25 Jul 2003

Cook islands MP resigns

11:07 am on 25 July 2003

A Cook Islands MP, Teina Bishop, has resigned his parliamentary seat as a mark of protest against budget allocations for his constituency.

Our correspondent in Rarotonga, Florence Syme-Buchanan has more details of the resignation.....

"One of three MPs for aitutaki, Mr Bishop has been reported as saying he was very disappointed that parliament guillotined the budget debate and he was unable to propose amendments. Mr Bishop says his resignation is also timely as he has served four years as an MP and believes in reducing the current parliamentary term of five years to four."