Call for PM to step down Tue 13 Aug Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen is calling for a snap election, saying the Prime Minister should step down because he has lost control of the government. “The Cook Islands is in disarray and it is bad for the country’s economy and constitutional standing. It is also terrible for political stability and its international reputation,” he said. In a press release issued yesterday, Rasmussen alleges the PM has “lost control of his charges” in government, and his inaction and delay in appointing a new Deputy Prime Minister compound the problem. “This is unacceptable to the Opposition and I would also say to the people of the Cook Islands.” He claims that within the past two months, “Puna has not made a constructive decision with regard to enhancing governance”. Rasmussen alleges Puna is “failing miserably” and doesn’t show any hint of concern that “perhaps he needs to sit down in his office and examine matters of the nation”. “It appears the Prime Minister is putting ahead of the people his own distorted view that the people will continue to tolerate his travel obsession. “He was back for one day from Paris, Brussels and the United States and he was off for 10 days to Manihiki and was back for three days from there he was off again to New Zealand.” Rasmussen alleges the PM could be dodging the hard decisions, hoping they will disappear, “or he is truly a travel junkie and making the most of it before he gets thrown out.” “As PM he is accountable to the voters and taxpayers of this country and if his government is fragmented and spinning out of control, Mr Puna must give the decision back to the people.” During Puna’s current trip to New Zealand, where he is giving a keynote address to a group of ambassadors and holding a series of bilateral meetings, Finance Minister Mark Brown has been appointed as acting Prime Minister. According to Puna’s special advisor Trevor Pitt, “No deputy has been appointed,” in the PM’s absence. “When the PM returns, I expect the issues around appointing a deputy PM will be sorted,” he said. “It will be near the top of the list of things for him to do,” said Pitt. Meanwhile, Rasmussen describes the delay as “crazy and irresponsible”. “You always make sure someone is there to make critical decisions.” The decision not to have named a temporary DPM replacement is also having a detrimental effect on the office’s staff members, he said. “I also understand that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management has halted spending of the budget of the Deputy Prime Minister’s office because there is no incumbent holder of the position.” cinews.co.ck
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 04:58:14 +0000
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