Friday 25: It’s a puppet show
Friday 25: Injury is hard to believe
Friday 25: Be accountable
Friday 25: She should have been disqualified
Monday 28: Audit clarifies Triad position
Monday 28: Real men don’t fit in
Wednesday 30: Selection policy was fatal
Wednesday 30: We’re under-prepared
Wednesday 30: It was superhuman effort
Wednesday 30: Thanks for help with study
Wednesday 30: Athletes come to us hungry
Friday 25: It’s a puppet show
Dear Editor,
The CEO of CIIC John Tini was suspended after completing great projects for the people of the Cook Islands in hosting the Under 21 World Netball and South Pacific Mini Games.
He was under enormous pressure from those in power, our sports people, and our community and from those who have nothing better to say.
To name a few of CIIC achievements under his reign: the world class Telecom Sports Arena (so much criticism and now it is done), repairing of the Tereora Stadium and schools for the Pacific Mini Games and Aitutaki Power Station.
While overseas he was suspended and this is how we compliment our own young achievers.
Those in power had no decency in saying thank you – but no thank you. What, he is not worthy any more?
First we sent him overseas for higher education, then he has come back to serve his country with great achievements under the leadership of some politicians using him as their hiding grounds when the storm is high and take the glory of someone else’s sweat – how sad.
We obviously have people in power today running a puppet show that needs to be investigated. They are the ones who are getting rid of the younger generations and sad to see young people are leaving because of these corruptions happening.
John Tini Jnr, you have done well for our country and I am to advise you STAND FOR THE NEXT ELECTION as a candidate for Amuri/Ureia and take your people over this hurdle. Teia toou tako ‘Papa ia e Purekua te meika, ka aaki koe tetai ta, ka vai rai tetai ta’.
As a Cook Islander living in Australia, we had Jean Matenga come to Australia working on a documentary of ‘Depopulation in the Cook Islands’. I feel these are the very things that stop people from coming back to the Cook Islands.
We educate our children overseas and with their qualifications and experiences send them home to be treated like this, it is a joke!
We heard the case of Aumea Herman serving in the health department being badly treated as a young Cook Islander.
`How many more young Cook Islanders like John Tini Jnr will be treated unfairly by those in power before us Cook Islanders wake up and realise it’s all for political gain and nothing less.
Let’s look at the positive things in our young ones rather than the negatives, we might find there are more positives than the negatives.
Our run down nation needs young blood or a new breed for the next election.
John Tini Jnr, let those who are burning your sacrificial fire do what they have to do because they are doing it for themselves and look at your people, how they have suffered for so long.
Your integrity will never be destroyed like this, because your good works have already spoken.
I hope you have not looked at leaving the Cook Islands as we need people like you in the next election.
Teurukura Maraeara Mataipo
Melbourne
Australia
Friday 25: Injury is hard to believe
Dear Editor,
Although I’m not a sports injury specialist, I must confess that when watching the PMG on TV two nights ago I found it very difficult to believe that Harmon had injured himself so badly after his second long jump that he had to be literally helped by two ambulance workers.
I mean, how on earth can a so-called fit, high performance athlete like Harmon hurt himself as a result of jumping into soft sand?
In preparation for these games surely Harmon has made hundreds of similar jumps during his many training sessions?
As someone who has survived numerous tackles, kicks, pun-ches, pinches, smashes, rucks, crunches, etc, playing both rugby and league on our rock-like paddocks without having to be carried from any field, I find it very difficult to swallow that Harmon had hurt himself when he landed into a sand pit that has been specifically designed and constructed to Olympic standards so that injuries can be avoided.
Seems to me that he took the easy way out and faked the severity of his injury.
Sportsmanship
(Name and address supplied)
Friday 25: Be accountable
Dear Editor,
I note with disgust the decision by Apex Agencies to sue government for $5 million over the failed purchase of its TOA Petroleum facility.
Even if Apex Agencies is not successful in its efforts to sue government for the $5.16 million agreed price for the facility – and I pray that it is unsuccessful – those senior government officials who were actively involved in the attempt to stitch the fuel farm scheme together and convince the minister of finance that such a deal was both feasible and possible, should be held fully accountable for their failed actions and made to resign immediately.
Otherwise this government should see to it that their contracts are terminated immediately.
Asides from a huge amount of time, effort, resources and money having been wasted on the failed fuel farm scheme thus far, this country now faces the bleak prospect of forking out $5 million to pay Toa Petroleum. All for nothing!!
Appalled
(Name and address supplied)
Friday 25: She should have been disqualified
Dear Editor
I write in disappointment that no one, officials or whoever, who clearly saw with their naked eyes, as shown on TV footage that night, how the much talked about 12-year-old Solomon Islands girl should have been disqualified from that race.
It clearly shows that she stepped out of the tracks, and there is TV footage to prove it, yet no one cares to mention anything about it.
The Fijian Girl who got the silver only slowed down at the end of the tracks because her closest opponent, the New Caledonian girl, was miles away. Is this the kind of officiating we are going to expect from the rest of the athletics tournament?
Come on, rules are rules. Give the Gold medal to the rightful owner – Sereima Liku!
Elma Marurai
Monday 28: Audit clarifies Triad position
Dear Editor,
I refer to Helen Greig’s article in the Cook Islands News on Tuesday September 22 in relation to the Fuel Farm interim order.
The article states that ‘the Audit Office supports Triad’s allegations’. This is a wide and all encompassing statement which does not truly represent the position of the Audit Office. I would like to clarify that the Audit Office’s support for Triad’s case is limited to supporting:
• Triad’s interpretation of the MFEM Act and
• Triad’s submissions in relation to opposing the replacement of the named respondent in that case with the Attorney General.
I wish to make it clear that other than supporting the submissions of Triad in relation to its interpretation of the MFEM Act and its opposition to substituting the Attorney General for the named respondent in the proceedings, the Audit Office does not endorse or support any particular party to these proceedings. Triad has a commercial interest in this case, the Audit Office, on the other hand, has a purely statutory stewardship interest.
Paul Allsworth
Director of Audit
Audit Office.
Monday 28: Real men don’t fit in
Dear Editor,
I believe that John Tini’s suspension was premature and did not result from due process.
Wilkie’s demise was another example of how competent go-getters are undermined in a corrupt environment that favours the status quo over true competency and achievement.
Several years ago, there was an island secretary who had vast experience in the building trades, a real worker who was key to the completion of a hospital project, a lovely hospital at that. It was sad to see him lost to Government.
This stuff is not at all helpful to Government’s ability to guard taxpayers’ funds. Will all of this lead to a day when the cabinet and the civil service are only open to talkers, takers, and fakers who blindly obey the directives of self-serving, incompetent, and corrupt maintainers of the status quo?
A real man gets things done.
Men who get things done are far more valuable to Government and the people than passive men who do nothing so they can make certain they do everything right.
Real Man
(Name and address supplied)
Wednesday 30: Selection policy was fatal
Dear Editor,
Despite winning the bronze medal, our national netball team should have performed far better than they did during the PMG.
Judging from their performances during the tournament, it seemed that a number of players in this team were not selected on current form but more on past reputation and ‘connection’ to the coaching and management staff.
And rather than look to up-and-coming players to make the squad, it seemed that the coaching staff appeared to favour those ‘oldies’ who have been around for ages.
While I will admit that these older players in the PMG squad were fantastic back in the years, there is no question that they really struggled to keep up with the pace, intensity and flair of their younger opponents during the PMG.
This selection policy, I believe, proved fatal with the team failing to bring home the gold that we all expected them to win.
Anyway, I hope that Cook Islands netball learns from the mistakes that the PMG netball squad made during at the PMG and make the necessary changes so that these mistakes are never repeated in future years.
Netball fan
(Name and address supplied)
Wednesday 30: We’re under-prepared
Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my concern leading up to Tuesday’s tsunami alert and the apparent lack of any public warning systems to alert the public.
Whilst the tsunami passed us by with little apparent effect, it could have been quite different if it had been stronger and/or hit the harbour during high tide.
I feel very strongly that we as a nation are still grossly under prepared in our emergency management procedures.
The harbour master acted very quickly in clearing the wharf early in the morning yet police and the weather office were in denial and saying that they had no knowledge of a tsunami.
Why did the police allow the crowds to gather at the wharf to watch for the tsunami, did they not realise the potential risk?
Compare the actions of the New Zealand authorities, they are much further away and the risk is somewhat reduced but they still took the threat as real. The death toll in American Samoa and Samoa is rising. I have been informed that it has made the network news in the USA.
Those of us that are required to be prepared are left alone to get our own information and prepare without the help of emergency management.
There is plenty of footage of people being washed out to sea by tsunamis, why do we and those in authority treat these warnings as a joke? And it won’t happen to us?
Just because it didn’t happen this time doesn’t justify their inaction.
Is it that our emergency management team is more interested in scaring us with big fines rather that doing real work to protect our people.
It won’t happen to me
(Name and address supplied)
Wednesday 30: It was superhuman effort
Dear Editor,
In response to Josh Mitchell’s letter, firstly an apology for my comments to Matariki being taken out of context. I am very aware of the superhuman effort put into these games by the whole Cook Islands paddling team, as well as the coaching talents of Romeo, and the achievements are reflected in the final tally of medals now displayed proudly at home.
The plain facts are that in no other sport does one country so comprehensively dominate all opposition as does Tahiti in vaka racing. The rest of the world can only look and learn then play catch up!
My comments on stroke rate were given to Matariki with the qualification that I am used to seeing Tahitian crews use a much higher stroke rate and I had no idea whatsoever why they were rating so low by their own standards.
This was more of an inquiring question that has now been answered and Josh was right on the money.
After quizzing one of the Tahitian coaches, he told me that their crews now have a high stroke rate only for as long as is required to open a lead, they then slow up to stop burn out and conserve energy.
What a luxury to have that much talent.
From me personally, a huge amount of respect and congratulations for doing the best job possible.
The girls were just amazing and I was in tears when congratulating them after the first sprint medal. I hope the Cooks national team stays together for Vaka Eiva as the racing will be sensational.
There is a very strong men’s team of Aussies turning up and it would be great to see a win over them.
I hope this now clears up any misunderstanding. Every time I am fortunate enough to see a Tahitian team race, I learn more in five minutes than I have in 16 years of paddling in Australia.
Harvie Allison
Team Cook Islands
Supporter!
Wednesday 30: Thanks for help with study
Dear Editor
To the people of Rarotonga and the Cook Islands: a big meitaki maata to you all. I am writing to thank everyone who has assisted my wife, Kath, and me over the past three months.
We arrived in Rarotonga at the end of June with the mission of completing my Social Work placement as part of my studies in New Zealand. I work in a Youth Justice residence for teenage males. Sadly, a number of our clients are of Cook Island descent.
My goals here were to learn more about the Cook Islands culture and to learn improved ways of working with our boys who are in serious trouble with the police and communities throughout New Zealand.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has assisted me in my study. In particular I wish to thank Mrs Teremoana Yala (from the office of the Cook Islands High Commissioner in NZ), Tamari’i Tutangata (Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) and George Turia (social work supervisor). Without the support and assistance of these people, my time here would never have begun.
Much groundwork was done over the preceding seven months to enable my placement to happen.
I must also thank the management and staff from the following ministries and agencies who volunteered their time: Ministry of Internal Affairs (Child and Family Services, Welfare, Disabilities, Gender and Development, Youth and Sport, and the Council of Youth. From the Ministry of Justice were the Probation and Prison Services. From the Ministry of Education, the Community Liaison Officer and the school counsellor from Tereora College. From the Ministry of Police were the Community Relations Division and the Family Violence Unit.
I would also like to thank the management and staff at the National Human Resources Division, Public Health, Punanga Tauturu Incorporated and the Creative Centre.
I would also like to personally thank everyone who volunteered to be interviewed as part of my study.
To all the shop staff who we have gotten to know during our time here, we thank you for your friendship and cheerful nature. Also Pauline and staff at the Tipani Rentals – thank you.
We will never forget the generosity of the people here. This is something we will take back to NZ with us when we return there next week. We thank each and every person from the bottom of our hearts.
I must also make particular mention of Bob and the staff and members of the Creative Centre.
My wife, Kath, has been volunteering there for the last three months and we have both been welcomed into the centre by every person there. We miss you already.
We must also thank the Aitutaki group for Te Maeva Nui who welcomed us into their performing group and we have got to know well over our time here.
We cannot possibly name everyone so we apologise if we have missed anyone out. An old saying goes like this, “There are no strangers here, only friends we have not met”.
I know we will miss our time here and the friends we have met and the family we have been able to reconnect with.
We look forward to returning here in the not too distant future in whatever capacity that may be (work or holiday).
Until then, take care and thank you all.
Gavin and Kath Smith
Palmerston North, NZ
Wednesday 30: Athletes come to us hungry
Dear Editor,
Further to your article in the Cook Islands News yesterday on issues with catering meals for athletes, we have been part of the BTIB Maruaiai Night Market since it opened and from day one we have had athletes (from Samoa, New Caledonia, PNG, Niue, Cook Islands, etc) come to us and tell us how small the portions are that they are being served, and also being told that there is no more food left and that the kitchen is closed etc.
It seems like they just want to be offered the basic food, rice, taro, maniota, vegetables etc.
These athletes are also grateful to have the Maruaiai Night Market open so that they can get decent food.
Maruaiai caterer
(Name and address supplied)
|
