The options are clear for voters to choose
On the 26th of this month the voters have to choose who should govern this country, the Cook Islands Party or, the Democratic Party.
Some commentators have pointed out that overall, the policies of both major parties do not differ that much. Both are committed to political reform; growing the economy with the private sector leading the way; allocating more resources to social welfare areas like the aged and young, education and health; and addressing the urgent problem of outer islands development and depopulation. The only area where there is stark contrast between the two parties is the clarity and certainty of leadership and teamwork exhibited by each party.
The Cook Islands Party, after Sir Geoffrey’s resignation, has emerged with a clear and dynamic duo of Henry Puna as the captain and Tupou Faireka, his right hand man. Behind them is a team with an exciting blend of youth and experience, professional and private sector experiences, traditional and gender issue leaders and so on. If you, the voters, put this team in to government on the 26th of this month, you know who your Prime Minister will be. You also have the assurance that the single minded and focus of the CIP team on ‘walking the talk’ for the country’s sake, will start on the 27th of this month. What about the Democratic Party?
When the Democratic Party, with the connivance of its immediate past president, plunged this country in to this unnecessary and expensive snap election, the party was already in a state of confusion with the party’s leader sidelined by another person who, held the Prime Minister’s position. Since then, every attempt by the party’s leader and numerous spokesmen for the party, to explain this confused state of affairs have only served to deepen the confusion. Only one thing is clear in this saga. The Democratic Party is asking you the voter to believe that the party is united and you should trust the party to choose the Prime Minister of this country only, after you have put them in to government. Can someone please tell us, when has a democratic country in the world, had a major party enter a general election with a proposition to choose its potential leader for the country after the general election.
The not so subtle plea by Iaveta Short, the wise counselor for the party, for this issue to be sorted out before the election has fallen on deaf ears. Wilkies’ input in to the debate in contending that parliament will choose the ‘DEMO Prime Minister’ is another first for the DEMO. Now the CIP is to be involved in choosing the DEMO leader and PM.
Only Poila had the honesty to come out and tell us that the DEMOs are scared of sorting out its leadership mess now, because this could split the party! The obvious attempt by the DEMO to deceive the public is dangerous. There is no doubt in my mind that should the DEMO win this general election they will split immediately afterwards over the wangle for the party’s leadership. This means the public can kiss goodbye to political reform and welcome back coalition governments. THAT’S THE ONLY FUTURE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS PROMISING YOU.

- Temu Okotai

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