6 Dec 2010

Previous work record said to behind appointment of Finance Minister in Cook Islands

11:43 am on 6 December 2010

A first-time MP in the Cook Islands says he may have been elevated to cabinet because of his long history of work for the new Prime Minister and the Cook Islands Party.

The Prime Minister Henry Puna has named party vice-president Mark Brown as one of his five cabinet members.

Mr Brown says that's a huge privilege and honour, and may be a result of his previous work

"I've had a long working relationship with the Prime Minister, in terms of serving our party, our political party so I guess there's maybe some sense of loyalty. But also I guess the Prime Minister was confident that the work we'd done together in the past warranted my appointment to cabinet."

Mr Brown is the new finance minister and also holds the portfolios of telecommunications and internal affairs.

The deputy prime minister, Tom Marsters, has been given foreign affairs, immigration, transport and natural resources.