Lest we forget
Let’s not forget what the two major political parties promised regarding political reform, at the last election in 2006

Both political parties have attacked the 12 proposals for political reform first put forward by former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Terepai’s Economic Development Task Force (EDTF) and now promoted by the Prime Minister’s Political Reform Group made up of Tata Crocombe (Chair of the EDTF) and Iaveta Short (Co author of the 1998 Review Report on Political Reform).
Political reform advocates, Teina Mackenzie and Doreen Kavana Boggs of Mou Piri in their Radio Cook Islands talk back show with host Ben Mose on Tuesday indicated to one caller that since 2006, both political parties should have been considering the issue of political reform and should by 2010 have had advanced some proposals of their own. Mackenzie and Boggs intimated both political parties are only now suggesting the matter be put to the people because the issue of reform has been raised by someone else.
Although both political parties made promises regarding political reform at the last election in 2006, in reality there has been little progress. Through the media on Tuesday, Demo Party President Makiuti Tongia attributed the delay to Prime Minister Marurai wanting in 2007/2008 to hold off reforms until election year-2010.
That’s just what has happened. It’s election year and the PM is pushing reform as he suggested back in 2007/2008. The Demo Party has opted not to promote some constructive proposals and chosen instead the easier task of trying to discredit the views of those members of the public concerned enough to get things moving.
The issue concerning the delay is an internal matter for the Party to come to terms with. The public does not want to be dragged into an argument over who was responsible for holding up the reform process. The public just wants to see some progress.
It is timely then to remind the public just what the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party promised voters prior to the last election in 2006 regarding political reform.
Democratic Party election manifesto
Page 4- As a matter of priority, this government will:
- We will immediately pass the anti-vaka jumping legislation-the draft bill is ready.
- The rest of the political reform will be completed within two years. (also see chart on page 8)
Cook Islands Party election manifesto
(see chart on this page)

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