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Letters to the Editor

Week ending Wednesday, 25 August, 2010

Send us a Letter to the Editor

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

Real reform debate needed
Horse complaints a worry
Festschrift for Crocombe praised
Sort out departure tax
Arise talented people
Support for Rule’s call
‘Plastic Maori’ words racist and ignorant
Disheartening
QR job for Sir Terepai
Stupid and violent
Audit out of line
Not reporting
Never too old
Teina rejects ‘attack’
Father spurns ‘drivel’
Setting playground record straight
SPG Funds diverted for what?
Put the tax in the fare
Run-off required by constitution
Time for a change is now

Dear Editor,

It has been encouraging to see the growing discussion, debate and consensus in the community regarding the fundamental need for political reform in the Cook Islands.

The key concern is that since self government over 90 per cent of Cook Islanders have voted with their feet and left the Cook Islands and yet 90 per cent of Tahitians live in Tahiti and 90 per cent of New Zealand Maori live in New Zealand.

In over four decades of self government, the system of government in the Cook Islands has failed to meet the basic aspirations of the Cook Islands people in terms of education, health and economic development leading to massive depopulation.

The current Constitution was written by the New Zealand colonial administration. It was written with the best of intentions. However, that was a time when most Cook Islanders lived a subsistence lifestyle with limited formal education and without air transportation or the internet that has integrated the Cook Islands into the global community. So much has changed and yet the political system remains essentially unchanged and out of step with all the other changes in Cook Islands life.

If the Cook Islands is to live up to its potential, so that more young Cook Islanders choose to live in the Cook Islands rather than in New Zealand or Australia, many changes will be necessary.

The most fundamental of those will be political reform to achieve a government that is more stable, democratic, efficient, effective and most importantly constructive in unifying the community rather than dividing it.

Under the current Constitution, only the 24 Members of Parliament have any say in the issue of political reform. Political reform is far too important an issue to be left solely to Members of Parliament.

Without real political reform the medium to long term future for the Cook Islands is most likely to be a continuation of the current trend of depopulation of roughly one thousand Cook Islanders a year.

The foundations of a better political system might include;

Direct election of the Prime Minister by all Cook Islanders; this would provide a clear mandate from the people to the Prime Minister as well as political stablilty; and

Prime Minister to appoint his / her Cabinet from all Cook Islanders not just Members of Parliament; which would increase the pool of talent for selection of Cabinet Ministers from a dozen Members of Parliament in the governing Party to over 10,000 Cook Islanders; and

Introduction of national seats in addition to the existing constituency seats; these Members of Parliament would represent all Cook Islanders and focus more on national issues of education, health and economic development rather than local constituency issues; and

Establish a permanent Political Review Commission; to (a) determine constituency boundaries that are democratic and fair (b) make recommendations for any further adaptations to the political system to meet the future requirements of the Cook Islands as required over time; and

Reduce the term of Parliament from four to three years; to provide the people with more frequent opportunities to express their political will.

Clearly, there is much to discuss, debate and reflect on by the whole Cook Islands community and any constructive, sincere and intelligent contribution to real political reform is to be welcomed.

Tata Crocombe

Dear Editor,

I have just read the letter to you posted Saturday, August 7 entitled ‘Horse lover’s plea’ regarding the Aroa Horse Riding. Have you had other complaints?

I have read a few reviews on Trip Advisor with similar complaints, last time I was in Rarotonga I did try to have a trek, I was staying nearby as well.

The sign said rides 10am and 3pm daily Mon-Fri. I thought two times a day I’d get a ride easy. But when I rang to book they were booked up for the Thursday and Friday so I missed out.

So, they must be busy going on a daily treks two times a day.

How have these other people on the treks managed? Have other people complained of falling off their horse or been bitten. Surely if some parent put their young child on a horse that kicks, bucks or bites aren’t they going to complain if the child fell from the horse? Surely some of the horses are safe?

I am returning to Rarotonga September/October and would love to book a ride. But as an experienced rider with my own horse, which I ride bareback and without a helmet. I’m a little scared after reading experienced horse lover’s letter of her recent experience.

Pat

(name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

Not having had the privilege of meeting the late Papa Ron in person, last week’s Festschrift for Ron Crocombe conference certainly provided me with a strong feeling of meeting him in spirit, a thriving and alive spirit, and getting a glimpse of a very wise heart.

As a social anthropologist and a ‘fresh off the boat’ newcomer to this part of the Pacific, I was deeply impressed by the quality of the papers presented on the USP campus during these memorable two days last week.

Wrapping up in a nutshell some of the most important contemporary issues, not just of the Cook Islands, but of all Pacific Islanders and island nations of the past, present and future, one could only wish for a stronger participation from executive bodies of Pacific Islands Nations’ governments.

Especially outstanding were the presentations on land tenure and the political developments in the Cook Islands since independence and the lively, thought-provoking responses from the audience afterwards.

This is true paradise here on the Cook Islands and there is so much obvious potential in the local people to improve the living situation for Cook Islanders and Pacific Islanders as a whole.

Let’s look forward and use the skills and expertise which are already here to make the Cook Islands a leading example of how to deal with the economic, sociopolitical and environmental challenges of our time. Just imagine having another Ron Crocombe conference 10 years down the track and some of the important visions presented here last week have become a living reality!

As book author Marianne Williamson aptly remarks “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Thank you to Ron Crocombe’s family and all the organisers and contributors of this wonderful conference! Meitaki maata.

Ilka Kottmann

Social anthropologist

University of Bremen

Germany

Dear Editor,

Okay, here’s the proof (see left).

$89 departure taxes from Australia, with at today’s exchange rate, that’s approx NZ$115.

Why then do all our visitors complain about $55?

It’s not the amount so much, it’s about peoples purchasing habits.

Have $55 included with the ticket purchase upfront (usually on a credit card) and people quickly forget about it.

Reach for your wallet at the end of your holiday and physically hand over the hard cash is a different story, that’s what annoys our tourists.

Perhaps Pacific Blue or Air New Zealand have a reason for not allowing this transaction to be seamless, but they don’t get away with it in NZ or Australia.

It’s sad that we spend so much money and effort to get our tourists here in the first place, only to slap them in the wallet moments before boarding the plane, nice last memory.

Please Minister of Tourism, sort this nonsense.

Sort it out.

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

Arise you talented young men and women of the Cook Islands and vote your tropical paradise in line with other major countries around the world. John Key Prime Minister of New Zealand, David Cameron, Prime Minister of Great Britain, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, Julia Gillard Prime Minister of Australia.

These are all young people in their forties responsible for huge populations and massive international and domestic responsibilities.

They sit in Parliament and congress a major part of the year, they don’t knock off in August and return after Xmas!

A Cook Islands youth party could adopt a slogan ‘ welcome to our world ‘  because it is their world that is moving forward, not the world of the seventy plus aged politicians.

Civil servants should all retire at 55, they have had their time and plenty of opportunity to establish themselves.

They should stand aside for local talent and to attract qualified Cook Islanders to return home from Australia and New Zealand.

Don’t let yourselves become ‘ paradise lost ‘ Get your A into G you young talented men and women before it is too late, act now.

Concerned bystander Vaimaanga

Dear Editor,

It takes great courage for any deserted partner to initiate a driving force petition, calling on the New Zealand and Cook Islands governments to establish a much needed reciprocal agreement for absent parents to pay child maintenance.

Rightly so, Moana Rule is sadly being driven by a painful shackled down desperation call for help. This is just one of the hundreds of circumstances, values, and emotions that can drive anyone’s life.

Quite often, we see people being driven by; guilt, resentment and anger, fear, materialism, and a need for approval.

But personally, I cannot categorise her intention under any of the above driving forces, but rather, a totally pure genuine call for help.

I am convinced that her plea is not a short-sighted goal, but a long term legacy. And to use an unfortunate circumstance from her own personal life to pave and install a better future for our next generation, is a marvellous purpose in itself. Without purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason.

Rule’s comments that her partner of seven years walked out on her, and their daughter in New Zealand, for a political career in the Cook Islands? Is this a joke? How on earth can anyone even considers fooling our Cook Islands people by entering into politics, and yet, he cannot get his own family life in order?

What kind of a man is he, and how can he easily walk away from his financial and moral obligations, unless, he is used to this type of uncaring behavior?

Statistically proven, the percentage for female deserters is rapidly escalating too. People like that will spend the rest of their lives running from regrets and hiding their shame, and eventually will be manipulated by inconsiderate memories.

They are hopelessly unable to help themselves, and will allow their past to control their future, and would unconsciously punish others by sabotaging the success of those around them.

People like this have nothing to offer our country, they have internalised vacuumed thoughts, based on the misconceptions that having more will make them better individuals, more important, more secure, but all three ideas are untrue, it’s just a myth.

If Rule totally believes with everything she has written, then, I challenge her to claim the freedom of speech privilege and expose her former partner.

The general election is drawing nigh, and every voter has the right to know who this guy is.

He has nothing to offer our country, but grief and a waste of space, and the whole goal of his life is none other, but to acquire!

Akaranga ia autara e, “Kia tangi te kuriri mei te itinga ki te opunga, e uri ki te akau, e a-itu kake akau teia”. Beware!,

Teuira Ka

Melbourne

Australia

Dear Editor,

This is a reply to Norman George’s statement about “plastic Maori”. Norman, in your undisputed position as Teflon coated prince of Cook Island politics and other questioned (but unproven) activities, I find your description of a “Plastic Maori” as directed toward our daughter Teina MacKenzie as both racist and crassly ignorant.

As most aware people know, she as a Cook Islander with six Cook Islands children whose future is threatened by you and your cohorts (whoever they are this week?!).

Her position has always been a political, only directed towards creating change where people like yourself can’t continue to use a dysfunctional system to maintain your personal desire for self aggrandizement.

You refer to Britain having 500 years of success with the Westminster system but conveniently forget that the system has continually evolved, whereas in the Cook Islands we remain locked into an ill written constitution that allows no change – to whatever our chosen 24 egocentrics decide to ignore.

Every election you promise to honour the public’s requests for change and every time it’s ignored. I guess when you only need less than100 votes, half of them are family and the rest you give jobs to, it does really bend the Westminster system a little bit.

Your comment about outer islanders – hello- in 35 years that I’ve observed, what have you done? The single solution to outer island progress has always been straightforward – reliable, affordable, regular shipping – and what’s been done? Zip!

My daughter Teina does care about that. Perhaps part of her childhood working in a taro patch in Mangaia affects her thinking. How about you, George, or is it all bluster?

Also Dear George, to paraphrase you loosely, if the ‘plastic generation’ labels FUTURE MPs as ‘dumb and stupid’ it’s only a reflection of the voters – right?

George my friend (as you always say in parliament) your reference to my daughter as being “modern day electronics prophets – they are mean, selfish, friendless and AKA papa’a – is not only stupid and racist but comes very close to describing yourself, and is only designed to generate animosity.

As a short, rotund, very white looking person called Norman George, I would have thought you’d leave the papa’a inference out of the discussion, Atiu warrior not withstanding!

Dear Readers, as you can see, I am less than happy with the Atiu stud and in particular the way he uses a perverted form of racism to create resistance and division amongst our people. I’ll leave further comment to my daughter on her return from NZ.

Don MacKenzie, Tupapa

Proud father of a staunch Cook Islands mother

Dear Editor,

I found the letters published recently regarding the Honourable MP Teina Bishop’s current behaviour, disheartening. The concerns raised are fair enough, but the forum used was somewhat inappropriate.

As he is indeed a politician, do we not have protocols for dealing with such matters more appropriately? Surely we have in place a channel of communication, better protocols, for people to raise their concerns regarding their MPs and party leadership?

Personally, I can see that as an MP for many years, the political instability and political pitfalls our country has exhibited in the past are finally taking their toll, or in his shoes are simply intolerable. I, for one, am not about to hold being human, against him. Whatever the case, I do hope that any concerns people have are soon dealt with, but with the dignity we all possess.

Annie .T

(Name and address supplied)

Editor: Correspondence on Teina Bishop’s alleged mental condition has been closed, but will be accepted for use in news stories.

Dear Editor,

We have been following the Demo Party happenings in Ngatangiia. It is now clear and proven, ie in the paper about this matter, that Sir Terepai Maoate and Marito cannot give, and will not give up the mana, ngateitei, o te politics, the limelight and public attention they receive.

This is very sad, because Sir Terepai should retire, he is old for politics, many times he said – we must give young people opportunities and be leaders for our country. Sadly again he is refusing to retire. Te akaroa e. We heard that a woman also wanted to put her name for the Demo candidate believing the promise by Maoate he will step down last election.

Editor, we have the solution, give the QR to these two, it has mana, status and recognised at public functions, this will and should keep them in the limelight and be happy.

To the Maoate’s Demo committee, what you are doing is wrong and selfish, you are only thinking about the benefits, jobs, etc for yourselves, not for the vaka or our country, please convince the old couple a gracious retirement from public office.

Otira ua

Tere, Moana, Tony and our small social group.

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

I cannot believe Don Mackenzie will react so stupid and violently to a philosophical argument aimed at the new generation of Cook Islanders.

There are thousands of Cook Islanders under this generational definition! Why does he think it is aimed solely at his daughter?

Is the plastic acronym racist? I simply put it forward as a summary of the age we now find ourselves. That means, the cyberspace generation with their cell phones and email. No personal one on one human interaction from this generation.

Nothing to do with race and other idiosyncrasies. Mackenzie, I don’t know what you did in your life or whether you have contributed anything to this country, just consider yourself lucky to be living here.

I will not lower myself to scrub the floor of exchanging insults with you. You are what you are, and I am what I am.

I intend to highlight areas which I consider worthy of public discussion, I do not need to prove anything to you. My good reputation speaks for itself; I am not racist and will not alter my ways for you or anybody. You don’t elect me into Parliament, my supporters do.

Just one piece of advice. Don’t get drunk when you write nasty letters to the editor.

I will not respond to any further sickening letters from Mackenzie, as I have better things to do, to serve my electorate.

Norman George

Atiu Warrior

MP for Teenui Mapumai

Dear Editor,

I see the director of audit gets all touchy when he is questioned or his reports are commented on.

He put volumes of his unchallenged verbal diarrhea out to the public but feels that we are actually interested in how he feels about his country, how difficult his job is and, here is a good one, ‘without fear or favour’.

Unfortunately, this line is often used (or misused) by the likes of audit. They should FEAR the hard won rights that we have in this country and FAVOUR common sense. The Cook Islands Aviation Security down at the airport is an example of an organisation which lacks common sense (I will expand on this later if asked). A wise man once told me, you don’t solve a problem by destroying another person.

Editor, when was the last time a ‘Statutory Officer with Jurisdiction’ eg a judge of the courts, used the media for balance? The reports were tabled in Parliament, therefore they’re up to the respective Minister to defend or comment on.

The tabling or publishing of reports and or findings of Government Departments and Statutory Authorities immediately terminates that authority’s professional involvement. Any outburst such as from Audit in the paper on Friday August 13 is ultra vires and the Director should therefore resign forthwith.

So, shut up Paul, your side of the story is out there. The Maoate MPs responded in kind. They have a right to do this (FEAR), and we have the right to make up our own minds through commonsense (FAVOUR).

Uncle Bob

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

When is a TV sports report not a report – on the CITV Breathe programme, that’s when.

Apparently CITV has no reporter competent to deliver commentary and simply runs a video with music followed up by a ‘summary’ from wannabe ‘personalities’.

During the Youth Netball it was so much more informative when Sam’Gumpy’ could provide some live commentary.

Thanks to Matariki at Cook Islands News we can enjoy some learned comment as well as results.

Lulu

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

I’d like to make it clear for Tere, Moana & Tony and your small group, it is not Sir Terepai Maoate and Aunty Marito that are wanting to continue, it’s the majority of the people of Ngatangiia, for many reasons.

Just to name a few: With the support of Aunty Marito, Sir Terepai provided Ngatangiia community with financial and physical support in all areas such as sports codes, church, youth, women, beautification, culture, functions (weddings, funerals, birthdays, etc) and so on.

This is greatly appreciated by the people of Ngatangiia hence the reason why we continue to ask them to stand for the people of Ngatangiia. There is a saying you are never too old or young to serve your people.

Kia Tiratiratu

Patito Ngatangiia

(Name and address supplied)

Political reform campaigner Teina Mackenzie. 09102303

Dear Editor,

I returned from two weeks in New Zealand to be advised that Norman George had personally named me in an article – referring to me as a “plastic maori”.  I have since read the article in which he made his remarks and read my father’s reply and then Norman’s response to my father.

In the first instance, I welcome dialogue with any person, be it a current MP or otherwise, to discuss my interest and support for political reform.

I ask Norman George to contact me on 55742 to discuss same. Only then can he make an informed remark about what I am standing for and why. Cataloguing me is premature.

On the matter of Norman’s response to my wonderful father – I didn’t understand it. My recent memory of anything to do with Norman George was an article when he was speaking of the Slush Fund trial and the effects on his family. Norman, of all people, should understand that families support each other and without that there is nothing.

My father defending my right to seek a better system of government was warranted and inevitable, especially to an article that was so “left field” that I still wonder how I was dragged into it.

I am not naive, I didn’t think that being interested in supporting aspects of political reform would not garner some misplaced hostility but I certainly didn’t expect an attack on my person – which, inevitably, is an attack on my family... all six of my Cook Islands children, my siblings, parents, in-laws, cousins, friends etc.

For that, I am upset but for the comments made about my being a “plastic maori” I just say: whatever.  Looking forward to hearing from you, Mr George. This ends my dialogue with you through the media – I prefer face to face dialogue on matters of importance.

Teina Mackenzie

Mou Piri founder

Dear Editor,

I also have no further desire to listen to Norman George’s insults, however I’m pressured to respond to his latest defamatory rant by the dozens of people who have approached me personally, by phone and, dare I say it, email.

To simplify matters I shall put Norman’s verbatim comments in capitals. His letter on Saturday asked “WHY DOES HE THINK IT IS AIMED SOLELY AT HIS DAUGHTER?” His earlier statement was “MOU PIRI LED BY TEINA MACKENZIE ARE PART OF THE NEW PLASTIC GENERATION “ and “ THESE PLASTIC MAORIS – MODERN DAY ELECTRONIC PROPHETS – THEY ARE MEAN, SELFISH, FRIENDLESS, AND AKA PAPA’A end quote.

Norman, that’s why I and many readers know your comments were directed at Teina specifically. They were demeaning, inherently divisive, with racist overtones and absolutely without foundation in truth or merit.

As a proud father I obviously could not countenance such insulting drivel driven mainly, I think, by your well documented and absolute rejection of any form of parliamentary reform.

Readers, Norman asked if my wife and I have contributed anything to this country .Yes, we feel our main contribution was in fact to bring our educated and talented family home to the Cook Islands, raise families and part way help offset the population drain orchestrated by the present collection of old men in power who continually refuse to allow the country to move into this century and thereby retain our youth.

Further as a manuiri (just like Norman I expect) I do feel lucky to live in Rarotonga but of course that also is a result of a lot of effort by my wife and I. We have only brought to this country, never taken anything away.

Finally, dear readers, “DON’T GET DRUNK WHEN YOU WRITE NASTY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR end quote. Where was he coming from and what condition was He in when he wrote that, I wonder. I suspect that is really close to a defamation lawsuit, don’t you?

Just musing, but I wonder could the ADB fund an MP’s training course to help them use telephones, faxes, computers etc, maybe they could cut down on their support staff and catch up to the rest of us. Regards and thanks to all of you for your moral (and I stress that word) support.

Don Mackenzie

Dear Editor,

“For the record the Cook Islands Investment Corporation was never responsible for the upkeep and care of the Punanganui Market Playground.

The timing of events in our minds was therefore as follows.

On or about 10am on Tuesday morning last week I received a telephone call from a concerned parent regarding the state of the playground. During the telephone conversation there was a brief discussion about responsibility.

At the time I was not aware, nor entirely clear, as to who was responsible for the care and maintenance of the playground and advised the concerned parent accordingly. I also advised the concerned parent, amongst other things, that I would: (1) Have our repairs and maintenance manager inspect the playground; (2) Enquire as to who was responsible for the care and maintenance of the playground; and (3) Call the concerned parent back once I had a better picture of things.

By 2pm that same day, we had: (1) Inspected the playground; (2) Determined that the Corporation was not responsible for the playground; and (3) Called the concerned parent back.

Notwithstanding the issue of responsibility we had also by 2pm engaged Conrad Hunter at Raro Welding to undertake work to immediately make safe the playground. We also asked Conrad to undertake a full inspection and scope of pipe and welding work that was needed to be done.

During the call, at about 2pm to the concerned parent I advised her as to what action we had taken so far. I also advised this concerned parent that considering the Budget Committee recommendations which would make the Corporation responsible in future for the market (and therefore the playground as we always treated the playground as an extension of the market) the Corporation would undertake the necessary repairs to the playground.

It was then during that call that I was asked by a concerned news reporter for an interview for an item that concerned news reporter was doing. Despite asking the concerned news reporter what the angle of the item might be and to clarify what it was exactly I was being asked to comment on, she declined. Accordingly I declined the interview as I had no further comments to make other than the comments I had already made to the concerned parent.

On a more constructive note the working bee on Saturday was a great success. While there is still a bit to do I think it is fair to describe the playground as safe. We have implemented a simple ongoing maintenance plan and over the next days and weeks we will complete other works. Thank you to all the team from Rotary and a host of others volunteers that attended. Special thanks must go to Conrad Hunter – Raro Welders, Andy Olah – Timberland, Noo Baker – Baker Tree Services and Colin Burns – Cook Islands Printing”.

Lloyd Miles

Legal Manager

and acting Chief

Executive Officer

Cook Islands Investment

Corporation

Editor: The writer is referring to a CITV/Cook Islands Herald reporter.

Dear Editor,

The news that there is a $300,000 dispute between the local sports association known as CISNOC and government comes as no surprise.

Sir Geoffrey Henry’s statement in CI News on August 21 that CISNOC was asked to step in by the Pacific Games Council is an incredulous spin on the true happenings.

We had the Cook Islands Government with its established games company known as SPG 2009 Ltd set up with staff for the purpose. It had funding allocated by central government before, during and after the games. And it was government which had contracted to deliver the games – not CISNOC.

The government owned company was supposed to receive huge sums in sponsorship as a result of endeavours by companies owned and operated by the likes of Nick Henry, Karla Eggelton and John Tierney. Payments were made to pursue sponsorship.

The promises of sponsorship were fantastically high and over $200,000 was forecasted from fundraising by Cook Islanders resident in New Zealand where Mr Henry and Rosie Blake went on two occasions to organise it. The actual receipts did not even cover the travel and fee costs of these two. Is it any wonder no one wants to prepare accounts now which would show the sad outcome?

So what did they do instead? Well, they collared the $300,000 being pursued by government to make up for their own failings. Sir Geoffrey Henry’s suggestion that they were asked to step in is admission of guilt. “Stepping in” did not mean the CISNOC organisation could divert $300,000 of funds from visiting countries to an account operated by it. Which person in CISNOC instructed visiting countries to do that? Was it a local advisor to Sir Geoffrey Henry – the same person who is the Treasurer of the South Pacific Games Council? Did he act with a conflict of interest undisclosed to government? Did CISNOC get the agreement of government to divert the overseas country per diems? And what was the expenditure of those funds? Has any of that money propped up CISNOC itself since September 2009?

Per diems are clearly contributions for the food and lodgings of the visiting athletes. The likes of Trader Jacks and Salsa Caf were the caterers. However, I suspect CISNOC paid its own preferred customers out of the $300,000 otherwise known as conflict of interest.

There is surely a case for investigation here. On the legal side let’s hope government gets better advice than was obtained in the Toa saga.

Who paid the baker?

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

I write regarding your article about the possibility of reducing the departure tax.

Yes, it does cause a lot of complaints, not least on TripAdvisor. But I really wonder why the tax is not incorporated with the air fare. The departure taxes in other countries such as Fiji and Norfolk Island and from London (Heathrow) are higher than Raro’s but you never see a complaint as people don’t notice them or don’t bother too much as they are paid in advance. There were also complaints at Auckland until it, too, put the tax into the airfare.

It’s when people are leaving and have to pay what they regard as an unreasonable amount, particularly if they have spent most of their money.

Please think about it.

Frequent visitor from Auckland

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

The proposed run-off to decide the official candidate for the Democratic Party for the Ngatangiia constituency on Wednesday is based on the requirements of the constitution of the Cook Islands Democratic Party. Under article 17 (b) it states:

“The Constituency Committee shall give sufficient public notice of the place, date, and time fixed for the receipt of nominations of candidates for the Constituency concerned and the place date and time fixed for the election of the successful candidate to represent the Party in the coming election or by-election as the case may be.”

No amount of explaining or belittling or double talk can remove the fact that the Sir Terepai Maoate selection did not comply with the requirements of the Party constitution. No public notice was given of the time and place fixed for the receipt of nomination and no public notice was given for the date or time fixed for the election of the candidate. The committee simply rammed it through in one meeting way back in May without letting supporters know that it was on.

They ambushed the unsuspecting Mann Short and Stephen Peyroux at the meeting and it is childish to say that they were given the chance to put their name forward at the meeting when they were lambs to the slaughter. It was sprung on them and they did not have a show of getting elected when they had no support there. That whole episode is crass, ugly and not too bright – it is not what you do to supporters.

That is why the constitution requires that sufficient public notice be given so that intending candidates be given enough time to organise their support for the election.

Now we could easily walk away from this fiasco and that will be the end of the matter and they will get away with it but we have decided that we are not going to allow this blatant abuse of the rules of the Party to go on unchecked especially when the committee knew there were people interested in standing so we have decided to make a stand.

We have asked the committee to have a proper run off as required by the constitution and they refused. We do not enjoy doing this but we hate to see this kind of thing going on when the party committee deliberately screws up the rules for their own wrong selfish and deceitful purpose.

The Party Executive has no option but to uphold the constitution because they too are bound by the constitution and must follow it.

We hope we do not have to go to the Courts to force the Party to follow its own constitution because it will be a waste of time and money.

Iaveta Short

Dear Editor,

The inability of government to make sure that the continued water drainage problem along the main road directly across from Chilli’s Bar in the village of Tupapa is properly fixed is glowing testament of the dismal performance of the Demo government during the last four years in power.

Every time it rains the stretch of main road running from the outpatient hospital to the Tupapa meeting house becomes half flooded.  Asides from becoming an obvious eye sore, these half flooded roads become a real danger to both motorists and pedestrians.

After all these years in power why has the Demo government failed to perform even the simplest of tasks?  Why is this job so hard to fix?  What is the problem?  Surely any knuckle-head can figure what is causing the drainage problem and how such a problem can be repaired once and for all?

With an annual national budget running close to $200 million, it really disgusts me just how little the Demo government has got to show for this after four long years. For far too long this country has been governed poorly, with resources not being channeled to areas where there is an obvious national need.

Time for change.  Time for the voters to get away from selecting the usual bunch of greedy, self-centered deadbeats to run this country.  The time has come to vote for people who have proven ability.  The type of person who has a genuine commitment to do what’s best for the long term good of the country.

Concerned voter

(Name and address supplied)

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