Letter: Namby-pamby excuse for law change

We have lawyer Brian Mason to thank.

We have lawyer Brian Mason to thank for illustrating a point he made to Chief Justice Patrick Keane in the High Court whereupon his representation of plaintiffs who are current and former directors of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation seeking $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims against George Pitt and Elijah Communications, laid bare the fact  that jury trials are no longer an option for a defendant being sued because a powerful person such as former Member of Parliament Vincent Ingram had the law changed because of his namby-pamby excuse that he couldn't get a fair trial by jury because he imagined people didn't like him.

Can you believe it, this privileged so and so had a law changed that seems to have no serious reason or purpose behind it only to satisfy his own fancy? The consequences of this is one person is lording over all the rest of us.

That's the way it goes in the Cook Islands, all Governments past and present. have a long and inglorious record of stomping all over the civil rights of its citizens if they perceive you not to be towing the "company line". If you dare to stand up and fight they will look for ways to make your life miserable by either having you get sacked or try and sue you when you are in your right of doing your civic duty and whistleblowing their corrupt and immoral practices.

Steve Boggs.