Letters for Thursday October 4, 2021

Dear Editor,     

I see that the police and Crown prosecutors are still using their heavy-handed ways in hunting down and badly treating alleged marijuana users and sellers.

This hostility and ill-treatment was on full display in recent Cook Islands News articles.

In all countries that have legalised marijuana, the crime rate and incidence of drug use has declined.

The Cook Islands Police and prosecutors’ so called war on marijuana has been a complete disaster. The ineffectiveness and absurdity of putting so many people in prison for marijuana offenses has prompted police chiefs, prison wardens and politicians all around the world to speak out in favour of legalising marijuana. But not in the gutless Cook Islands.

Many under legal prescription also recognise the injustice and foolishness of the system. Those who oppose current marijuana laws argue that they have not worked because the incidence of marijuana use has grown exponentially.

Everywhere juries are checking governmental power and abuse of its citizens and voting not guilty on marijuana charges. Jurors say they have a big problem convicting someone for using and selling marijuana. But the cops and the Crown continue to ignore that marijuana use is growing legal and public tolerance.

Don’t pay any attention to Trevor Pitt’s bad-tempered views on marijuana. He is out of touch with mainstream society, he is nothing more than a paid mouthpiece for the police.

Steven L Boggs

Turama day

As Catholic Cook Islanders, we celebrate All Souls Day, which is celebrated worldwide on 2 November, on November 1st which is All Saints Day.

We pray for the souls of all the departed and especially our loved ones in purgatory, which is a state of expiating of sins before going to heaven.

Although this is a Catholic tradition, a priest will go to any grave site by request to pray for the souls of the departed.

This was an interesting angle on this story (Turama – All Souls Day – remember and pray for loved ones who have passed on, Cook Islands News, November 2) but love our Turama tradition which brings all our people together to pray and share memories of our loved ones, who have passed on.

Eternal rest, grant to them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Agatha Tobia-Nicol

(Facebook)

Courage to speak the truth

I would welcome your comments on the issues we face as a country rather than your demonising of myself and Florence (‘Courage to speak the truth’, Cook Islands News, October 30).

At least for the record I’m not and have never been self-righteous, I just hate greed, charlatans, corruption, injustice, bully’s, hypocrites’, and people who don’t debate issues, but character assassinate. At least I sign my name and I have the courage of my convictions for all to see. At least I speak for those who don’t want to be assassinated and I have many supporters of my korero. At least I do pro-bono work in the community for gratis and to stand in politics graduates are not a given, but it helps and FYI, honesty, energy, team ethics and morals is a must. At least history is behind my rhetoric. At least if they did have long memories going by what we are having to put up with, those memories are very short indeed. At least if it was boring, you wouldn’t read it or respond, whomever you are. At the very least, ask around, I have a FB blog and you may be surprised and have your eyes opened as many Cook Islanders have found here and overseas.

Te Tuhi Kelly