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Letters to the Editor

Week ending Wednesday, 29 September, 2010

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We will not publish any material which we consider to be defamatory

Why do our youth leave here?
What makes a good MP?
Announce policies
Tourism plans the same
Ngatangiia decision very important
Amid the noise and haste
Arnold quality needed
Supporter hits back
Electronic edition under change
Advance voting goes ahead
Carr’s removal, last nail in coffin
Punch a ‘cheap shot’
Roads and health
Take referendum seriously
Taking the happy from valley
Praise for Tereora and teachers
Thanks to community, police
Why do our youth leave here?

Dear Editor,

Where are our youth today? It looks as though they are all migrating overseas and foreign workers are coming in to replace them.

Why is this? It’s because of the low income they receive at the end of the week.

The lowest paid New Zealand job wage is five times higher than (the lowest paid) here. This is the reason – of course it is.

And is the food on Rarotonga cheap? Of course not!

So why are they leaving? It’s because they know they can’t make ends meet in their very own country so they leave for overseas with no desire of ever returning permanently.

The Cook Islands is one of the most expensive places in the Pacific behind Tahiti, with Tonga the cheapest in the Pacific. Why? Because government would rather spend money on sports arenas, when there is a auditorium in Tupapa that can cater for more people. They try to dabble in fuel – full steam ahead – rather than taking legal advice first, leaving us taxpayers, and only us taxpayers, to fork out $12 million for the next 10 years.

The winner is laughing his head off at our people and government and he’s still living on the island. What guts, aye?

Should’ve spent the money on a cargo ship so the levies will be cheaper and the outer islands can afford the shipping costs, plus we own our own ship – so that’s a start. But then again we are all ignored. Amazingly two months out from the elections who comes knocking at your door? The same person that knocked only once on your door four years ago.

Come on people don’t be fooled by these beggars, don’t look at the money side of things, vote someone in that will fight for you and your people to make more finance for your constituency. The opportunity is there. Vote in the ones who will split the votes – vote independent. We are the ones who will fight for your issues to be heard in Parliament because we are not a party, we are for you and only you. Let’s pave the way for a brand new Cook Islands, a brand new government and welcome in billions of dollars per annum for our economy.

Say goodbye to the $187 million budget. I have big ideas for our future within four years in Parliament. Vote me in and I’ll show you how.

Grant Young

Independent candidate

Titikaveka

Dear Editor,

I have been reading and hearing with interest the various views expressed on political reform, well, more so only on the numbers of MPs we should be having in Parliament.

I see also that there are lot of members of the public willing to put their names forward to make changes to how things are in Parliament.

I see also the advocates for political reform doing their bit but I fail to see where or who is advocating to the public on voting right. Who is advocating the public to vote for the right reasons? Political reform is more than a number crunching issue and needs to be dealt with holistically. What is the function of a parliamentarian and what makes a good MP?

There are many reasons why our political system is failing us, and one of the key issues is the person elected to be an MP.

In other countries, a potential politician would have had an interest in politics as a career, and have potentially developed themselves for it. Ok, it doesn’t mean the developed politicians have always been great, but at least they have an understanding of their role in politics, we hope.

But here in the Cook Islands, we have some great and not so great people standing for the next elections, but we all know at the end of the day that the key factors affecting their chances are: who your family is; what church you go to; do you turn up to the village cleanup every time; what business you have and how much donations you’ve made to the constituency through sports and raffles; do you belong to the sports club etc etc.

None of these contributes to the merits of an MP – and I mean the proper role and functions expected of an MP. We may be able to get our numbers right, have all the right laws in place but still if we don’t have the right attributes in Parliament, we still come back to the same problems. What are we going to blame next?

I think that there has to be an advocate group out there to talk to people to vote right! Vote for people who represent your ideals for a better Cook Islands. We keep asking why people are still leaving.

People will continue to leave, it’s a normal trend, but for those of us who chose to stay here, we have to make sure that our Cook Islands is what we aspire it to be, not something of a Mickey Mouse outfit!

We have some good people standing now especially in the Rarotonga constituencies, but good for the Vaka Council. It is a pity that the Vaka Council was removed, because they would have fitted perfectly in this role, to support central government. MPs and the Vaka Council just never understood their specific functions in the whole of government, much to the demise of the Vaka Council.

For the betterment of the Cook Islands, I can only hope that our people vote with their eyes open and not be blinded by political party, family and sports affiliations. Yes, to referendum, but we can’t wait another four years for change, we can do that now. Put the right person in, for the right reasons, for a better Cook Islands.

Oh, I’m yet to hear someone say that they may re-introduce the Vaka Councils as part of the campaign – the Vaka Council worked for Puaikura and Takitumu! And there’s too much free advocacy for Norman George thanks to the political reform groups!

Toketoke enua

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

Through your column may I request both the Democratic and CIP Parties to publicly announce their policies firstly on import substitution and protection from those trade practices designed to strengthen monopolistic agenda, enhance market power and eliminate competition and, secondly, whether they intend to resist the lobbying which has seen the deferral of the enactment of a Commerce Bill since 2002 and get this Bill back into the House for urgent passage but first reviewing it as to its adequacy, in light of experience, as to:

1. Practices substantially lessening competition

2. Price fixing

3. Predatory pricing*

4. Use of dominant position in a market

5. Other restrictive trade practices

6. Price Control

7. Ticketing of goods

*the practice of selling a product or service at a very low price, intending to drive competitors out of the market or create barriers to entry for potential new competitors.

John M Scott

Muri

Dear Editor,

Over the past six months I have read with interest the articles on tourism. They range from the new appointment of staff, the leaving of the old staff members, the arrival of a dog, (Please, how is that front page news?) the media spin on the success of the Australian flight, the spin on how it is healthy to have staff leave and how the new direction is going to really make things change, the media spin on practically everything!

Now I see the tourism industry saying we have some new vision and direction, I am beginning to wonder if certain members of the industry suffer from memory loss or are just plain stupid. The plans that have been presented are no different from the plans that have been presented for the past five years. Strategic planning requires that you stick to the plans signed off by the governing bodies and that is what the tourism office had been doing for the past seven years.

It is a Government department governed by an Act and a Minister (be that a pretty useless one at the moment). Robert Wigmore do us all a favour and quit you have no idea what you are doing.

So to jump up and down dancing around saying this is all new makes me and others in the community laugh at your naivety. If these plans are new and fresh then I have sat in different meetings and am reading different plans. Nothing is new they have just been put into different templates.

As for impassioned presentations by the new CEO that is great, but surely you all saw the strings attached being held by the master of getting people to do what he childishly wants – Puppet Master Tata. The country was looking pretty good on tourism numbers before he and his band of so called tourism leaders called the board hit it.

No one’s puppet

(Name and address supplied)

Editor: It should be noted that the article on the dog referred to had nothing to do with tourism – it was a human interest story.

Sir Terepai Maoate. 10031720

Mann Short. 10082601

Dear Editor,

The upcoming run-off vote for the Demo candidate in Ngatangiia is the most important that our nation has ever faced. As a born and bred Ngatangiia person, I am hoping the people in our village think of our whole nation first before they vote Sir Terepai Maoate in again.

If he wins over Mann Short then he may very well beat CIP’s Ata Herman and be our MP again. I am very worried about Sir Terepai being in charge again.

He has dominated for too long. He has never admitted to the public his blame for his recent bad decisions. He continues to blame others. But the Toa disaster was his stupid idea. If he becomes an MP again he will have revenge on his heart.

He will then be free to cause his usual divisive politics inside the Demo camp. He will then be free to stride the national political stage and dominate our politics again and cause more damage. He has done well before but now in his 70s, Pai’s time has well and truly passed. He is too old now and should just retire with some dignity.

Let a new generator like Mann take the steering wheel. Mann has done heaps for our village in sports, youth, business, and for the environment. He can’t do worse than Sir Terepai who has done nothing for us for all the years he has been our MP.

If Pai does win this run-off then I will then have to vote for the CIP’s Ata Herman to do what I can to stop Sir Terepai leading again.

I am not a CIP or Demo but I used to respect Papa Pai’s work as Finance Minister when he used to preserve a budget surplus when all the other ministers were saying spend it. But that was then.

In recent years, he has wrecked our economy. We will all be paying millions of dollars for his financial failures for years to come. His poor decisions with Toa and appointing undeserving senior public servants to MFEM and CIIC, have shown what he is really like. Now he is just too old to lead our country. He should have stood down earlier as he promised he would.

His own run-off committee in this village have behaved poorly too. First they ignored that their selection of Pai was flawed. Then they have pressured people is this village to sign his own petition. Now they are running adverts as if they are the only ones entitled to arrange the run-off.

What about involving Mann’s supporters? It’s just more of the same old school politics that Pai was known for. Dominate, silence and revenge. I hope people of Ngatangiia voting in this run-off, think of our nation’s future and not just their party and family connections. Pai has messed up enough. It’s now time to send the tired, old political warhorse out for a well deserved rest in the pastures of retirement.

Ngatangiia local

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

After reading June Hosking’s letter on the qualities that make exemplary leaders, I am prompted to mention Mike Tavioni’s excellent translation of Desiderata on the TV the other night, which also has a message on leadership.  In Maori Desiderata makes fine poetry.

Desiderata also serves as a guide for living a fulfilling life so the programme comes at the right moment for the Cook Islands whilst we are in the lead up to the general election.

It is important for people to recognise that all systems undergoing change generally experience a bit of chaos before order is established. Our leaders will have to realise how critical it is to be the calming influence during this time of disorder and to avoid overreaction, defensiveness and anger in the face of it.

For those people not in the know, Max Ehrmann is the author of this inspiring prose-poem written about 100 years ago.  It starts

“Go placidly amid the noise and haste ...”.

Things to be Desired

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

Since the day you published my recent letter, I received numerous phone and skype calls and emails from readers there and abroad. Some, especially from the Tupapa electorate, admonished me that the MP for Teenui-Mapumai, Mr Norman George was not the only person who has made ‘informed and sensible’ views on the ills of the political ‘reform’.

They pointed out to me that the Independent candidate for Tupapa, lawyer Mr Tim Arnold did too; and better. I read the scanned copies of your reports of Mr Arnold’s views that they sent. I am happy to say that they are right.

This letter is to meet their requests that I make a correction. I am however not only going to make a correction, I am also going to acknowledge their opinions too that the Tupapa electorate and indeed our entire country, needs people of Mr Arnold’s quality in Parliament.

Joseph Ka

Auckland

NZ

Dear Editor,

I think it’s very unfair of you to print the letter from ‘Ngatangiia Local’ in your newspaper dated 23 September 2010, especially when Sir Terepai and Mann Short are just about to go through a run off. I hope you would give me the same opportunity to set the record straight with the people of Ngatangiia.

May I remind Ngatangiia Local, politics is a numbers game and majority rules. If the people vote Sir Terepai back in (which I believe would be the case) it’s because of the service that he and Aunty Marito provided for the people of Ngatangiia for the last 50+ years and not just 25 or 27 years.

In recent years Sir Terepai was the most hard working Minister (no offence to other hard working Ministers) and saved our economy. These are facts and the results can be obtained from Parliament. Let me give you some examples:

a) Passed the Anti-parting Act

b) Reestablishment of the Pearl Authority

c) Establishment of the FSDA

d) Worked hard on removing the Cook Islands from the FATF blacklist and succeeded

e) Removed import levies on almost everything and putting back $5.7million into the people’s pocket.

f) $1.2m cost of living adjustment

g) Passing  of the Official information Act as well as the complementary Media Standards & Code of Practice Act

h) Increased the old age pension putting back $1.3m in the pensioners pocket

i) Passing of the Manganese Nodules Act

j) Clearing the Sheraton debt and saving the country $42m

And the list goes on and on.

It was not the committee’s decision to do the run off, it was the main body’s.

At the last election, Sir Terepai promised four things for Ngatangiia which he has achieved already:

- Completed tar sealing the cross roads in Ngatangiia

- Assisting in the renovation of our recreational sports centre

- Assisting all non profitable organisations in Ngatangiia, e.g. sports codes, beautification, youth, church, etc.

No reira e Papa Terepai kia ngaueuekore toou arataa i ta Te Atua i akonoo noou, eiaa e manata i teia au ngaru rikiriki.

Patito Ngatangiia

(Name and address supplied)

Editor: In (a) the writer is probably referring to anti party hopping legislation; (g) is incorrect because the Media Standards & Code of Practice Bill was never passed.

Dear Editor,

I look forward to reading your on line edition on a weekly basis, however over the past two weeks the standard of electronic publication has slipped.

I could understand if this was a deliberate effort to encourage payments by reducing service, but I suspect it is not that, but just poor service by whomever produces the electronic copy of your esteemed, but oft maligned publication.

If things improve over the next month I will purchase a subscription so I can keep up with the daily happenings, and continual soap opera of the Cook Islands.

King of Brissy –

Nemesis of MFEM

(Name and address supplied)

Editor: We have hijacked the website by pouring energy and effort into developing a new online newspaper which will go live in the next month or two.

After much opposition from the Ngatangiia Democratic Party committee, advance voting for next week’s Short-Maoate candidate run-off has finally been given the green light.

Despite strong lobbying from Mann Short’s team to permit advance voting, the Ngatangiia committee was against it on the grounds that it would complicate the run-off.

Short is of the view that all eligible Democratic Party voters in Ngatangiia should be given the chance to elect the candidate of their choice and it would be undemocratic to deny people the ability to exercise this right.

For a Ngatangiia elector to qualify to vote in advance they must provide evidence of departure from Rarotonga before Wednesday 29th September 2010 by producing to the returning officer an airline ticket or e-ticket or a boat passage ticket.

The returning officer is Ngatangiia committee secretary Teroro Tapurau-Totini who is said to have been opposed to advance voting from the outset.

According to a list of rules compiled by the Ngatangiia committee, voting papers can only be uplifted from the returning officer. All advance voters will be given the opportunity to cast a vote by secret ballot for their preferred candidate.

“The Returning Officer shall keep in safe custody the sealed envelopes with the declarations attached and shall produce them on polling day,” states the committee’s rules. It will also be the responsibility of the returning officer to open all envelopes held by her, “extract (from) there from any voting papers, and deposit them folded in the ballot box.”

Advance voting has been a contentious issue between those supporting Sir Terepai Maoate and Mann Short. The run-off to be held at the Ngatangiia/Matavera Clubhouse is set for Wednesday September 29 from 12pm to 7pm.

• FSB

Dear Editor,

Since his appointment in March it is common knowledge that Kevin Carr has been doing a very good job as acting financial secretary, making big strides to improve the overall accountability and transparency of public financial management and, in the process, ensuring that the country’s financial situation is improved for the long term benefit of the people and country.

Appointed as Sholan Ivaiti’s replacement, it is apparent that through his tireless efforts Kevin Carr has restored much needed confidence and stability to the economy.

But I am not really surprised of Wilkie’s actions in getting rid of Kevin Carr. This fella who hails all the way from Tongareva is widely known to possess behavioral patterns that are deemed bizarre and strange to say the least. Notorious for making irrational decisions at the drop of a hat, the unjustified and shock dismissal of Kevin Carr more or less confirms what I have always thought of Wilkie. Two-faced, devious and paranoid in his own little ways.

As for Cabinet’s decision to support Wilkie’s proposal to terminate Carr? Well, this probably speaks volumes of the high number of numbskull politicians we currently have in government and the dire need for the voters of this country to support and elect new faces to parliament at the coming general elections. People who are educated, experienced, have proven ability, smart and who put the country ahead of themselves. The Tim Arnold type of guy.

I cannot vote for any government which sacks competent and experienced public servants who are only trying to do what’s best for this country.  The uncalled termination of Carr will almost certainly bring instability into the economy and is the final nail in the Demo Party coffin for me.

Today I have decided not to vote for the Demo party’s candidate in my constituency come November. This is not a threat but a commitment I have made for the benefit of this country. I hope other concerned citizens will join me in my protest against the Demo Party in its unwarranted sacking of Kevin Carr.

Time for Independents

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

To the Avatiu Premiers rugby player ‘A much closer eyewitness’, I can only say nonsense. You saw what you wanted to see, not what happened.

We have a video of the event. We know what happened.

We know Emile Mamanu was legally rucking at a player who was playing the ball, not “nowhere near the ball at all” as you say.

You also seem to have failed to mention the first punch thrown by your captain to the side of Tom Vea’s head (not called by the way), which is why Emile and your captain were grasping each other when Bilsy took his cheap shot.

Bilsy Gukisuva’s punch to the face of my son was a cheap shot, not rugby.

You say it has to be in retaliation for cheap play, but what is cheaper than punching a defenceless man? If any of what you said was true then why did none of the Arorangi players punch back after your captain and Bilsy both threw punches? Nah, you believe what you want to believe.

We have video proof, and now the police do too. That wasn’t rugby, and it wasn’t retaliation, it was assault, and it was cheap. Don’t blame the victim mate, it makes you look silly.

Any time you want to see the tape just give me a call, then maybe you won’t go writing letters accusing my son of dirty play and blaming him for getting punched by one of your teammates.

Nga Emile

Coach of the 2010 Champion Aroarangi Cowboys

Proud father of Emile Mamanu

Dear Editor,

I’m a frequent visitor to your beautiful island country who regularly keeps up with the Cook Islands news online. I’ve read of two seemingly different topics, roading upgrades and health concerns about obesity, and would like to suggest that these two issues actually are related.

The beauty of the scenery driving around the island could be used to entice residents and tourists alike to walk, jog, and bike if the roading upgrade also involved adding a walking/bicycle lane alongside but separated from the road.

This is the most economical time to do this while the roadwork is being done.

Bernard Fouke

Auckland

Dear Editor,

Your news item ‘Referendum is on’ published September 10, 2010, must have pierced the hearts of many Cook Islanders. They would have asked themselves too, why the Government stooped to the lobbyists whose ravings-on about referendum are opined not only to be erroneous, but also unmeritorious.

A referendum of the kind announced is a law-making or decision-making procedure whereby the electorate legislates or decides in place of representative organs.

It is therefore a very serious business – first of all, we are dealing with a power which is in principle invincible because it is supreme; and secondly, we are facing the risk of a certain irrational since this supreme power has absolutely no need to base itself on reason in order to prevail; and thirdly, that the people are being brought into a system unfamiliar to them and essentially unpolished; and as well as that the main concern is to guarantee the primacy of the policy-makers’ elite connections’ wishes and not the majority’s. That’s the evil of it.

The Government’s decision is in my opinion another asinine error of judgment. First, there is no pre-referendum legislation laying down a clear and detailed set of appropriate guidelines, options and rules to govern the announced referendum.

The Constitutional and Other Polls Act 1993 and the Constitutional and Other Polls Regulations 2004 do not provide these measures?

Second, the views of the electorate are not only uncertain or contested, but more importantly, the majority are untutored in the processes; and the subject-matter(s) of the announced referendum have not been gleaned for them.

Thirdly, the principle of good governance is that a referendum of the kind announced can only produce a satisfactory result if the issue(s) that is/are to be put to the untutored voters have not only been pre-referendum legislated, but also been clearly defined and widely discussed first – before a referendum of the kind is occasioned. Since all of the above principles of good governance and for a legitimate referendum to occur are absent, there is therefore no proper footing for the announced referendum to rest upon. That’s the other evil of it.

If the Government is truly serious about a referendum of the kind announced, it should not only do it properly first up, but also establish an independent body (a Referendum Panel perhaps) whose role is not only to oversee the referendum, but also to provide a voter education programme that would gain the voters’ trust that are untainted by any particular agenda.

Voters are not generally interested in, or aware of electoral and parliamentary systems, and the overriding need to prepare them for a referendum is therefore paramount. The establishment of an arms’ length body from Government would also enable the Government to campaign actively for one or both sides without compromising its position. Without educating the people first, and a body capable of correcting misleading claims by the competing sides; and adjudicating in factual disputes, the loser will be the poor muddled and disenchanted voters. That’s another of the evils of it.

I believe it is important that there must be public confidence in the neutrality of the conduct of the referendum if the result is to be accepted as legitimate, more particularly that the Government has pledged to support a specific outcome and the interests of MPs are directly affected. It is hard to think of a referendum to which this view cannot apply more closely than that of the kind announced.

Without the establishment of an independent body to oversee the referendum, the vested interest of the Government and MPs may serve to undermine the impartiality of its conduct since it is subject at the outset to no grounds rules, and already open to abuse, propaganda and duplicity.

The Government should take heed too of the silent and grieving voices of the majority who, unlike the faces of the lobbying groups, did not make appointments to meet with the PM. But let it be not misunderstood that the majority will certainly speak to the PM, not at an appointment in his office, but with the tip of their pens – on 17th November – at the ballot box.

Joseph Ka

Auckland

NZ

Dear Editor,

It’s a Sunday morning in the valley and the peaceful tranquility of our quiet neighbourhood is broken by the ranting and ravings of the ‘cult’ next door.

Prior to this ‘cult’ moving into our neighbourhood we used to enjoy the peace and quiet.

They have taken to annoying us even during the week and school nights as we try to get our kids to sleep.

Requests to them to respect their neighbours have gone unheeded and they use God as an excuse. The police are of no use because one of the members is a domineering policeman, plus their members don’t care because it is not in their own neighbourhood.

This is a ‘cult’ in a residential area, where they use a rental property to ply their trade.

One neighbour has resorted to playing music to drown out their noise; another has put their house up for sale. We are at wits-end on what to do, but we intend to fight for our neighbourhood. We have invested time and money for our little piece of paradise and this group has pushed the residents to their limits.

Hopefully something gets done soon.

The Residents of the Valley formerly known as “Happy”.

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

In reply to some of the implicit concerns raised about our schools in the Cook Islands, I would like to state my experience. My son came to Tereora College in 2008, after completing his Level 1 NCEA Certificate with Merit in New Zealand.

At Tereora he completed his Level 2 Certificate with Merit, passing all his external examinations with good grades. Meanwhile some of his former classmates in New Zealand had had five different Mathematics teachers in that same one year period.

Last year he had the opportunity to be a prefect at Tereora, as well as participating in a senior Geography trip to New Zealand hosted by various Cook Islands communities. He passed his Level 3 Certificate with Merit and as well gained a scholarship (Level 4) pass in Mathematics with Statistics, giving him direct entry to second year Statistics at Canterbury University.

The school paid the extra fee necessary for him to sit this examination and strongly encouraged his participation.

As well he gained entry to his first choice of a top academic hostel at Canterbury thanks to the reference he got from Tereora College.

My son is currently studying for a double BA/ BSc degree at Canterbury University and was fortunate enough to be asked to join the Cook Island Students Association. Far from disadvantaging him, his education here in the Cook Islands has given an extra dimension to someone who in the future is aiming to have a career in politics.

I am very grateful to the hardworking teachers at Tereora, both local and contract. They earn little by New Zealand standards, but are professional and committed to the welfare of our students. Our school may lack some of the external trappings of schools in New Zealand, but has what counts when it comes to up-to-date resources and knowledgeable teachers.

As well as working full-time at school several are completing post-graduate qualifications and Masters’ degrees in their spare time to up-skill themselves. Ironically some of our teachers have taught in the very schools in New Zealand that some of the local students are being sent to.

Professor John Hattie’s research study at Auckland University is currently the largest meta-analysis undertaken of some 180,000 studies worldwide of factors affecting student achievement. Hattie identified the three most powerful factors by far, which impact on student achievement as being firstly feedback, secondly the student’s previous ability and thirdly, the quality of instruction.

None of these directly concern the school attended, its social or physical environment, nor its prestige, high decile rating or otherwise.

Basically a stable student with some intellectual ability and interested, qualified teachers, who use good practice, is able to succeed anywhere, something which all teachers know anyway.

Paula Smith

Titikaveka

Dear Editor,

For the last two years I have been a part of the Cook Islands Police as part of a continuing development programme between the Cook Islands Police, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Aid.

My time has unfortunately come to an end and I would like to say thanks and make some comments on the Police Service in the Cook Islands.

During my two years here I have along with other New Zealand and Australian advisors assisted in the continuing development of the Cook Islands Police.  On behalf of all the advisors I would like to say that we have all felt privileged to be a part of this programme.

I personally consider myself to be a part of the Cook Islands Police Family and will continue to assist them wherever I can.

Charles Darwin said that it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor is it the most intelligent.  It is those that are most adaptable to change and during my time here I have seen a number of changes within the Police service.

There has been a change of Commissioners.  I thank both Commissioner Tasker and Commissioner Tetava for all they have done to assist me in my role.  They are both outstanding leaders and I have personally learnt a lot from both of them.

There has been a concerted effort in reducing the road toll.  When I first arrived on Rarotonga there were three road fatalities in three weeks.  In the last 12 months there have been three in total (still three too many) for the Cook Islands, one of those being on Aitutaki, and there has not been a fatality for 6 months.

There has been an improvement in planning and the organisation is more proactive in trying to prevent crime and crashes instead of simply reacting to them after they have already occurred.

There has been a considerable improvement in accountability, professionalism and pride amongst the officers serving the community.

The Cook Islands Police is regarded very highly within the Pacific and I believe that with the Vision that Commissioner Tetava has and the continued support yet to come that the Cook Islands Police is on the verge of taking a huge leap forward in the Policing service they deliver.

To the Cook Islands Community – Kim and I thank you for making our life here wonderful enough that we are very sad to leave.  We will definitely be back.

You have an excellent police service that you can and should be proud of.  I have not made any of the changes, the officers of the Cook Islands Police have done it all.   I have simply tried to assist in steering them along certain paths.

Do remember that the Police cannot be everywhere all the time and cannot do everything.  We always need the help of the community and other partners in order to achieve our goals and keep the community safe.  Also there may be times when you feel aggrieved at getting a ticket for speeding or things happen that you don’t agree with, remember it is nothing personal.  The officer is treating you the same as everyone else and attempting to make the community a safer place.

I may be leaving but the support is continuing and you will see some more Kiwi officers here during the next 12 months.  I am sure you will treat them with the same kindness and respect that you have shown me.

To the members of the Cook Islands Police – thank you for all you have done to make me and the other advisors feel welcome.  Although at times it has been challenging for all I hope you have learnt some of what I have been trying to preach.  Hold your head up high and be proud of the role you have undertaken.  Remember that no matter how good you are, and you are good, you can always be better.  Don’t sit back.  Always keep striving to get out of your comfort zone and keep improving.

Kim and I thank you all and we will be back.

Andrew Saunders

Advisor to the

Cook Islands Police

Dear Editor,

Where are our youth today? It looks as though they are all migrating overseas and foreign workers are coming in to replace them.

Why is this? It’s because of the low income they receive at the end of the week.

The lowest paid New Zealand job wage is five times higher than (the lowest paid) here. This is the reason – of course it is.

And is the food on Rarotonga cheap? Of course not!

So why are they leaving? It’s because they know they can’t make ends meet in their very own country so they leave for overseas with no desire of ever returning permanently.

The Cook Islands is one of the most expensive places in the Pacific behind Tahiti, with Tonga the cheapest in the Pacific. Why? Because government would rather spend money on sports arenas, when there is a auditorium in Tupapa that can cater for more people. They try to dabble in fuel – full steam ahead – rather than taking legal advice first, leaving us taxpayers, and only us taxpayers, to fork out $12 million for the next 10 years.

The winner is laughing his head off at our people and government and he’s still living on the island. What guts, aye?

Should’ve spent the money on a cargo ship so the levies will be cheaper and the outer islands can afford the shipping costs, plus we own our own ship – so that’s a start. But then again we are all ignored. Amazingly two months out from the elections who comes knocking at your door? The same person that knocked only once on your door four years ago.

Come on people don’t be fooled by these beggars, don’t look at the money side of things, vote someone in that will fight for you and your people to make more finance for your constituency. The opportunity is there. Vote in the ones who will split the votes – vote independent. We are the ones who will fight for your issues to be heard in Parliament because we are not a party, we are for you and only you. Let’s pave the way for a brand new Cook Islands, a brand new government and welcome in billions of dollars per annum for our economy.

Say goodbye to the $187 million budget. I have big ideas for our future within four years in Parliament. Vote me in and I’ll show you how.

Grant Young

Independent candidate

Titikaveka

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