Local
PM won't comment
Saturday 22 May 2010 | Published in Local
Once again prime minister Jim Marurai (above) has refused to speak to CI News on an issue of enormous concern to the Cook Islands people. There will be no word from the PM on Toagate, despite repeated requests for comment or for reassurance for the Cook Islands people from the nation’s leader. The prime minister’s […]
Dog identifies drugs at airport
Saturday 22 May 2010 | Published in Local
Police and customs have arrested a 20-year-old male after he was identified by the police drug dog at the airport on Tuesday night. The person was a local returning from overseas and found to be in possession of cann- abis. “This is a warning to others that the authorities are taking a hard stand at […]
Workers want justice
Saturday 22 May 2010 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Workers Association (CIWA) says someone needs to be brought to justice and made to pay the penalty for the Toa Petroleum debacle. In a statement CIWA president Anthony Turua said Tuesday’s judgement in favour of Apex Agencies ranks right up there with other major corruption in the country, including the failed Sheraton […]
Mozzie spray 'basically useless'
Saturday 22 May 2010 | Published in Local
Melinda Ponga. “/> Concerns have been raised that the chemical the Ministry of Health (MOH) is proposing to use to control mosquitoes will be ineffective. Melinda Ponga, who led a campaign in 2008 to stop the government using the mosquito spray Reslin, believes that the proposed spray Key Pyrethrum is “basically a useless product” unless […]
Cabinet anticipates negotiations with Toa
Friday 21 May 2010 | Published in Local
Attorney General Wilkie Rasmussen issued a press release yesterday on behalf of Cabinet, explaining that government intends to open negotiations with Toa lawyers which he hopes will mitigate the effects of Tuesday’s court ruling. Under clause 6(b) of the settlement agreement that binds government to a particular payment plan, “the parties (Toa and government) shall […]
Scores apply for tourism jobs
Friday 21 May 2010 | Published in Local
Shortlists have been drawn up for the key executive roles at Tourism Cook Islands. Acting chief executive Halatoa Fua said yesterday there are 20 applications for the position of Director of Sales and Marketing, 40 applications for the job of NZ Manager and 20 for the post of Australia Manager. Chris Ingram resigned from his […]
Porter looks to negotiate with landowners
Friday 21 May 2010 | Published in Local
Apex Agencies director Brett Porter addressed the issue of Toa’s lease expiration yesterday. Tuesday’s court ruling granted Toa a yearly income top-up for the next eight years, but Toa’s lease on its land expires in 2012. Porter said that because the government has technically owned the fuel farm since December of 2008, when it entered […]
Sir Terepai 'selected'
Friday 21 May 2010 | Published in Local
Sacked deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate, who led the team which secured the disastrous Toa deal, has been nominated as Democratic Party candidate for Ngatangiia in the next general election. A meeting was called two weeks ago at Maoate’s own home and was attended by members of the committee and close family members. The […]
Toagate anger
Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Local
Wilkie Rasmussen The whole ‘Toagate’ saga was a disaster for the government from the very beginning, but the stubbornness and persistence of former Finance Minister Sir Terepai Maoate dragged this country into a deep hole. “/> The whole ‘Toagate’ saga was a disaster for the government from the very beginning, but the stubbornness and persistence […]
Nation to work to fill Toa's coffers
Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Local
Steve Anderson’s statement on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce says that grave errors on the Toa deal will have Cook Islanders paying taxes straight to Toa for years to come, as well as slashing budgets for health and education. “The Toa Deal is an abomination,” Anderson says. “That this deal should have been struck […]
George blames debacle on Demos
Thursday 20 May 2010 | Published in Local
Norman George, CIP spokesman for Finance and Economic Development, called the Toa decision a “riveting blow” for the people of the Cook Islands. George pointed the finger at the Demo government, which he said buckled under pressure from Sir Terepai Maoate to enter first into a heads of agreement to purchase Toa, and then into […]
Demos may elect new leader at conference
Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Local
A change of leadership is a possible outcome at the May 31conference organised by a faction of the Democratic Party. A CI News letter writer suggests that the conference will set off further fireworks in the Demo camp. The writer claims that Sean Willis and Deputy Prime Minister Robert Wigmore plan to oust the current […]
Fiji flights discussed
Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Tourism board member Robert Skews and board chairman Tata Crocombe are this week talking with the executives of Fiji’s national carrier Air Pacific about the possibility of flights from Nadi to Rarotonga. Skews and Crocombe are currently in Fiji attending the Bula Fiji Trade Exchange and have taken the opportunity to meet with […]
TOA WINS!
Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Local
Yesterday, Chief Justice Tom Weston delivered the most anticipated court ruling of the year – a final decision in what has become a major public scandal. The Toagate debacle has prompted the sackings of key government officials and the shuffling of others, and has already cost the country more than $2 million. Yesterday’s ruling could […]
Joint EU visit
Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Local
Officials from a delegation of the European Union (EU) for the Pacific and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will visit Rarotonga this week (May 17-21) to discuss current and future cooperation with the Cook Islands. The four-person delegation will meet with cabinet ministers and officials, including the deputy prime minister and minister of finance. Meetings […]
'It's a miracle'
Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Local
Friends and family of the four men missing at sea on the run-down Gypsy Trader were calling it miraculous when the foursome returned to Rarotonga yesterday afternoon. They were rescued from being stranded on Manuae, an atoll near Aitutaki, after their old fishing vessel broke anchor and disappeared out to sea. Times and details of […]
Norwegians celebrate
Saturday 15 May 2010 | Published in Local
Norwegians around the island will gather to remember and celebrate their motherland on Monday, which is Norway Day. Norwegian Grete Marsters has offered to host a function in honour of the holiday at her home on Monday afternoon. “It’s mainly just a get together, we’ll make a couple of Norwegian dishes and hopefully the kids […]
Warring Demo factions keep slugging
Saturday 15 May 2010 | Published in Local
The battle of the Democratic Party factions continues as MP for Tupapa John Tangi steps up his efforts to undermine the conference planned for May 31. Tangi, general secretary of the Democratic Party and recently sacked Leader of the House, says “Tupapa have never supported the conference”. He goes on to say that documents signed […]
Gypsy Trader lost at sea
Saturday 15 May 2010 | Published in Local
Local police, Search and Rescue New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Air Force are conducting a search and rescue operation to locate a lost fishing boat, which was scheduled to return to Rarotonga on May 9. On board the Gypsy Trader with captain Jo Seva, a former Taio shipping skipper, was a three-man crew […]
Call for help with promo
Friday 14 May 2010 | Published in Local
Cook Islands businesses are being asked to come up with discounts and deals to help attract Australian visitors on the new direct Sydney-Rarotonga flight. The call went out yesterday for help in promoting and making the new service – which is being underwritten by taxpayer funds – a success. Cook Islands Tourism issued the request […]
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