Issues of public interest to be reviewed

Before the swearing in of the new Ministers last Friday afternoon, an agreement was reached between the Prime Minister Hon Jim Marurai, the new Cabinet and the Leader of the Democratic Party Sir Terepai Maoate for Minister Wilkie Rasmussen to make a media statement that reflects as best as possible the current situation regarding the Government and the Democratic Party.
The first and most important point that the Prime Minister and his new Cabinet wished to stress is that there will be absolutely no witch-hunt against Sir Terepai Maoate and senior public servants associated with him in the Toa Petroleum matter. Instead a review guided by the proper legal and procedural laws will be considered after all the facts had been put together.
Secondly, all best efforts will be applied to ensure that Sir Terepai’s staffs in his ministerial office are kept in employment.
Thirdly, the Government will endeavour to maintain continuity of non-controversial decisions made by Sir Terepai in his former ministerial capacity in the portfolios he held and the Government stresses that it is required to act responsibly and therefore it must review a number of issues of public interest.
Sir Terepai had agreed for a series of meetings to take place as soon as possible between all relevant officeholders in the Democratic Party and the Cabinet and Government Caucus. These meetings are to try and resolve the differences between all those involved in disputes within the Government and the Democratic Party.
After these series of (what would essentially be internal review) meetings the Government and the Democratic Party will reveal their findings to the public with a view that if it had strayed away from matters of public interest and from its promises, then both entities will do their best to reconcile with the public and people of the Cook Islands.
The Government will try its best to address the pertinent questions on the economy, political reform and indeed better governance and improvement of social and education standards.
Media Release by Hon Wilkie Rasmussen onMonday 28 Dec 2009

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?