The opposition in the Cook Islands is calling this year's budget the mother of all mistakes.
The budget, which was passed last week, includes 82.5 million dollars in loans for harbour, road and water upgrades from China and the Asian Development Bank.
The Minister of Finance, Sir Terepai Maoate, described the budget to parliament prior to reading it as the mother of all budgets.
But the deputy leader of the opposition, Teina Bishop, says it's a disaster for the country.
"Our debt level will go from 36 million in 2008/2009 budget year to 103 million in this financial year so there is a huge jump in terms of debt by the nation and the road and the water, we are asking what has happened to all the allocation that has been allocated for water and road over the last few years."
Teina Bishop of the Cook Islands opposition.
