Elected must govern
Be responsible on air
Getting out of this political mess
Elected must govern
Thu
28 Jan
A smoke signaller reckons the suggestion that the Prime Minister be able to appoint cabinet from all registered Cook Islands voters is a dreadful idea. “It looks as though it’s tailor-made for businessmen, lawyers, failed politicians and friends or family of the PM who want political power without having to stand for election. I know a lot of voters (including me) have complained that the government shouldn’t be running businesses. Well businessmen shouldn’t be running the government. Some of our Cabinet ministers have been disasters but at least the public have the option of voting them out at election time. They may not be very good but lawyers and businessmen who think that they’re the best the country has to offer shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the reins of power.Incidentally, the 1998 Political Review Commission recommended, after consultations on all the islands of the Cooks, that the PM be able to select ONE minister from outside parliament. I definitely won’t be voting for that particular ‘reform’.
GOBBLE GOBBLE
A signaller emails: “Asking politicians to reform themselves is like asking a bunch of turkeys to give themselves up for Thanksgiving.”
FLYING HIGH
“Rumour has it that one of the things Tata Crocombe would like the Cook Islands to have is its own international airline,” writes a signaller. “Has he ever wondered why those who actually know something about running airlines haven’t started one? Could be they were here when the country tried it during the 1980s. It lost millions – several Toagates worth per year. Of course if it’s such a good and profitable idea then Tata, the experienced businessman, could put his own money into starting one.”
Be responsible on air
Fri
29 Jan
Yesterday an irate smoke signaller writes: “Listening to 88FM this morning and even Matariki FM, it’s easy to tell that these people haven’t been in ‘service’ during cyclones yet. Nick Henry’s flapping was irresponsible, and caused one Arorangi accommodation operator to evacuate guests at dawn yesterday. These radio people need a lesson in responsible conduct during emergencies, as really they’re just amateurs who happen to have started radio stations. On top of the tsunami scare triggered by immature radio people at Radio Cook Islands, it’s clear we need standards and protocols for anyone on air at a time like this.”
TRIMMING MP NUMBERS NEEDED
It’s great to see the PM doing something about political reform, writes a smoke signaller. “But wait a minute! Ask most people what they want from it and reducing the number of MPs comes high on the list. The reforms that are being publicised include combining a number of seats, all in the outer islands, getting rid of five MPs. But then five new national seats are introduced so we’re back where we started. Where’s the reform in that? Could it be that the numbers are some kind of bribe to the MPs whose constituencies are under the axe? Sounds like a waste of time and effort. Why not also combine a couple of Rarotonga seats? Murienua was created fairly recently by the CIP as a reward for Tom Marsters, former party president. It should be easy enough to go back to the previous boundaries. Akaoa’s another relatively small seat. Get rid of it and also cut Aitutaki down from three to two. And if that’s too hard, cut down the number of proposed national seats. If you don’t reduce the number of MPs you’re just playing.”
A WASTE OF TIME?
A signaller has heard and seen over the last year how the rubbish collectors just throw everything into the trucks – despite some ‘environment-conscious’ people having separated their bottles, cans etc, and thought after all the latest publicity over waste management, recycling and being ‘environment champions’, that this may have changed. “Sadly I just watched from the window as all separated rubbish, including glass and plastic, was all thrown into the truck. I guess the recycle trailer on the back is just for show?”
RE-REBRANDING
“One of Tata Crocombe’s recent tourism board pronouncements is that he wants to look at re-branding the destination,” a signaller writes. “Now, wait a minute. The destination has just been re-branded and it wouldn’t have been cheap. And the new brand was presumably effective in boosting the number of tourists to over 100,000 for the first time in spite of the economic hard times overseas. Tata needs to come up with some pretty compelling reason why it’s necessary – unless he’s planning to pay for it himself, of course.”
TIGHT FIVE FOREVER?
A smoke signaller says: “The numbskull nineteen seem to have proved that they aren’t necessary as the five-member Cabinet is just getting on with the job. So how about this for really radical reform: one MP for Raro, one for the rest of the south, one for the north, a PM and one national MP? Think of the money it would save the poor taxpayers!”
NUMBERS DON’T LIE
One puzzled reader complained that it’s about time we talk about political change, “but when the five champion rebels do not have the confidence of the majority in Parliament, how could they succeed in making this change happen? Now who is kidding who? We the little people are not stupid.”
PICK ‘N’ MIX
One reader asks why our reformists still refer to the direct election of the leader as prime minister rather than as the president. “Are we talking about the same system or a mixture of the two?”
SNAIL MAIL
“With the impending hurricane I hope the post office responds better than it did the last time a hurricane hit Raro,” a signaller says “The last time, the post office was flooded and bags full of mail were left on the floor where the mail was destroyed. Get the mail to high ground please!”
Getting out of this political mess
Tue
2 Feb
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Kata Feb 2
Feb 2
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On the hot topic of political reform, a smoke signaller writes: “Why not pick a suitable number of seats and make them all national seats? Everyone has equal votes, the two parties can run their slate of candidates, and independents have an equal opportunity. We are no longer limited in choice. Even the political parties would have better choices for candidates. We only have a tiny electorate – we need to pick the best. And remember the politicians are only supposed to set policy, not pick who gets jobs. That has to change to decisions made by selection panels that are not overridden by politicians fixing votes and hiring family. For me, national votes gets us out of the mess we are in and allows us to reduce the size of government fairly, instead of months of horse-trading where the parties only want to eliminate seats they don’t hold.
NOT A FAN OF PARTY POLITICS
“I love Piho Rua’s comments,” quips a signaller. “Yeah let’s reduce the number of seats, just not mine eh? Perhaps we should get each island to pay for their own MP out of their budget...let’s see, with salary, travel and perks that’s about $1,500 per voter in Rakahanga...and what has he actually done for Rakahanga or the Cook Islands? All I can see is he traded his independent status to rubber stamp the Good Doctor’s activities. No doubt he would have been equally effective if the CIP had been in power. And no doubt he was really praying for an even split vote so his would have been the kingmaker vote –doesn’t party politics just suck?”
Keep the smokies rolling in! Smoke Signals will be accepted by e-mail (smokesignals@cookislandsnews.com), text to 188 or a phone call to the newsroom on 22999.
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