Sip Geoffrey supports

Pokino amidst scandal

By Florence Syme-Buchanan

WHAT does a government do with a senior min ister who has brought much shame on his country, family and political party in a wide ly publicised sex scandal?

Nothing, if he’s a Cook Islands Cabinet minister.

Disgraced minister of Finance, Papamama Pokino did not return from New Zealand as scheduled on November 7 to face Cabinet colleagues, a shocked public and hurt fam ily members. Instead, prime minister Sir Geoffrey came forward with the excuse that his long time friend was remaining in New Zealand for “health reasons.”

At 62, Pokino who’s always favoured long hair and high heeled boots is healthy and fit, after years of working out on weights. So Sir Geoffrey’s excuse didn’t wash with the public now giving signs of being fed up with Cabinet’s ongoing excuses protecting their colleague.

The Opposition Democratic Alliance party is demand ing that Pokino either resign or be sacked for the public sex romp he had with Niuean woman, Dawn Vilila. The National Council of Women have written to the prime min ister wanting the minister stripped of the portfolio of Women, Youth and Sport. Spokeswoman Teresa Manarangi Trott says this most recent incident was the last straw as Pokino’s denigrating remarks and lewd behaviour towards women could not be tolerated anymore.

A Cook Islands citizen, Steve Boggs laid a formal com plaint with Police over Pokino’s public escapades. But Police still refused to investigate or lay charges, saying the matter was closed. Undeterred, Boggs went a step further and proposes to charge Commissioner of Police Tevai Matapo with obstruction of justice.

Pressure on Sir Geoffrey and Cabinet to do something over Papamama Pokino’s behaviour is mounting - but as usual in the Cooks, public opinion is being ignored by the eight ministers.

All have refused to respond to questions regarding “Pokinogate” the October sex-scandal that rocked the nation. On the other hand, some have been quick to the defend Agriculture minister Vaine Tairea - alleged to have been drunk and abusive at Auckland airport while leading the country’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference.

Education minister Ngereteina Puna says he sat next to Vaine Tairea on the flight and claims the minister never drank. Tairea travelled to Auckland barefoot, embarrassing other Cook Islanders and consular general Bill Teariki who was at the airport to pick the delegation up.

There’s little public doubt that Pokino extended his stay hoping the matter would have blown over by his return.

That’s unlikely. ■