Officials at the French High Commission in French Polynesia have taken exception to comments by a leading local politician over the Covid-19 crisis response.
The French High Commission in Papeete, French Polynesia Photo: RNZI/Walter Zweifel
During an assembly debate late last month, the head of the ruling Tapura Huiraatira party's assembly group, Tepuaraurii Teriitahi, accused French officials in Tahiti of simply being absent in the management of the crisis.
Unionised staff have now written a letter to the French Polynesian president and Tapura leader Edouard Fritch denouncing her comments as indecent and disrespectful.
The letter said staff were gutted given that they worked seven days out of seven to help protect te population while being exposed to risks.
In a second letter, which was sent to Tepuaraurii Teriitahi, they said they were distressed by the dishonest claims made by her.