RAROTONGA – Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna filed an affidavit claiming government’s support for a settlement to be reached between the two pageant parties, saying the dispute is embarrassing for the nation.
His statement follows the petition by newly-registered organisation, Miss Cook Islands Association (MCIA), to wind up the original organisation, Miss Cook Islands Pageant Association (MCIPA).
Mr Puna stressed that his affidavit was not made to support the petition, nor was it intended to signal opposition.
Instead, he wrote that there were public interest matters that the court should be made aware of.
“In light of those public interest matters, and as both Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, I do have a request to make of the court in its consideration of these proceedings.”
Mr Puna wrote that government was not ordinarily involved in the privately-funded pageant events, but as this year marked 50 years of self-governance, government had been pleased to associate itself with hosting this year’s Miss Pacific 2015.
“Winning the right to host this prestigious event, my government wished to showcase the country in this year of celebration.”
Mr Puna said government had already committed significant time, money and resources in anticipation of the event, although he was unsure of when exactly the pageant was to be held.
“The court will therefore appreciate government’s rising sense of embarrassment at the fact that the country now has two parallel contests being conducted at the same time by two rival factions. As each week passes, that sense of embarrassment grows.”
Puna wrote that a number of senior government officials had attempted to find middle ground and to bring the factions to some sensible solution, but those efforts had been unsuccessful.
“Government does not wish to take sides. My cabinet and I note with regret that both factions include many well-meaning hard-working and dedicated men and women.”
A further tragedy, wrote Puna, was that each faction had hosted a contest with its own range of beautiful and intelligent young women who had the courage to step up, and were carrying on as best they can, despite what was happening.
He also wrote that the public of the Cook Islands, like government, did not wish to take sides, but simply wanted to see the best that the nation’s young women had to offer.
Regarding the petition, Puna said it was clear that there was a wide range of disputed facts which could occupy days of court hearing, even before getting to legal interpretations.
“However, as each week passes, the need for an easy and swift resolution becomes more and more urgent.”
If the dispute was not resolved, Puna said the country ran the risk of adverse publicity in the form of ridicule and amusement.
To that limited extent, he said he recognised that a winding up petition might work to focus the minds of everyone very quickly.
“It is clear that the faction petitioning for winding up has repeatedly offered to submit the matter to mediation, and it appears that on each occasion, those who now control the Society have rejected mediation out of hand.”
However, there is some concern over the Prime Minister’s statements around neither opposing nor supporting the petition.
In July, MCIA president Dianna Clarke-Bates told CI News that government was endorsing their pageant and their bid for Miss Pacific.
“MCIA has been endorsed by the Government of the Cook Islands to hold Miss Cook Islands 2015 and MCIA to host Miss Pacific Islands 2015,” she said.
She also said MCIA had been working with Nick Henry, chairman of 50th Celebrations Committee, which was confirmed by the prime minister.
Henry told CI News that the original organisation, MCIPA, had refused any government support for hosting Miss Pacific 2015, which was a concern.
“As far as Government of the Cook Islands is concerned, the MCIA is the official event organisers for Miss Cook Islands and will be the hosts of Miss Pacific Islands.”
Early this year, the PM said he had met with then-CIPA president Clee Marsters to move the programme along to try and hold Miss Cook Islands in June….
