Norman George resigns from Cook Islands Party

Today Monday the 7th March 2011, I handed my written resignation from the Cook Islands Party Inc. to the Party President and the Secretary General.
Effectively from now on, I will be an independent MP.
I will consider all issues as they come up. I am not the Opposition. I will support legislation and money bills that will help the island of Atiu and the nation as a whole. For example, I will support legislation that will invalidate completely the Toa-gate Contract.
I will oppose negative legislation and lack of accountability by the CIP Government.
I am proud to receive 97% support of those who voted for me to leave the CIP.
They are deeply hurt that their many years of devotion to the CIP were completely ignored by those based in Rarotonga; they feel as though they are worthless and of no value to the Cook Islands Party.
I depart with no remorse. I won the Teenui Mapumai seat in 2006 as an independent.
When I later joined the CIP in the 2006 snap election, the CIP label was added to my name.
It made no difference as I was already a winner.
In 2 General Elections I stood as a CIP candidate, they did not contribute anything, not even a dollar for my campaign.
I won 2 seats in Atiu for the CIP. They never seem to appreciate it. I can take the same 2 seats away from them again!
The worst mistake Prime Minister Henry Puna made was to allow retired PM Sir Geoffrey Henry to dominate and make all the critical decisions.
Sir Geoffrey revived old scores, he revived the animosities we had when I was in the Democratic Party.
The decision to ditch me was already made before the 2010 General Elections.
The little game with Tupapa MP George Maggie was a manufactured excuse.
They chose Nandi Glassie to be in Cabinet instead of me despite his inexperience.
Now only 3 people make all the decisions for the CIP Government.
The country is now effectively run by Sir Geoffrey, PM Henry Puna and Mark Brown.
The Cabinet and caucus are treated as rubber stamps.
They have bigger problems ahead. They will not serve a full Parliamentary term because of those problems.
They will be lucky to survive to the end of the year.
Again, I wish them well.

Press statement from Norman George, 7 March 2011

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