Same old, same old
Jobs for the boys?
Where’s my backup parachute?
Same old, same old
Fri
22 Jan
A signaller writes: “Just got to love Henry Puna’s version of reform... ‘an opportunity must be given for the people to have their say – that’s reform’. Sure, but in the meantime it’s business as usual eh Henry? Same old party politics, same old politicians, same old practices. Same old results. Ninety days of pre-election promises followed by four years of zero results, whichever party gets in.”
MORE MONEY FROM ABOVE?
A reader whose home overlooks the airport says the huge new roofline on the terminal is quite imposing, faces north, and looks ideal for a battery of solar panels which could be used to generate income for the airport and could even take advantage of net metering. He wants to know if anyone’s thought of this and if plans are in place?
BE A WARRIOR
This smokie was received from one of our online readers in New Zealand: “How can a PM and his followers carry on governing without doing anything, outnumbered and frightened to call a Parliament sitting? Aren’t they wasting public money being paid doing nothing? Be a warrior and call for a Parliament sitting or become a chicken. It is theft to collect your pay, if you didn’t work for it. The Aitutaki referendum is too late, with voting in September.”
MONGOOSE MINING
Public service commissioner Navy Epati made it very clear his office had nothing to do with the recent advertising of the position of seabed minerals commissioner. “We don’t have a job description or any other details for the post,” said Epati. “My office had absolutely nothing to do with this ad. I read about it on Saturday when my Mongoose mates started ringing me up for a job description saying they all fit the criteria.”
KT TIME
A smoke signaller reading the advert on Wednesday inviting teachers and education administrators to attend a meeting at the USP which ended with ‘Kai tea available from 4pm’, wonders whether they had kai and tea, or simply kai ti?
Jobs for the boys?
Mon
25 Jan
A signaller writes: “The DPM’s defence of the Seabed Minerals Commissioner’s qualifications required conveniently doesn’t extend to explaining why the applicant must have held appointed positions on local boards, held an elected office at some time (??), be a recognized leader (??), and have a background in commercial fishing or diving. Could there be a more blatantly obvious attempt to ensure that this sinecure* position goes to a political crony? Ensuring a Cook Islander gets the job is probably a meritorious idea; ensuring an old political hack gets it, is nepotistic behaviour, extreme even by Cook Islands standards. *SmokeSignals: That’s an interesting word – let’s go to Wikipedia for its meaning...A sinecure means an office which requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service. Sinecures have historically provided a potent tool for governments or monarchs to distribute patronage, while recipients are able to store up titles and easy salaries.
BEACH BUM NOT NEEDED
It’s interesting to note that whoever wrote the letter “beware of seabed opportunism” complaining about the commissioner job advertisement, didn’t even bother to read the ad, writes a smoke signaller. “It said: ‘The successful applicants would ideally have...’ followed by a short list of desirable qualifications. That does not say that they ‘must’ have. The minister for natural resources, Robert Wigmore, explained that his purpose was to encourage Cook Islanders to apply. He said that he wanted a commissioner ‘with good sense who is marine-oriented and experienced in public affairs’. He made the point that he as minister would assure that top level experts would be available if needed. What can be wrong with that? Does Beware want some high-priced Pom to come and sit on the beach for three years at taxpayer’s expense? If Beware thinks that there will be dozens of companies seeking exploration licences in the next 36 months, one has to wonder what he/she is smoking.”
AIRLINE DENIES FAT TAX
The Cook Islands has gained a little extra media exposure, not necessarily in a favourable light, from reports that Air France was looking at charging obese passengers for an extra seat. Since 2005, Air France has been offering heavier passengers the possibility of purchasing a second seat at a 25% discount, to enhance their own comfort and safety. The airline said the only recent change to their policy on overweight passengers is to refund passengers the cost of the second seat, if the cabin is not fully booked. Air France said it would not force overweight passengers to buy a second seat, contrary to media reports this week. The Cook Islands got a mention in the media reports for our third placing as the world’s most overweight people – they like to remind us of this – as determined by the World Health Organisation. One good thing to come from that WHO report is that it seems to have been the catalyst for a concerted get fit/lose weight effort in our islands. In case you missed the WHO report, the world’s fattest countries are Nauru 94.5%, Federated States of Micronesia 91.1%, Cook Islands 90.9%, Tonga 90.8%, Niue 81.7%, Samoa 80.4%, Palau 78.4%, Kuwait 74.2%, United States 74.1%, and Kiribati 73.6%. Ranking is % of overweight adults (15 years of age or above) in total population. Overweight is defined as having a body mass index of 25 or more.
MAKING THE MONEY NEWS
If the overseas media isn’t mentioning about how big we are, as in the smokie above, it’s probably about how small we are. In a recent report on a court case involving the trial in the US of a former Florida broker with a lot of angry clients, The New York Times article begins: “The Cook Islands have a smaller population – about 20,000 – than one apartment complex in Manhattan, and an economy with little to offer except tourism and pearl exports.” The article, in the ‘High & Low Finance’ section titled ‘Basking in Islands of Legalisms’ continues: “But sand and sun are not the attractions for some Americans who have sent their money to the Cook Islands. Under Cook Islands law, foreign court orders are generally disregarded, which is helpful for someone trying to keep assets away from creditors...If someone who stashed funds in a Cook Islands trust asks for the money back because a court ordered him to do so, Cook Islands law says that person is acting under duress, and the local trustee can refuse to return the money. Over the years, a number of less-than-upstanding Americans have found the islands attractive for that reason, among them former corporate raiders, penny stock promoters and telemarketers who defrauded customers.”
FOOD FINE PRINT
A signaller writes: “Reading the small print on food labels is laborious but to some consumers very important to know what they are feeding their family. What is not always easy to find on the label is country of origin. Some rice crackers now come from China. Having seen baby formula poisoned on purpose by some in that culture, we would not knowingly eat anything at all from China. A warning label on the shelf next to Chinese foodstuffs would be appreciated.”
Where’s my backup parachute?
Tue
26 Jan
One person says he finds the current political situation of the five MPs (four of them Demos) and the others as funny. “The 10 Demos probably expected that when they jumped out of power, the other four to jump with them. That didn’t happen and where does that leave them now?”
THREE MONTHS TO GET JOB DONE
After reading the article on political reform put up by Tata Crocombe and Iaveta Short last week (which featured in the form of a poll), one signaller asks where one should send his answers? “Since it was run by Cook Islands News, should I send my responses to you?” SmokeSignals: Let’s see what you got. On the same topic, the same signaller says don’t waste time on appointing a ‘boundaries commissioner’ to determine constituency boundaries. “Just legislate the position, give the person three months to come up with something or get someone else. If you set up a commission, they will just appoint a loafer who will do nothing.”
SIGNING OFF
“Since Taraota Tom and his group no longer want a referendum on Sunday flights (I suspect they know it would have failed),” writes a smoke signaller, “does this mean all the ugly signs are finally coming down?”
KIWI PASSPORT AND GOVT?
A signaller asks voters if they are fed up with the performance of their MP, then they should consider whether the country should go back under New Zealand control!
FOOD FINE PRINT
A signaller writes: “Reading the small print on food labels is laborious but to some consumers very important to know what they are feeding their family. What is not always easy to find on the label is country of origin. Some rice crackers now come from China. Having seen baby formula poisoned on purpose by some in that culture, we would not knowingly eat anything at all from China. A warning label on the shelf next to Chinese foodstuffs would be appreciated.”
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