Demo committees still in deadlock over candidates

The meeting held on Tuesday night at the Hospitality Trade Training Centre in Turangi at 7pm between the two Ngatangiia Democratic Party committees to discuss a way forward ended without the candidacy impasse being resolved.
The Committee supporting Sir Terepai Maoate had 15 members present while the Interim Committee supporting Mann Short had five members present. Members of the central Executive were also present.
An Interim committee member told the Herald on Wednesday morning that the sitting MP Sir Terepai Maoate and the committee is adamant that he is the candidate at the upcoming general elections. Sir Terepai Maoate was asked to step down by Steven Peyroux but was adamant he was the rightful candidate. It’s understood that the Interim Committee had presented a memorandum and letters to the committee as according to the Interim Committee the people of Ngatangiia have spoken and that Mann Short is the confirmed candidate for Ngatangiia Democratic Party as they’ve done all the right things according to the party’s constitution.
A spokesperson from the Ngatangiia Democratic Party committee said that both sides are not letting go and sees no reason why Sir Terepai Maoate should step down when he was confirmed by the Democratic Party President Sean Willis and the Party Leader, DPM Robert Wigmore and claim they have done everything right according to the party’s constitution as the party had set a deadline date of 31st July, and Sir Terepai’s letter of confirmation was received to the party on the 30th July compared to the interim who put forward their letter requesting a run-off on the 2nd August.
It’s understood that another meeting will be held between the two sides to try to come to a resolution. In the meantime, an urgent meeting will be held tomorrow at the Avana Meeting House and is being called by Mann Short at 5.30pm to discuss a way forward, policy making as well as to elect a new committee.

By Moana Tetauru

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?