Cook Islanders are? Where was Maine Kuki Airani? Why wasn’t our beautiful and talented Engara involved?
Please don’t make the excuse that there wasn’t any budget because a big budget is not necessary to present a top show. I’m not talking about producing a show of Olympian proportions. All it required was recognising the importance of presenting a fitting opening and closing ceremony we as a nation can all be proud of, then identifying the appropriate creative team to put the show together and letting them do it!
Don’t get me wrong – the cultural groups that did take part in the opening and closing ceremonies were absolutely amazing… what a joy to see Team Cook Islands march past along with the other proud Pacific nations…. the spine-tingling performance by our talented singers when they sang the games song…. all the many moments we shared in the opening and closing ceremonies were wonderful. Its just that we could have done more.
It’s too late now. Our chance to have our unique culture and talent spectacularly televised across the Pacific is gone for maybe another 24 years. However, in the context of the overall success of the Mini Games, it is but one of only a very few disappointing facets of an otherwise fantastic event.
Still & always a proud
Cook Islander
(Name and address supplied)
Te Maruaiai Night Market is a great idea
Tue
6 Oct
Dear Editor,
As small business owners and market vendors, we would like to firstly take this opportunity to publicly thank Terry Rangi and his team at the BTIB office for the successful events, the Trade Days, held adjacent to the Avarua harbour area, and Te Maruaiai Night Market held recently at the Punanga Nui Market over a period of eight nights.
The vision and foresight of launching a night market and the organising, sponsoring and planning of these successful events is a credit to your office and staff and we thank you for giving us the opportunity to be part of what we hope will be an onging event, the Te Maruaiai Night Market.
Secondly, we would like to also thank Anthony Brown, HOM for Agriculture, for your vision and support of a night market and Elmah McBirney and her staff for your untiring support at the Punanga Nui Market.
Thirdly, we would also like to thank our Cook Islands people for attending and supporting these events.
The Punanga Nui Market came alive at night and it was wonderful to see our Cook Islands people with their families come and spend the evening together, enjoying the variety of foods available and also the fantastic entertainment and MCs, with our very own Tangee and Aunty Mabel Burt, to name a few.
Lastly, we would like to thank the Hon. Robert Wigmore and Hon. Cassey Eggleton for your attendance and support at the Te Maruaia Night Market.
Geoff and Tia Bergin
(Name and address supplied)
Fair play for John Tini
Wed
7 Oct
Dear Editor,
In all things in life and business, ‘fair play’ in a ‘quid pro quo’ sense, is considered strong incentive for good team building.
In the Cook Islands, we are not exactly being inundated with applications by our own ably qualified people overseas and we wonder why, after the manner in which we treat our own.
This is not to justify or prejudge any allegations arising from the audit on CIIC CEO John Tini, but it begs the question that perhaps we should pursue our own much needed internal developments with the same military-like determination, precision and speed of execution as was carried out in John Tini’s case then perhaps half of our headaches with our tourism, water, waste management, energy issues would be a thing of the past.
Mr Tini’s accomplishments in his tenure so far [and I followed some of them in your paper Mr Editor in all its colourful reporting] in my opinion speaks for itself of which I’m sure he will swear and stand by them as well.
There are others in other areas of Government looking to emulate his success, however Editor, I believe that unless you have the same mettle as Mr Tini has, i.e. be able speak your mind when it is in your capacity to do so, accept the consequences of your actions, stand your ground for the principles you believe in, brush aside apathy and incompetence as hindrance to progress, and are able call upon our talented local people from different fields to step up and stand up and do the same, finally have the passion for what you do, then your chances of accomplishing the same are greatly diminished.
Oh, did I mention that you will not under any circumstances earn any brownie points at all, sorry Mr Tini’ it goes with the territory. So to Mr Tini as the saying goes “...what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger”.
Advocate of Fair Play
(Name and address supplied)
Remarkable
Wed
7 Oct
Dear Editor,
The seemingly never ending letters of support for John Tini, who has currently been stood down as head of CIIC pending an investigation into CIIC-related activities, is truly remarkable.
Reading the on-going letters of support that Tini has received since been stood down, one would have to conclude that either yes, this guy is truly a remarkable individual with almost superhuman, Ghandi-like powers who should replace Marurai as prime minister, or a person who is aware of the power of the press and is calculating, manipulative and persuasive enough to use it to his full advantage.
However, rather than grapple to guess which of these two personalities better fits Tini, perhaps it is better to rely on the findings that will soon emerge from the investigation by the Audit Office into CIIC activities.
Audit fan
(Name and address supplied)
Extremely lucky
Wed
7 Oct
Dear Editor,
Last week PM Marurai admitted that the buck stops with him in regards to the failure of the national warning system when the tsunami struck the country last week. If this is the case, then he must see to it that real changes are made so that this botch-up is never repeated again.
As a parent of five children, I would hate to imagine what the death toll would have been in this country had the tsunami effects experienced here last week were of the same lethal power as those which struck Samoa.
What we have just witnessed in Samoa and Tonga was a terrible tragedy for these countries. For ourselves, it was a good wake-up call whereby lessons can be learnt.
We should count ourselves extremely lucky that the power of the tsunami waves had dissipated by the time they had reached our shores.
I’m glad that the police commissioner has the balls to stand up and say publicly that rather than point the finger of blame, the disaster management committee is best to focus on correcting the glaring deficiencies in the country’s current tsunami warning system.
Action Now
(Name and address supplied)
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