As we are all aware, the Government has set up a select committee and have asked for public submissions on a proposal to make the Cook Islands an exclusive Christian nation, writes Te Tuhi Kelly, leader of the Progressive Party.

A purely political move in my opinion. There is no need for this select committee at all. We have human rights conventions we have signed up to and our Constitution expressly denies this sort of nonsense.

As the select committee is addressing an issue already covered by our constitution and international human rights conventions, why the need for such nonsense you might ask?

I suspect that it seems like a way to stall, distract, or perhaps even pander to certain groups rather than resolve anything meaningful. As our constitution and signed conventions already set the standard, there shouldn’t be a need to revisit, or debate established principles of human rights and inclusivity.

This kind of move can sometimes be a way to appeal to those who might feel uneasy about societal changes, using the guise of consultation to appease them without taking meaningful action. It can also open the door to undermining rights that have already been agreed upon, depending on how it’s framed.

We have had to put up with this sort of nonsense from CIP and Demo led governments for decades, it’s time for this nonsense to stop once and for all. The focus should be on upholding the principles we have signed up to.

Our MPs need to get themselves better educated and they need to tell their people straight, that we have rules, laws, signed conventions and that we value diversity, and we will not tolerate intolerance or moves to promote injustice in any way shape or form.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) for Matavera, was quoted as stating we are a Christian nation. The reality is he is just as undereducated about what that actually means along with most Cook Islanders and most if not all politicians.

Come on Toti you can do better than that. If you are going to quote the Constitution of the Cook Islands to shore up your response, do so accurately.

I have written this so many times that people whom I believe are intelligent still fail to grasp that we are not a Christian nation as they believe. Often times misquoting our Constitution. Again, here is what it says:

“We, the people of the Cook Islands, recognising, the heritage of Christian principles, Cook Islands custom, and the rule of law, remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day, being that day of the week which, according to a person’s belief and conscience, is the Sabbath of the Lord.”

We are a nation of mostly Christian believers not a Christian nation. There’s a meaningful distinction between being a “Christian nation” and a “nation of mostly Christians”. The phrasing in the preamble of the Cook Islands Constitution, supports my perspective.

While it acknowledges the “heritage of Christian principles” and customs, it doesn’t declare the Cook Islands as a theocratic Christian nation. Instead, it recognises the importance of belief, conscience, and the freedom to observe the Sabbath according to personal conviction. This subtle nuance respects diversity within the broader framework of Christian influence.

My distinction emphasises inclusivity and acknowledges the pluralistic nature of belief systems that might exist within a population. By saying “a nation of mostly Christians”, I am highlighting the demographics without joining the state with religion – a subtle but critical difference in ensuring that all citizens feel represented, regardless of their faith or lack thereof.

I think the forefathers who wrote the preamble were insightful, because sad to say the present generation of the ignorant and undereducated show more intolerance to diversity.

There’s a profound wisdom in how our forefathers framed the preamble. By emphasising Christian principles alongside Cook Islands custom and the rule of law, they seemed to understand the importance of balance.

More importantly, the inclusion of “according to a person’s belief and conscience” is particularly insightful – it reflects a respect for personal freedom and diversity, which is being lost in more rigid interpretations.

To my mind this intolerance stems from a fear of losing cultural or religious identity and a fear of being invaded by foreign religious influences, because most people are poorly educated on the depth and wisdom of the Constitution of the Cook Islands.