10 Mar 2011

Cook Islands PM describes Norman George as selfish

11:02 am on 10 March 2011

The Cook Islands Prime Minister has described the decision of MP Norman George to resign from the ruling party as selfish.

Henry Puna says the resignation is a clear contradiction of the wishes of the people.

Jo O'Brien reports

"In a statement the Prime Minister says Norman George's resignation from the Cook Islands Party raises moral and legal issues that will concern the country. Henry Puna says Mr George's declaration that he is now an independent shows a wilful disregard of the fact he was elected to parliament as a Cook Islands Party member. He says people do not accept the way individual members of parliament have in recent times shifted alliances once elected, for no other reason than for selfish personal gain. The Prime Minister says it's a sad indictment of the country's political and parliamentary processes, which his government intends to address. He says the government remains solid and united despite the resignation, and he rejects Mr George's claim that it is a three-man government run by himself, finance minister, Mark Brown, and speaker, Sir Geoffrey Henry."