Re: Sir Gavin Donne, highly revered Chief of Justice and first Queen’s Representative of the Cook Islands. I write to record my disgust and repudiation about the article titled “The Last Pooh Bah” written by Thomas Wynne last Saturday, 18 November 2023.

This is a rude, scurrilous, cruel description of a man who saved and brought democracy back to the Cook Islands.

The government was not handed to Sir Thomas Davis by the Court. The Democratic Party led by Papa Tom won the General Election in 1978 when an electoral petition heard by the Electoral Court ruled that six charter flights by the Cook Islands Party led by Papa Arapati using public funds to pay for the charters was not only theft of public funds but bribery of electors. All the votes of the fly-in voters were declared invalid and rejected. The Judge was Gavin Donne then Chief Justice of the Cook Islands.

Papa Arapati subsequently pleaded guilty to a theft charge and was sentenced to a three-year probation. The important thing is that he did not go to prison. Yes, he was barred from being involved in politics for the next three years. Lloyd Brown was Papa Arapati’s lawyer, not Kevin Ryan. Your belittling of Kevin Ryan is very insulting, Kevin was a well-known Auckland lawyer with a big reputation for being successful and respectful. Many of us knew Kevin. Cut it out Mr. Wynne.

On the question of appointing Justice Donne as our first Queen’s Representative, that was decided because our people were so divided, Chief Justice Donne was the most neutral. It was our people’s choice, not a pooh bah demand. The important and historical gain of the appointment was to remove the position of QR from the New Zealand High Commissioner to a person of our choice. The same applies to knighthood. It was our choice, not a pooh bah act. That laid the precedent for all knighthoods to be awarded to QR and now KR appointees.

Thomas Wynne, you owe the Donne's family an apology.

Your next grudge is the removal of the knighthood. Your argument ought to be with Buckingham Palace, only they give and take knighthoods away. Do a thorough fact check on your work in the future.

We are also delighted and in full support of the pardon granted to Papa Arapati.

Norman George

Founding member of the Democratic Party