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For Marsters, meeting last week on Thursday the CI News two days later. whatever was said or transpired 18 was set by Demo Party Leader That same night, the outer he was a private citizen. Wilkie Rasmussen’s misleading island Demo Punas were Desperate to grab power for message OCIM Leader Teina notified of the pending change self interests, Rasmussen and Bishop had been offered the in Government igniting his small group of loyal Party Deputy Prime Minister and instantaneous celebrations in Executives have contaminated Minister of Finance portfolios the far north. the Democratic Party with by the Cook Islands Party Prime A the Demo Christmas the next misinformation and a stench of Minister Henry Puna. night on Friday the euphoria of political pollution deliberately Earlier that week the PM had becoming the new government forfeiting their own Constitution flown to Aitutaki to meet with sooner than later was evident in the process. PM Puna referred Bishop but CIP representatives by the enthusiastic chest beating to the Demo and OCI political are adamant no such offer was speeches being delivered. By marriage of convenience made by Puna to entice the now the outcome of Thursday’s as being “a clear sign of Wilkie Rasmussen former CIP Minister to return meeting had begun to filter desperation by the Demos to to the fold. OCI was offered one through the Demo Party rank and get into Government at all costs future will change. Henry Puna unspecified cabinet post that file with increasing scepticism even though they know they are and his CIP government are did not include the Ministry of and disapproval. From selling their souls with such a firmly in control and excited as Finance or DPM. At a follow Saturday Opposition Leader deal.” the Demos induce themselves up meeting late last Thursday Simile Heather began receiving Despite Rasmussen being a nothing will eventuate. For a night after the Demo and OCI disapproving phone calls from lawyer and a Parliamentarian second time Rasmussen’s clumsy meeting Bishop met with four Demo Party members asking for for a decade he fails to exhibit attempts to become government CIP representatives lead by the clarification and an immediate a sound understanding of the will fail miserable because it PM Puna at his Office. When Conference to test the forced Cook Islands Constitution and lacks political substance and asked what he wanted Bishop decision made by caucus. the protocols of the Queens Constitutional correctness. All indicated he would decline Talk of going to see the Queens Representative. His political Rasmussen has manifested whatever was on the table as Representative His Excellency insight is severely clouded by is he is void of strategic he was going to be the Prime Tom Marsters to be sworn in his greed to keep his nose in the comprehension. If he had even Minister in a coalition with was now driving the urgency for lucrative government funded an ounce of it he would have the Demos. Surprised Bishop Bishop to be fully endorsed by trough. Despite earning in been the Prime Minister last was unresponsive the meeting the Demos without the need of a excess of $90,000 a year while in February but the rare presented continued with philosophic talk Conference as prescribed in their Opposition Rasmussen made no opportunity to oust the CIP then a late dinner before Bishop Constitution. Despite having personal financial contribution was bungled by his no coalition departed. breakfast with Tom Marsters to his petition or appeal costs. mantra of political stupidity. Rasmussen had without prior to the Thursday night It is little wonder his former Now that intelligent discerning caucus clearance or in house meeting and on Friday morning CEO side kick Eddie Drollet has members of the Democratic circulation for approval pre- Bishop did not include in his a moratorium on releasing an Party have absorbed and empted the Thursday night Friday night Demo Christmas authentic statement of accounts filtered the coalition media meeting by a media release to Party speech that Marsters for the Party members. releases made by the attention the CI News that morning stating informed him any attempts to The Rasmussen driven seeking Rasmussen there will the DP was unanimous that it change the government had euphoria of being in government be a growing resistance at the would work with Teina Bishop to be tested in Parliament. anytime now is a shameful grass roots, their perception is and George Maggie. Marsters was explicitly clear he exhibition of deluded fantasy this coalition arrangement is At the “put everything on the would not intervene or advise that senior members of the being tailor made to quench the table” DP and OCI way forward the current PM Henry Puna Demo Party are increasingly agenda of a handful of Demo meeting on the Thursday night to resign. It is understood at a finding tiresome and executives including Rasmussen Rasmussen led the charge to previous breakfast with Bishop embarrassing. The facts are very who refuse to accept its the form a coalition with OCI with and Maggie, Marsters advised clear; nothing in the immediate elected members of parliament PB Cook islands Herald 24 December 2014 Political Commentary 3 who are responsible to forge a be justification for being tepid and his small band of loyalists government. To Rasmussen’s coalition deal on behalf of the over Bishop’s return to their will achieve nothing. surprise contradicting Heather Party. Party. The sooner the Demos have spoke after that informing the Already factions within the The length of the investigation a Party Conference the sooner meeting not everyone had Demo Party are becoming indicated there was some the desperate hangers on can be agreed and that very morning polarized over the readiness to substance in the complaint. dumped and the renovation and he had received numerous calls crown Bishop the Prime Minister. Ironically in a letter to the Editor reconstruction of the Democratic objecting to that arrangement Already Bishop is dictating the of the Herald published on 5 Party can begin. Unless the including some caucus members terms of the bye election in February, Rasmussen claimed option being circulated among who had changed their minds. Vaipae/Tautu in Aitutaki which a moral stand referring to the the Demos they combine with Heather said there would be a will be held on the 17 February. corruption investigation, he the CIP to commit to a defined caucus meeting on Tuesday to Letters to the CI News editor stated “Did he (referring to purpose of reform and reinvent address this issue. in the last few days are clear Howard Henry) not know that before a return to the polls is The meeting did not agree indicators alls not well in the this Opposition played a major accepted they face the harsh with Bishop’s proposal but would Demo heartland. role in the calling to account reality of another term in accept OCI help to get their Demo The Demo OCI coalition with of his employer Minister Teina Opposition. candidate Kete Ioanne elected. Bishop as Prime Minister will Bishop with the Chinese fishing At a meeting held in Aitutaki Bishop appointed himself the never happen simply because deals? “ on Monday 22 December, campaign manager and would it will not get the endorsement Rasmussen made no secret he present were Bishop, Rasmussen hand pick his campaign team. of a Party Conference. Party had weekly meetings with fellow and Smiley Heather attended Bishop offered to pay $3,000 officials Rasmussen, Drollet, lawyers Iaveta Short and the by Kete Ioanne and about 20 towards the Demo’s legal costs Willis and Faireka know it, complainant Ruben Tyler. others predominantly Demo for Kete’s petition and appeal that’s why they have resisted Hard core Demo members are supporters. The discussion was and another $6,000 he had the persistent requests to hold calling for a halt to coalition talks the OCI proposal for the Vaipae/ raised from business associates a conference even after three with OCI until Bishop is cleared Tautu bye election. Bishop’s in Rarotonga. years. All mentioned will not be of any criminal charges resulting proposal is that the former Demo The CIP aren’t fazed by the re elected back in.