The French Polynesian president, Gaston Tong Sang, who is in Paris, says he deplores the delay by the French Polynesian assembly to approve a 680 million US dollar development contract due to be signed with the French government within 48 hours.
Mr Tong Sang has accused the opposition of systematic obstruction, saying the opposition leader, Gaston Flosse, is doing his utmost to ensure that this vital deal won't pass.
Procedural quarrels in Tahiti have led to further delays, with yesterday's planned vote put off until Friday which is a day after Mr Tong Sang's meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Mr Tong Sang says the poor, those who have no drinking water, will suffer if the approval of the five-year development contract is put off, but he says sooner or later it will pass.
The draft contract, which has been due to be signed since last year, has seen modifications with each change of government in Papeete.
