Cook Islands to have 2nd election

Press, 19 August 1983, Page 3

Cook Islands to have 2nd election

NZPA correspondent Rarotonga The Cook Islands will have another General Election, its second this year. The Queen’s Representative, Sir Gaven Donne, issued warrants yesterday dissolving Parliament and setting November 2 as the election date. Sir Gaven acted after a meeting with the Cooks’ three key political figures failed to produce a solution to the nation’s leadership struggle.

He said he had not decided who would head the caretaker government to supervise day-to-day affairs, but said he would make a radio broadcast later this week to outline constitutional steps between now and the election. The November vote is the outcome of a power struggle in the ruling Cook Islands Party between Premier Geoffrey Henry and his cousin and Deputy Premier Tupui Henry. Geoffrey Henry led the C.I.P. to a narrow two-seat election victory late last March but had to resign his post earlier this month when Parliament met for the first time after the election. The Cooks’ constitution calls for such a step and a Parliamentary vote to choose a premier. Tupui Henry had insufficient support to win the Premiership but enough to deny Geoffrey Henry the post.

Sir Gaven called the two Henrys and the Opposition leader, Mr Vince Ingram, head of the Democratic Party, to a meeting at his residence on Wednesday night in a vain attempt to

solve the crisis.

Tupui Henry told Sir Gaven he had been unable to muster enough votes to form a government. Earlier, Geoffrey Henry had rejected a proposal by Sir Gaven that he remain provisional Premier until after two by-elections, one of which had been due today.

Tupui Henry emerged from the meeting to announce that he would form and lead a new political party to contest the November election.

Observers said this move suggested he was not ready to form a coalition with the support of some opposition members but that he wanted to be Premier at the head of a party which he would control. He could not do this within the C.I.P.

Geoffrey Henry declined to comment after the meeting but he was blamed by Mr Ingram for doing nothing to solve the crisis. The former Premier, Sir Thomas Davis, who lost his seat last March, also indicated that he would seek election again in November.

Sir Thomas was head of the Democratic party, which lost power in the March election. Observers believe Sir Thomas’ move could set the stage for a leadership battle against Mr Ingram within the Democratic Party.

Sir Gaven said in a radio broadcast last Sunday that the Cooks could ill afford the $90,000 which a new election would cost.

He also said it was likely that another election, because it was so close to the March vote, would produce a similar close result.