VIEW FROM THE CPA SMALL BRANCHES CHAIRPERSON
‘DELIVERING A COMMON FUTURE: CONNECTING, INNOVATING, TRANSFORMING IN A TIME OF COVID-19’ The CPA Small Branches Chairperson examines how the latest global pandemic is affecting the Cook Islands, one of the smallest jurisdictions in the Commonwealth.
View from the CPA Small Branches Chairperson At the launch of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, financial global downturn of 2007/8. It is not an the CPA Patron’s Commonwealth Day Message on understatement to assert that our global economic Monday 9 March this year on the theme of ‘Delivering future remains uncertain. In little over a few a Common Future: Connecting, Innovation, months, COVID-19 has sparked and accelerated Transforming’, very few world leaders could have an unprecedented level of change in all aspects foreseen that just a few weeks later an earlier viral of our societies. Previously unimaginable shifts outbreak (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China would have in our working and social lives, have forced us to spread to every corner of the world leading to a innovate, adapt and identify creative solutions to pandemic with millions infected and a human tragedy allow us to continue to function as a society. of hundreds of thousands of lives lost. In times of national emergency, it is often The rapid spread of the virus has resulted in a necessary for the rights and freedoms usually Hon. Niki Rattle, Chairperson enjoyed by individuals to be curtailed in the ‘global lockdown’, once again reminding us that, of the CPA Small Branches owing to our ‘interconnectedness’, no country interests of the wider national good. However, and Speaker of the in the world, whether large or small, coastal or emergency laws and the suspension of individual Parliament of the Cook landlocked, developing or developed is immune to rights, including the indispensable democratic Islands the debilitating effects of the pandemic. It is also a right of all, namely, the casting of people’s votes stark reminder that what any single country does, in free fair elections, need to be closely protected for good or ill, it can impact severely on the welland monitored by Parliamentarians and citizens being of the rest of the planet’s inhabitants. alike. This will ensure the eventual lifting of restrictions on such The pandemic’s wider effects have already impacted rights and a return to some form of normality. Various forms of disproportionately on Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and governments inclined towards executive overreach should not be other CPA Small Branches, where the presence of one or more allowed to exploit the current pandemic as an opportunity to hold on factors such as high indebtedness, a heavy reliance on tourism, to and extend power. Delaying national elections for any longer than small size, and limited resources create particular vulnerabilities absolutely necessary or avoiding parliamentary scrutiny of human to long-lasting economic and societal shocks. This, in turn, places rights restrictions by sidestepping virtual meetings of Parliament enormous pressure on governments and Parliamentarians to are some such examples of abuses. Such actions risk eroding demonstrate genuine leadership to meet these challenges by the rule of law through deprivation of citizen’s constitutional rights urgently developing emergency strategies and policies to maintain for longer than absolutely necessary. It is therefore vital in these the lives and livelihoods of their citizens until the crisis lifts. uncertain times that Parliamentarians remain alert and vigilant and The importance, therefore, of innovation within Parliaments, demonstrate moral leadership in the national interest. including through the use of virtual platforms, so that The leaders and Parliamentarians of my country, the Cook Parliamentarians can continue to hold governments to account and Islands, certainly rose to the extraordinary challenges forced on demonstrate national leadership in addressing these challenges, the nation, especially the threat to the lives of our people. The have never been greater. multiple forging of partnerships throughout the entire country, from The scale and suddenness of the global pandemic has the grassroots level to Ministerial level and including, government already damaged the G7 economies with expert predictions of a ministries, the business sector, the private sector and civil society deep global recession ahead, potentially greater than that of the groups, NGOs and groups on the outer islands, in establishing a COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan, with the Ministry of Health taking the lead, was an absolute necessity. Public awareness raising and education using information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), was crucial and widely disseminated throughout the whole population. These changes were embraced despite the hardships and the restrictions demanded of the people. The Parliament of the Cook Islands was also called, under special conditions, to
“The pandemic’s effects have already impacted disproportionately on Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and other CPA Small Branches.”
94 | The Parliamentarian | 2020: Issue Two | 100 years of publishing 1920-2020
