4 Feb 2003

Cook Islands Party says government will pay for its dumping

6:17 pm on 4 February 2003

The former deputy prime minister of the Cook Islands, Sir Geoffrey Henry, says the government will pay for playing musical chairs instead of going to an early election.

Sir Geoffrey and his Cook Islands party were dumped from the coalition last week as three separate factions consolidated into the Democratic party to form the country's sixth government in four years.

Sir Geoffrey says the public will not accept the manipulation by the politicians.

"One strong and powerful call that has come through has been the disgust of the people at the fact that we politicians, keep manipulating the situation, and people change around from one side of the floor to another, political and musical chairing,. without the approval, of the people at large."

Sir Geoffrey Henry says a general meeting of the Cook Islands party is being held tonight to discuss what's happened.