Will the people of the Cook Islands benefit from political reform?

Are the people of the Cook Islands going to benefit from the political reforms which appear to be based on what the Economic Taskforce advocated in the year 2009?
Some of the proposed reforms seem reasonable such as reducing the number of Members of Parliament but as with anything, the devil is always in the detail.
Why are they advocating a two tier system the Members of Parliament who are direct representatives of particular electorates are not eligible to become Prime Minister, because under the new formula is only open to those voted in from the ‘list’ of national MPs..
The list MPs would rule the roost while the constituent MPs are to be relegated to the role similar to that occupied by the Outer Islands Mayors and concerned only with local affairs. What would happen to the current Mayors and their Kontiara? Would this mean their abolition leading to further marginalization of the Outer Islands which according to the feedback from Koutu Nui community visioning meetings are already feeling left out when it comes to budgets for local works.
At the time, the Mayor of Mauke gave an example of asking for $25,000 for local projects only to have the budgets cut in half with Rarotonga claiming there was a lack of budget for such matters.
Also why should the islands of Mauke, Mitiaro and Mauke be lumped together under the banner of Ngaputoru with the current situation is 2 in Atiu and 1 each in Mauke and Mitiaro?
The sooner the exact form of political reforms are put out there for public consultation in the form of public meetings on all islands, the better we can all make an informed decision as to whether we agree or not.
Holding a referendum is an expensive exercise but nevertheless with the magnitude of the proposed changes, we could follow the lead of Australia, where it is not un common to hold an indicative referedum first and then a binding referendum afterwards.

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
- Lucky $1,000 winner
- Century old palm trees and the French connection
- Koutu Nui takes part in Raui meeting in Moorea
- WOM Award Dinner for Ake Hosea-Winterflood
- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009