Dear Editor, Having read the Thursday, May 9, Cook Islands News main headline (Lewis takes helm at CISNOC) I can categorically confirm that the Office of the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC) was not in any way involved in the recruitment process of the new Secretary General of CISNOC.

I am aware that an OPSC employee participated in the CISNOC vetting process that your paper refers to. However, this was in her personal capacity and not as a representative of OPSC.  It is my understanding that this same employee has also served on other selection panels outside of Government and again in her private capacity.

On that front, I am extremely disappointed and concerned that the Senior Vice President of CISNOC had insinuated that my Office was involved in the recruitment process of the Secretary General position.

It was not and my expectations is that the Senior Vice President will retract his comments in today’s (yesterday) newspaper article.

Meitaki ma’ata

Carl Hunter

Public Service Commissioner

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I write with respect to the Cook Islands News article published on Thursday, May 9, on the appointment of the new Secretary-General of CISNOC. I wish to correct your article which implied that the Office of the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC) participated in the CISNOC vetting process. This is incorrect.

I was invited to the vetting process by CISNOC Senior Vice President in my personal capacity (and not as a representative of OPSC) as I had served on other selection panels outside of Government and the Cook Islands. Therefore, I wish to reiterate that in no way did I represent OPSC in this process.

I am extremely disappointed that my personal capacity of participation in this instance as stated by the implication that I represented OPSC. I expect CISNOC to issue a correction to today’s (yesterday’s) newspaper article and remove all comments relating to OPSC.

Vetting Panellist – Private Sector Representative

(Name and address supplied)