The Cook Islands minister in charge of the Pacific Mini Games says they'll definitely go ahead, despite allegations of financial mismanagement by the company organising them.
The games organiser's been dogged by controversy, including the sacking of the man originally hired to manage the event, and attracted criticism over a new multi-purpose sports facility.
The new chief executive of the Mini Games Company says a government audit of its financial records is normal practice and he's not aware of any misappropriation of funds.
Mac Mokoroa says there's a lot of work to be done to ensure the games happen on time but the minister, Wilkie Rasmussen, also a director of the games company, says there's no chance that they won't.
"The actual organisation on the ground level is moving very very well. The progress of the building itself is moving very well and ahead of time so the planning of other things, outer islands' involvement, is moving along very well so there's absolutely no suggestion, the Cook Islands government is not even thinking about that. We will deliver the games and we know that we will"
Wilkie Rasmussen of the Cook Islands government.
