15 Sep 2005

Cook Islands PM to appoint two new Cabinet ministers

10:12 am on 15 September 2005

Two new ministers are expected to be sworn in to the cabinet in the Cook Islands this afternoon at government house to replace ousted Tupou Faireka and Tom Marsters of the Cook Islands Party.

The Cook Islands News says while no names have been announced the two new ministers are understood to be the Mitiaro MP Tangata Vavia, and the party's only woman MP, Ngamau Munokoa from the Democratic Party.

The dumping of the two Cook Islands Party ministers by prime minister and Cook Islands First member Jim Marurai brought to an end the so-called partnership government formed by the two parties after last year's general elections.

The two new ministers won't be new to cabinet since they have held similar offices prior to the elections.

Mrs Munokoa served as deputy Prime Minister in the last Democratic government before the elections in September while Mr Vavia was a former minister for police.

Meanwhile, Mr Marurai says he's confident that dumped deputy Prime MInister Sir Geoffrey Henry will take up the office of the opposition when parliament sits next week.