Following on from Reuben Tylor’s very informative article in the Cook Islands News on where he highlights the dramatic decline in fish catches around Rarotonga, the voting public needs to remind all Members of Parliament that they are elected by the people to first and foremost look after the interests of the people.

Giving away fishing licences to so many different foreign agencies to rape and pillage our fish stocks, for what amounts to peanuts in financial returns, almost amounts to criminal neglect.  

The ministry in charge of marine activities should also be reminded that, while not elected by the public, they too have a fundamental responsibility to the people of the Cook Islands.

Indeed, it is the people who pay their salaries.

Don’t forget that you are public servants.

Of course it may be that all these (highly paid) MPs, and (highly paid) public servants are paid so much money, that forking out $40 for a kilogram of fish doesn’t even dent their personal finances.

Time for elected officials to start making intelligent decisions about who they should be prioritising, the Cook Islands people or foreign interests.

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