Dear Editor, While the people of the Cook Islands witnessed firsthand the devastation that the Covid-19 pandemic had on the economy, the business sector of our nation and the community alike told Prime Minister Mark Brown to get moving on plans to diversify the economy and quit just relying on tourism to drive growth.

As of now the PM has been an abject failure in doing so.

There is no doubt that tourism is a significant contributor to our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but our reliance on this single industry at the expense of others has led to a considerable risk that has impacted our country’s economic stability.

The PM’s total lack of any new innovative thought and process to move us away from solely relying on tourism has led to an unequal distribution of wealth and we remain at risk to external disturbances as we have no other notable industries to fall back on in times of crisis.

Employees in tourism have the lowest earnings of our labour sector as the tourism struggles to attain employees because of the now seasonal nature of the industry, which has contributed to Cook Islanders taking the exit ramp to seek better opportunities overseas.

Under the watch of PM Brown, a striking amount of Cook Islanders think we are on the wrong track.

They have a profound sense of desperation and the data supports it.

There is no parity in the right direction with real wages down, high inflation on the rise, the overall exorbitant cost of utilities across the board and the price of petrol, gas, food, shelter and clothing forever making it impossible for the greater percentage of Cook Islanders to save money and have a secure future.

While the PM continues to seek aid money to pay for the egregious amount of public servants in order to secure its voter buying scheme, we the people of the Cook Islands have to foot his bill.

Steve Boggs