HERALD WEEKLY ISSUE 491 : 23 December 2009

PM sacked by Demo Party

The Prime Minister has been sacked from the Demo Party.
The PM was advised of his sacking by a small group which visited him at his office at 8am on Wednesday.
The group included Sir Terepai Maoate, Winton Pickering and Cassey Eggelton. Newly appointed DPM Robert Wigmore was also present. The group asked the PM to rescind his decision to drop Sir Terepai as DPM and Finance Minister. However the PM declined.
The group then left and a meeting of the Demo Party and Caucus was held at Maoate’s Office. As at time of going to print, 1pm the meeting was still in progress.
The PM advised the media shortly afterwards that he was still the PM and that he still intended to leave for Mangaia on Thursday as planned for the Christmas break.
The Herald has learnt that on Tuesday evening there was a meeting between the PM and Senior Party officials Makiuti Tongia and Makirere Poila. Tongia and Poila asked the PM to rescind his decision but the Herald has learnt the PM said he could not. The Herald understands Tongia is now worried his appointment as the new High Commission to New Zealand may not be confirmed by the PM who is now the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
- World famous activist assisting residents
- Budget will decide if residents prosecute Government over landfill
- Forestry project sucking Mangaia dry
- Budget 2010 – fiasco or disaster?

Copyright 2006 Cook Islands Herald online . All rights reserved.