Norman and Nandi welcomed into the CIP family

Left to right: Sir Geoffrey, Norman and Nandi.

A career politician and a career civil servant are attracted by the CIP’s discipline, maturity and stability
At the campaign strategy meeting of Cook Islands Party (CIP) Executive and election candidates on Friday morning, CIP Leader Sir Geoffrey Henry KBE formally welcomed veteran politician Norman George and former Cook Islands First Party official, Nandi Glassie into the CIP family.
Sir Geoffrey, speaking on behalf of the CIP, said he was very happy to have both on board. He said it had been a toss up between Bim Tou and Nandi Glassie as to who would represent the CIP in the Atiu seat of Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua currently held by the Demos Eugene Tatuava. (Tatuava had deposed Norman George in the 2004 election.) Glassie, a career civil servant, is no stranger to politics having stood in elections in New Zealand. He was selected.
A veteran of 20 years in politics, the former Independent Norman George is the current member for the Atiu seat of Teenui-Mapumai which he won comfortably in a recent by election when previous holder Papa Upoko Simpson retired due to health reasons.
George said he was very happy to have the opportunity to be invited and welcomed into the CIP. He said that step by step, he had been drawn closer to the CIP. He said the CIP was disciplined, had maturity and stability. “I don’t want to enter the jungle with a ramshackle outfit,” said George, ”I look forward to serving the CIP to the best of my ability.”
George said he believed in discipline and loyalty. He said he was confident he would be coming in on 26 September with a landslide.
Nandi Glassie thanked Sir Geoffrey and the CIP. He said he had been observing the operations of the CIP. He saw the opportunity to join so he grabbed it. He said he was grateful to Bim Tou. Glassie said the CIP was well structured and well organised. He said he had faith in the philosophy of the party. The CIP he said was more “people” oriented. Glassie said he was prepared to learn from Sir Geoffrey who was a craftsman and Norman, the master.
Glassie summed up his personal position by saying he was very positive, very keen and very enthusiastic.
In conclusion, Sir Geoffrey said,” Our team, from the Executive through to the new candidates is enthused with two very distinguished and able Atiuans joining. We’re happy they’re part of the team.”

- Charles Pitt

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