The first official interview for Prime Minister Mark Brown was a nine-year-old interviewer who asked “What’s your favourite country apart from the Cook Islands, and are you thinking of changing our flag?”

His reply to the student of the KukiCre8tive drama class was essentially, France, Japan and Egypt due to their rich history culture and people.

As for the flag he replied “That’s something for the people to decide – we have to ask the people first”

There it is folks, our Prime Minister values history and culture in other countries so one would expect to see our own be valued here too, right?

Of course, it goes without saying we ask the people get to decide. Do they though? It more often goes without saying, and no one gets to say because it is done anyway. When you voted them in you gave away your right to micromanage every decision.

Is our history valued when we forgive and forget all the convicts who make up our leadership and pay them large sums of money.

History is being whitewashed to look nice like the recent pardon of Albert Henry who, lost his knighthood after pleading guilty to electoral fraud.

Brown says Albert was honourable by pleading guilty – ‘an action by a man of honour and one he never spoke of again’.

It could equally be said that an action of a guilty man too embarrassed to talk about it because he hoped to get away with it.

Do we forget Albert struggled to enter politics due to residency rules?

His sister stands, wins the seat, they change the eligibility rules to include Albert.

His sister resigns and from the by-election he becomes the first Premier of the Cook Islands.

As for culture, what support and funding has been given to enhance, grow and sustain our carvers, songwriters artists and story tellers in film, music, dance and drama?

Overseas countries and patrons are willing to fund our most heartfelt cultural significant projects where (now sacked) Cultural Secretary, forgiven felon Cultural Minister and esteemed ‘I value overseas history and culture’ Prime Minister turn up give a speech taking the credit.

Brown is in print saying the people get to decide the flag. At the pardoning Brown suggested returning to the ‘original flag’ for stronger reflection of national colours and sovereignty - something Cook Islanders should consider.

He referred to the green flag with a circle of yellow stars. This flag was designed by an inhabitant of Titikaveka and was the winning entry in a competition and the flag of the Cook Islands political party led by Albert Henry.

The oldest flag identified with the Cook Islands was in use 1850s.

It had three horizontal stripes of red, white and red with three blue stars in the central white stripe.

This was used by Ariki Makea who called all the islands the ‘kingdom of Rarotonga’.

This was in use or was available for use until she died.  In 1888 Britain established a protectorate over the islands, a Union Jack was added partially hiding two of the stars.

In 1893 the stars disappeared. Later in the centre of the union jack a white disk bearing a palm tree was added.

Between 1888 and 1901 Rarotonga had four versions of a flag.  In 1973 the green flag appeared unofficially? On August 4 1979 a new flag closely related to New Zealand’s flag and with the Commonwealth was chosen.

Brown said the green flag would more reflect the nation’s colours and independence.

First it was sovereignty - which is to the Commonwealth, hence we have a King’s Representative.

Now he says independence - likely a push for the United Nations and an apartment in New York, rather than for the benefit of the people.

Are these little hints of subliminal manipulation for the populace to change the flag?

He said ‘something to consider’.

Have letters to the editor been flooded with bring in a new flag? Spotted on the end of the magnificent painted sea wall flies a green and gold flag. Why? And who sanctioned this? 

George Maggie’s water station is flying the CIP flag. They all give visual stimuli that can facilitate subconscious processing of information. Scientific research has shown subliminal messaging can change our current mood, boost our motivation and can even alter our political attitudes and voting intentions.

Recently at the Pacific Games, our athletes went wearing green and yellow uniforms, we looked like Australia, South Africa, our national sports colours have been green and white for decades.

Coincidence?

There are over 30 countries with green and yellow flags, but a green flag with white stars would put us with only three other countries using green and white flags.  We can decide something unique, reflecting who we are now, retain the Union Jack, and without having a political agenda.