By JOHN ANDREWS
Dr Robert Woonton is likely to be named this week as the new Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands.
Woonton, the South Pacific country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, is expected to replace Norman George, who was sacked late last week.
The 52-year-old medical doctor is deputy leader of the Democratic Alliance Party [DAP], senior partner in the Cooks' Coalition Government.
Prime Minister Dr Terepai Maoate, who is Minister of Finance and the DAP's leader, dumped George, a former Auckland police officer, just days before the budget was due to be presented.
There are suggestions that during cabinet budget negotiations, George sought unacceptably high increases in his portfolio allocations.
The reshuffle comes just a month after the Herald reported how simmering discontent among some Cook Islands politicians may have seen Maoate toppled from power.
Woonton was quoted then as saying a challenge could emerge next month, depending on dissatisfaction levels among some of Maoate's cabinet colleagues.
Although coy when asked yesterday about his likely elevation in the political ranks, Woonton said he believed Maoate's grip on power had improved "now the team is united".
"We have solidarity for the country's sake," Woonton said. "We have to show coherence at Government level. The private sector is happy with what is going on."
Woonton tipped as Cook Islands Deputy PM
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