Dear Editor, Like the rest of us, I eagerly await to hear the result of the Cook Islands Parliamentary Special Select Committees report on whether this country should be officially designated a “Christian Nation”.

Of course, the outcome of their finding is crucial!  For me it signifies that we are universally and unashamedly tolerant of anyone who believes and worships as we do.

Conversely as a democratic society, we believe in the Cook Islands Constitution that states under the banner “Fundamental human rights and freedoms”.

‘Paragraph 64 (1) It is hereby recognised and declared that in the Cook Islands there exist, and shall continue to exist, without discrimination by reason of race, national origin, colour, religion, opinion, belief, or sex, the following fundamental human rights and freedoms-

(d) Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; (e) Freedom of speech and expression; (f) Freedom of peaceful assembly and association.’

By saying we are a legislated ‘Christian Nation’ does not that imply we wish to segregate ourselves from those who do not think as we do? I believe it does.

Yet here we are now, in league with the Communist Peoples Republic of China, a godless regime who state sponsor atheism.

And what of our Indonesian friends and workers and others who practice Islam. Can they not worship how and where they please. After all we are a free country are we not?  We honour the Constitution do we not?

I think what distresses me the most, was that this government, who have the numbers in Parliament, chose to listen to, an unidentified small number of religious zealots, then create an unwarranted government funded special committee whose findings could potentially generate division and inequality in this peaceful paradise we call home.

Regards to all,

Rod Henderson.